NMC submits supplemental report to ACCJC

The Northern Marianas College submitted over the weekend a supplemental report to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, which adds to the Show Cause Report that the institution turned in on Oct. 15, 2013. The latest document provides updates to the college’s continuing accreditation efforts.

The Supplemental Report is composed of two parts: the first focuses on the NMC’s effort to sustain the progress that was reported in the Show Cause Report, and the second addresses recommendations that were made in the 2012 External Evaluation Team Report. The full content of the latest submission is unavailable pending release by the commission.

“The Supplemental Report emphasizes the college’s efforts to sustain its accreditation momentum, and even goes further to describe other activities we have undertaken to address accreditation recommendations,” said Amanda Allen, NMC Distance Learning director and accreditation liaison officer.

According to Allen, the latest submission discusses the college’s progress in addressing recommendations that involved the library and other learning support services; administrative capacity; and the Board of Regents. It also details the actions that the college has taken to improve effectiveness in areas like access to Rota and Tinian, pursuing funds for the Facilities Master Plan, improvements to NMC’s IT infrastructure, NMC’s governance structure and the Institutional Excellence Guide, and Board of Regents policies.

“We are proud that the college community continues to make important strides in numerous areas. However, our work has not ended with the submission with the Supplemental Report. We continue to work to ensure that our progress is sustained in the long term,” added Allen.

NMC president Dr. Sharon Hart, in her message to the campus community, stated that the ACCJC visit in October does not end NMC’s time on accreditation eligibility requirements and standards. “It is imperative that we continue to build on these and demonstrate continuing progress over time,” said Hart.

This month, Hart will attend the meeting of the ACCJC’s Commission Meeting and will be providing additional updates on the progress the college has made in meeting and exceeding accreditation standards and requirements.

NMC, in its October show cause report, indicated efforts made by the institution to address the deficiencies cited by the accrediting commission that involves concerns on two eligibility requirements, six standards, and three recommendations identified by the ACCJC when it issued the sanction in February.