I would like to welcome back our faculty and staff to another semester and a new year. I encourage each and all of us to work together as a team to make this semester a successful one and the new year prosperous.

Accreditation

The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) will be meeting sometime this week to make a decision on the Progress Report submitted by the College of Micronesia-FSM. The Progress Report addressed the Accrediting Commission's recommendation that placed the College on warning status. We are hoping to receive the decision next week.

The Accreditation Working Group has started writing the second Progress Report that will be due by March 15, 2005. The report will address the other five recommendations from the Accrediting Commission. An evaluation team from ACCJC will be visiting COM-FSM during the first week of April 2005 to validate two Progress Reports.

Articulation of Courses/Programs

The Acting Vice President for Instructional Affairs, Mrs. Jean Thoulag, Information System Specialist, Ms. Sylvia Henry, and Interim President, Mr. Spensin James traveled to Guam during the week of December 27-31, 2004 and met with Dr. Helen Whippy, Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs; Dr. Sheying Chen, Dean of the College of Professional Studies; Dr. Anita Borja-Enriquez, Administrative Chair of the School of Business and Public Administration; Dr. Catherine E. Stoicovy, Administrative Chair of the School of Education; Dr. Vivian Dames, Administrative Chair of the School of Nursing, Social Work, and Health Science; Dr. Gerhard Schwab, Assistant Professor of Social Works; and Ms. Jessica Yoshida, IDP Coordinator, regarding articulation of courses and programs and evaluation of the UOG Fourth Year Program.

The meetings were very successful. The Third-Year Program courses in Accounting at the COM-FSM were articulated with UOG courses (see the attached matrix). Some of the UOG Fourth Year Program students records were evaluated and cleared so they can be given their Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Elementary Education. Future collaborations between the two institutions were discussed and established. For example, four UOG Fourth Year Courses will be delivered for the Third-Year Program students during the Summer Session 2005.

Audit for Fiscal Year 2003

The fiscal year 2003 audit for the College of Micronesia-FSM was conducted by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu auditing firm. A final report of the audit has been received by the College. The report showed no major citations and findings to the College.

Board of Regents

The COM-FSM Board of Regents met during the week of December 15-17, 2004, at the College of Micronesia-FSM Pohnpei Campus. One of the major agenda for the BOR meeting was to select a new President. However, no action was made by the BOR on selection of the new president. The BOR approved the College's fiscal year 2006 operation budgets. Attached are the actions and directives from the BOR December meeting.

The College of Micronesia (COM) Land Grant Board of Regents met in Guam on January 7-8, 2005. Mr. Andrew Yatilman from Yap State represented the FSM at the meeting. Mr. Jim Currie, Vice President for Cooperative Research and Extension and Mr. Spensin James, Interim President, represented the College at the meeting. The actions and directives from the COM Board of Regents meeting in Guam are attached for your information.

Budget

The College will be submitting its BOR approved 2006 fiscal year budget to the FSM President Office on January 14, 2005, for review by the FSM Executive Budget Review Committee.

Mid-Year Graduation

The College of Micronesia-FSM 40th Commencement Exercise or Mid-Year Graduation took place on December 22, 2004, at the China-FSM Friendship Sports Center at the National Campus. The keynote address for the graduation was delivered by Honorable Stevick Edwin, Senator, Pohnpei State Legislature, an alumnus. About 109 students graduated during the 40th Commencement Exercise. The valedictorians at the exercise were: Mr. Marvey Elias and Mr. Evenger Waltu both from Pohnpei State.

Trio Programs Conference

The COM-FSM National Campus is the venue for the TRIO Program Conference on January 11-15, 2005. The conference is attended by TRIO Program participants from American Samoa Community College, College of Marshall Islands, Northern Marianas College, Palau Community College (PCC), and the COM-FSM. Over 200 TRIO Program students, staff, and parents are attending the conference this week. The conference is sponsored by the WESTOP Pacific Chapter and will be assisted and coordinated by consultants from the University of Western Kentucky. The theme for the workshop is Promoting and Cultivating Constructive Life Skills Among Tomorrow's Leaders.

Tuna Commission Meeting

The COM-FSM National Campus China-FSM Friendship Sports Center was the venue for the Tuna Commission Meetings during the week of December 6-10, 2004. About 300 participants from all parts of the world, attended the conference. The College and the National Oceanic and Resources Management Authority (NORMA) purchased about 17 air conditioners for the venue. The College coordinated the set ups and decoration for the conference venue. The NORMA donated $2500 to COM-FSM Endowment funds as token of their appreciation for all services provided by the College for the Tuna Commission Conference.

Enrollment Management

The College of Micronesia-FSM will continue to manage enrollment at all its campuses during the Spring Semester 2005. The Campuses have been directed not to go over their caps. The following are the enrollment caps for each of the COM-FSM campuses:

Chuuk Campus	720	FTE students
Kosrae Campus	350	"
Pohnpei Campus	550	"
National Campus	970	"
Yap Campus	250	"

Spring Semester Registration

The Spring Semester Registration at COM-FSM Campuses commences on January 11, 2005. The registration will continue till January 14, 2005. The National Campus has sent staff to the State Campuses to assist the Campuses with their registration processes to make sure that all Campuses are consistent with the established registration guidelines and procedures.