Helping prepare CNMI’s future business leaders

With the many changes occurring in the workplace today, it is crucial for individuals to develop the necessary job and business skills and acquire the relevant knowledge that will prepare them for successful careers in the future. The Northern Marianas College Business Department provides quality education and training to prepare the people of the CNMI for leadership and business management careers in private industry and the public sector.

The Business Department offers students the option of pursuing an Associate in Arts degree, an Associate in Applied Science degree, a Certificate of Completion, or a Certificate of Achievement in various career ladder tracks in business, tourism/hospitality, or computer applications areas.

Degree and certificate programs are currently offered in accounting, business management, hospitality management, computer applications, sales and marketing, international business, and office technology administration. These degree and certificate programs are designed to provide marketable job skills that will enable students to pursue careers in banking, the tourism industry, communications companies, retail businesses, government agencies, and other business sectors.

The department also provides students with various opportunities to work with public and private sector organizations, and learn from the experiences of community leaders through their guest speaker program. Numerous speakers representing government agencies, the hospitality industry, the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations share their wealth of knowledge and experience with students as guest speakers in the classroom.

The Business Department is located in the V.S. Sablan Vocational Training Center (Building V), which offers some of the newest air-conditioned classrooms on campus. These classrooms also offer access to extensive audio-visual tools, including wireless Internet connectivity, that greatly enhance student learning and enjoyment.

The As Terlaje campus’ four state-of-the-art computer labs feature new Pentium+ class computers as well as a Macintosh lab.

The Business Department faculty members bring with them decades of teaching and actual industry experience to the classroom. Students will be provided with an education that is not only academically solid, but practical as well. In addition, the faculty have strong ties to the CNMI business community and industry leaders. This relationship allows NMC faculty the opportunity to integrate business needs into academic programs, which makes NMC graduates more employable.

Additionally, with excellent student to instructor ratios, averaging about 12 students per instructor, students are assured of easy access and extra help, if needed. The faculty are unique in that they truly care about their students, and getting to know each student and recognizing his/her needs is something they pride themselves in, and is a special bonus that students could not necessarily receive at a larger college or university.

NMC’s current Business Department faculty includes Acting Department chair Larry Lee, Perry Conner, Dr. John Griffin, Wil Maui, Bernie Sablan, Scott Tan, and Rik Villegas.

Whether you are pursuing a degree, considering transferring to a four-year institution or simply looking to enhance your job skills, the NMC Business Department is the first step on your path to success. To learn more about how the NMC Business Department can help you build a solid educational foundation and develop your managerial and leadership skills, visit or call us today. For more information, call 234-5498, ext. 1822 or 1827, or visit our web site at www.nmcnet.edu.