Fernandez’s contract hangs in the balance

The Board of Regents failed to reach a consensus whether or not to renew the two-year contract of Dr. Carmen Fernandez as Northern Marianas College president during a meeting Tuesday.

In a closed-door session at the campus’ conference room that lasted almost two hours, members ultimately decided to first get the college community’s input before making a decision.

Board chair Charles V. Cepeda said yesterday an evaluation needs to be conducted first before deciding on the president’s contract.

Fernandez was hired on May 5, 2007, with an $80,000 annual salary and $800 housing allowance. She topped the original list of 12 candidates.

Cepeda said the board will consult all sectors of the college so they could participate in the evaluation process.

An evaluation form was passed out to the Faculty Senate, student council, and other groups and sectors in the institution.

Cepeda said the deadline for submission of evaluation forms to the board is on April 30.

“We need to make the decision on May 5,” he told Saipan Tribune, adding that the deadline is a day prior to the expiration of Fernandez’s contract on May 6.

Cepeda said the “constituents’ evaluation” is composed of questions and a numbering system.

“This is similar to what each board member is using in evaluating the president,” he added.

Fernandez, prior to becoming NMC president, was a former senator in Guam and had served as a ranking official at the University of Guam.

Serving less than two years in office, her management style has lately come under fire from some members of the faculty and students, resulting in the resignation of a board member and former president of the college, Agnes McPhetres.

Last month, three department chairs also filed successive complaints against Fernandez , all pertaining to issues of delayed hiring and improper hiring practices by the management.

Fernandez, in numerous statements, had reiterated that she stands strong for the students. She also made great efforts to submit all accreditation reports to Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

NMC, which has in the past been cited by the accreditation team for having an “unstable leadership and presidency,” was placed on continued show-cause status. It is still waiting for a decision on its re-accreditation.

Fernandez succeeded Antonio Deleon Guerrero at NMC’s helm after the latter retired in August 2006.