NMC negotiating with UOG for executive MBA program

Northern Marianas College acting president David Attao disclosed last week that the college is in talks negotiations with the University of Guam for an executive master of business administration program, describing this as an “accelerated” and hybrid program that is “still in negotiations.”

At the same time, Attao said the college’s bachelors in business program would be graduating its first batch of 16 or 18 students this semester.

He also said the college had sent a draft memorandum of agreement to the Saipan casino, Best Sunshine International, Ltd. for their review to have a training program of sorts to get college students into the industry.

Attao made these comments after a Senate education committee hearing last Thursday, where the college was called on to share their comments on pending bills.

On the executive MBA program, Attao said they were soliciting the community for those interested. The program was “not an NMC program,” he emphasized. It’s more of a Guam program being extended out to us,” he said.

Attao described the program as a “hybrid,” a mix of online and on-site classes.

“A lot of community members here have very high level business experience but some of them lack that extra degree or that higher degree to make sure that they are competitive. So we are hoping to help that process along and make sure that we are doing our jobs,” the acting college president said.

Attao disclosed that NMC and Best Sunshine—as part of the college’s aim to help their students get well-paying jobs—were developing a curriculum from the University of Nevada and partners of NMC business program, to make their students have an opportunity to get into casino-related jobs, and trained and ready to do so.

“Best Sunshine has been providing very, very competitive salaries within our community,” he said. “And we are proud of that. And we want to make sure our students get access to that.”

“We are working on a MOA to align what they need and what we have. And for us to create programs and that we provide those services of training as well on the casino side.” The draft MOA was sent two BSI for their review the week prior, according to Attao.

Attao, when asked, said the college “could do both” and train casino employees who come to the college and also help interested students apply for the market.

Attao, when asked who would be backing the program with funds, said they “are asking BSI to support that. “If we can or cannot, that’s up to them. That’s why we are writing a draft agreement to see what they can or cannot do,” Attao said, noting that every program has start-up costs but he did not know the exact details yet.