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Hart: No work-hour cuts for NMC employees
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Posted on Feb 06 2012
Northern Marianas College president Sharon Y. Hart has assured that, if ever the college needs to tighten its belt, she will first look into all other areas of the college’s programs and operation to ensure that personnel will be spared from any work-hour cuts.
The college currently has 171 employees—both instructional and non-instructional—much lower than in previous fiscal years when the college had either close to or over 200 personnel.
Hart said that NMC has constant and open communication with the Legislature, which approves its yearly budget. The college was allocated a budget of just $5.1 million this fiscal year. Some $3.9 million will be used for personnel cost, while $1.2 million is for all others and operation.
Last fiscal year, NMC was forced to cut its work hours due to a budget shortfall.
NMC recently eliminated one dean position and the chief financial administrative officer position to save some money. Hart said this is in addition to the savings generated from asking qualified employees to teach classes within their 40-hour workweek schedule. The savings on this alone is about $50,000.
According to Hart, NMC’s enrollment continues to grow, which demonstrate the community’s support for the college.
“We truly believe that we are the engine of economic growth in the CNMI and we will continue to do our very best to provide the different types of programs at the institution,” she said, assuring that quality of education and services will not be jeopardized at NMC.
During a previous Board of Regents meeting, NMC officials presented cost-effective proposals to address any projected deficit.
Among these recommendations are cutting legal fees, scouting for cheaper airfare for personnel who go on official travel, maximizing employees’ potential and skills by asking them to teach, reducing overload payments to instructors, and reducing expenses on Tinian and Rota, among others.
The college is also reviewing its staffing patterns among limited term appointees and interim positions to generate savings.
