NMC seminar encourages govt employees to pursue degrees

Numerous government employees from different government agencies attend the Northern Marianas College seminar, “Climb Higher Summit” yesterday. (Erwin Encinares)

The Northern Marianas College trumpeted yesterday the importance of a college education as a means to move forward in one’s career. The seminar, held at the Saipan World Resort, lured more than 200 government employees and was intended to encourage those already employed to pursue a degree.

NMC highlighted its Prior Learning Assessment program, a program hosted by NMC in partnership with the CNMI Civil Service Commission and the Office of Personnel Management, to provide adult students the opportunity to pursue their desired degrees while providing for their families full time.

Through the PLA, the applicant has the opportunity to earn college credits based on their work experience without even having to set foot in the classroom; the credits can then be used to earn certain degrees or certifications for their advancement in the field.

NMC president Dr. Carmen Fernandez shared her dream of making the CNMI better through education.

“We want to help them get into college so that they can get a degree, which would definitely help with their family,” said Fernandez. “It would also be really great for their departments and for the CNMI in general. The more educated the community, the stronger we are.”

According to Fernandez, the number of college graduates from the CNMI puts it at the top of the Pacific region.

“Right now, the CNMI is at the top of the Pacific region at 16 percent; for the U.S. it is Massachusetts at 38 percent. It is a personal goal for me to help our government employees to graduate and help them get a college degree, which I think is just better for everyone.”

Department of Corrections officer Lianna P. Quitugua, who is under the Professional Standards Unit, is planning to finish her Criminal Justice degree through the PLA.

“This is going to give me an opportunity to finish what I wanted to finish. I didn’t have the time because I am a mother, so it is pretty hard,” said Quitugua.

“I also want to be an example to my kids to keep on pushing [for what they want]. This is going to give me an opportunity not only to continue working for my kids, but at the same time to continue working on my education to achieve my goals,” she added.

Among the many government agencies that participated in the event were the departments of Corrections, Labor, Public Safety, Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Bureau of Environment and Coastal Quality, and the Public School System.