NMC aims to lower number of required credits for programs
The Northern Marianas College is working to bring the number of required credits for their programs in line with goals of the nationwide initiative “Complete College America,” which aims to create reforms to boost college completion and close attainment gaps.
NMC described CCA as one of the “game changers” in their NMC Strategic Plan for 2015-2020. Some of things CCA aims to reform nationwide are remediation in colleges, and the time it takes students to graduate.
College president Dr. Sharon Hart told the Board of Regents last week that they have been working to line the college with CCA’s major goals.
She said for NMC programs with “extensive amount of credits,” the college is aiming to bring these numbers down to 120 credits for four-year degrees, and near 60 credits for two-year degrees.
For example, she said that they have brought down required credits in NMC’s natural resource program from a high of 74 credits to 63 credits.
“We’ve been working really well in trying to be more responsive to having our programs more in line with the standard out there,” Hart said.
This helps students get in and complete their degree on time, she told the board.