NMC summer enrollment doubles this year

The Northern Marianas College posted a significant increase in this year’s summer enrollment with 304 full-time equivalent students compared to the 157 students recorded during the same period last year.

NMC dean of student services Leo Pangelinan said the 147-student increase in summer enrollment can be attributed to many factors.

He told Saipan Tribune yesterday that NMC has increased its outreach efforts and presence in community events and in the high schools with staff committed to building relationships with students, parents, and school personnel.

Also a big factor in the increased enrollment is the continuation of the College Access Challenge Grant scholarships that were provided to high school juniors, seniors, and first year college students to promote first-time or continued enrollment in college courses through the summer.

NMC has also noted the improved access for non-U.S. citizens. This group faces less enrollment barriers or uncertainty regarding immigration status as experienced by this group last year.

Pangelinan added that the Public School System Head Start program staff and teachers have also come forward to enroll in education courses to meet PSS certification requirements and/or B.S. in Education degree requirements.

Records obtained from NMC yesterday show that for this summer period, there are 37 classes with 292 students enrolled and 303 full-time equivalent, or FTE.

There are 14 courses offered by the School of Education with a total enrollment of 193 in School of Education with a total enrollment of 193 in SOE courses. Largest class size this summer session is 25 students.

In a message to the campus community, NMC president Sharon Y. Hart congratulated the entire college on the enrollment numbers for this summer.

“It’s important to always look at FTE [full-time equivalent] enrollment numbers, and you will see we are close to double what we were last year. Now, let’s all work hard at retaining these students and giving them the best experience possible,” said Hart.

NMC is still addressing the concerns of the accreditation commission which is expected to render a decision after its January 2012 assembly. The fate of the only community college on island will be based upon the submission of its comprehensive self evaluation report due in August as well as supplemental report that the institution may turned in to the commission. NMC was placed on continued show cause status after it failed to address all the concerns raised by the commission in its February report.