House OKs initiative clipping BOR’s powers

Taking its cue from the Saipan University scandal last year, the House of Representatives has passed a proposed Constitutional amendment that would remove from the Northern Marianas College the task of licensing other postsecondary education institutions.

House Legislative Initiative 14-1 would also create a Post-Secondary Education Commission in lieu of the State Board of Higher Education, which is currently composed by members of the NMC Board of Regents. The commission would be responsible for chartering private entities seeking to offer post-secondary education in the Commonwealth.

The commission, however, is not expected to be created immediately, as the measure will not take effect until ratification.

Under the legislative initiative process, the House speaker and the Senate president, as well as the clerks of both houses, should attest to the passage of the initiative. Then the measure will be transmitted to the governor and the Commission of Elections, which will in turn place the initiative in the ballot for the ratification in the next general election.

The closest election will take place in November 2005.

According to the House Education Committee, which recommended the passage of the initiative, the NMC Board of Regents should be stripped of its jurisdiction over private institutions so it could focus on fulfilling its mission to provide the best quality postsecondary education in the CNMI.

This, the committee added, includes overcoming NMC’s financial aid issues and managing the Pacific Gateway Project, particularly in relation to the La Fiesta facility and the recruitment of foreign students.

The House committee noted that the application review process entailed by the Board of Regents’ licensing mandate is lengthy and takes up to approximately 50 hours per application.

Further, the panel cited the criminal case that is pending at the U.S. District Court in connection with Saipan University’s alleged commission of fraud against at least 88 Chinese students.

Saipan University was operating under a provisional license intended for the Tinian University approved by the State Board of Higher Education.

The Board of Regents issued the provisional license to Tinian University in March 2003. The license was later transferred to Saipan University, which was founded by the same person, Soon Kyung Park.

In December 2003, the Board of Regents hired a consultant to review the application after receiving complaints of fraud from Saipan University students. The institution was closed in the same month.

Currently, there are two postsecondary educational institutions licensed by the Board of Regents: the International Business Professional College and Eucon International College.