The College of Micronesia Land Grant meets in Koror, Palau
On Monday, August 21, and Tuesday, August 22, 2023, the College of Micronesia Land Grant (COM) Board of Regents met at Palau Community College (PCC) in Koror for their quarterly meeting. Led by the Chairman of the Board, Dr. Emais Roberts, the team engaged in discussions at the meeting, primarily focusing on improving food security and economic development in the three-member countries that are part of the COM system, namely the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and the Republic of Palau (ROP).
The COM Board comprises three members, each representing the three-member countries. The current COM Board members include the Chairman, Dr. Emais Roberts, Governor of Peleliu, Palau (ROP), Vice-Chair Mrs. Suzanne Gallen (FSM), and Regent Honorable Wilbur Heine, the Minister of Education, Sports & Training (RMI).
The US Congress in 1980 designated the College of Micronesia (COM) as the land-grant college for the (former) Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. The COM’s land-grant status was subsequently extended by each Compact of Free Association agreement between the three Freely Associated States (FAS), the RMI, FSM, ROP, and the US Government. The COM is often confused with the College of Micronesia-FSM (COM-FSM). The COM-FSM is an FSM higher education and tertiary education services provider. The COM focuses on land-grant and Cooperative Research & Extension (CRE) activities. The COM undertakes Research initiatives and activities to enable communities to practice sustainable and productive agriculture and aquaculture as part of an approved Plan of Work.
Participants at the Palau meeting included Dr. Irene Taafaki (President of the College of the Marshall Islands), Dr. Patrick Tellei (President of Palau Community College), and Dr. Theresa Koroivulaono (President of College of Micronesia-FSM). Along with them in attendance were the COM team members, including the three CRE Vice Presidents, each representing the three colleges: Stanley Lorennij, Vice President of CMI CRE Land-Grant, Steven Young Uhk, CRE Vice President, COM-FSM, and Dr. Christopher Kitalong, CRE Vice President, Palau Community College. Mr. Stanley Lorennij has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the COM. He will work out of the COM Central Office in Pohnpei, FSM. He will leave his current position at CMI CRE Majuro in early October to take up his new role. Land-grant and CRE researchers, coordinators, extension agents, and assistants from the three colleges also participated in the meeting. Staff at the COM Central Office also helped coordinate the meeting with the Palauan hosts.
The three CRE Vice Presidents showcased ongoing research and extension programs in agriculture, aquaculture, and other areas by delivering reports and updates at the Palau meeting.
