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M E M O R A N D U M


June 15, 2005

To: All Concerned

From: President, COM-FSM

Subject: Update from the President's Office - No. 253

 

Highlights from All Campuses

Chuuk Campus Teach Out The staff at the National and Chuuk Campuses have been working on the directive from the Board to scale back at the Chuuk Campus commencing this summer session. Based on information gathered so far from Vice President for Instructional Affairs and Instructional Program Coordinator at Chuuk Campus, about 456 students will be in the teach out program. Saramen Chuuk Academy has given permission to the College to use 7 classrooms at the Academy this summer. A Memorandum on Agreement between Saramen Chuuk Academy and the College was signed by both parties on Friday, 6/10/05.

The number of faculty and staff at Chuuk Campus this summer will be at the same level as during Spring Semester 2005. However, due to the reduction of the number of students that will be attending the teach out during Fall Semester 2005 some of the faculty and staff will be laid off. The established procedure for layoff of faculty and staff in the Personnel Policy and Procedure Manual will be followed.

UOG 4 th Year Courses National Campus included two UOG courses in the list of courses that were approved to be offered during Summer Session 2005. However, due to low enrollment in these courses ( ED 480 Second Language Curriculum Material Development and ED 451 AV Methods), they were cancelled. We hope to offer these courses and other UOG 4 th Year courses in the near future.

Lease Agreement for the Current Site – Chuuk Campus The Working Group has met Mr. Roger Mori regarding the extension of the current lease agreement for another 15 years. The group also met on Wednesday, 6/8/05, and further discussed the extension of the lease and decided that a draft agreement be developed by the College’s legal counsel and copies be distributed to Mr. Mori and the Working Group members for their review and comments. A meeting will be called in about two weeks to go over the draft agreement and to finalize the agreement. An extension of the current lease is needed for the College to continue to invest on the site.

The College has been informed by the FSM Transportation, Communications and Infrastructure Department that the Infrastructure Development Project funds for FY 04 and FY 05 cannot be used to renovate facilities on leased properties. This means that $350,000 earmarked for Chuuk Campus facilities cannot be used to renovate the facilities at the current site.

The COM-FSM Addendum to the March 2005 Progress Report The copy of the addendum was e-mailed to Dr. Barbara Beno, Executive Director of ACCJC/WASC on May 31, 2005. President James also had a telephone conversation with the Executive Director on June 1, 2005, regarding the presentation of the report to the Commissioners at their June 8-10, 2005. Dr. Beno recommended that President James need not attend the meeting and she would distribute and present the report to the Commissioners.

COM-FSM Compact II Annual Report On June 1, 2005, Mr. Danny Dumantay, Comptroller, Mrs. Jessica Stam, Director of Research and Planning Office, and I attended a meeting at the Department of Health, Education, and Social Affairs Conference Room. The other participants of the meeting were staff of the Joint Compact Negotiation Office. The JCN staff opened the meeting and informed the delegation from the College that one requirement under Compact II is submission on annual reports. They discussed the guidelines for the annual report and informed us that we have less than two weeks to submit the report to their office. We informed the JCN staff that we are in the process of completing the Annual Report for the College that is to be submitted to President of the Nation as a requirement of the enabling law and it will be about 30 or more pages. The JCN staff wanted a fifteen or less page report. The report as requested was submitted on June 8, 2005 to the JCN Office.

The Oceania Wresting Tournament The Oceania Wrestling Tournament Opening Ceremony got underway on June 10, 2005, at the FSM-China Friendship Sports Center at 10 a.m. with over 50 wrestlers. The participants of the tournament are from Guam, Korea, Palau, Kosrae, Chuuk, Marshalls, and Pohnpei.

A special award was also presented to the College of Micronesia-FSM from the International Olympic Committee IOC. This award is on recognition of the College’s active roles in supporting the International Olympic Committee initiatives in the FSM. President James represented the College and accepted the special award.

PICS Graduation The FSM-China Friendship Sports Center was the venue for the Pohnpei Island Centeral School (PICS) 2005 graduation on June 4, 2005. About 506 seniors graduated and over 2500 people attended the graduation ceremony. The Sports Center was packed and many people were sitting and standing outside of the Sports Center. Mr. Spensin James, President, COM-FSM, accepted the graduates on behalf of the Pohnpei Director of Education and the Pohnpei Education Board of Directors.

Other Graduations Mr. Ringlen Ringlen, Vice President for Support and Student Affairs, represented the President of the College at the Woleai High School Graduation on June 10, 2005, and presented the keynote address.

Mr. Benson Moses, also represented the President of the College at the Sapwalap Elementary graduation on June 8, 2005, and presented the keynote address at the graduation ceremony.

Summer Session Registration
Campus
Enrollment  
Chuuk Campus 151 Students  
Kosrae Campus 105 "  
National Campus 427 "  
Pohnpei Campus 225 " not including TQEG Participants
Yap Campus 185 "  
     

Strategic Planning Retreat The Planning Council is planning a Strategic Planning Retreat for August 1-2, 2005. The retreat will bring together College’s managers, faculty, Regents representative, and staff for two days to revise the mission statement for the College. The retreat will also review the current goals for the College and to develop new goals, if time will permit.

Yap Campus OMIP Program Ms. Lourdes Roboman, Director, Yap Campus submitted a request to Ms. Cheryl Jodoin at the OIA, Department of Interior requesting for a no cost extension of the $200,000 program. Words have been received from Ms. Cheryl Jodoin that the request for extension at no cost from Yap Campus has been approved.

Implementation of Organizational Chart The Board of Regents approved the new organizational chart for the College of Micronesia-FSM in September 2004. The administration was directed to implement the chart when the resources are available and after the necessary forms and documents to support the implementation are in place.

The proposed signature procedures and changes to forms needed to support the implementation were developed and distributed to all campuses for directors, managers, and appropriate faculty and staff to review and submit their comments and inputs by June 3, 2005. Every effort will be made to have the final version of the forms in place by June 15.

Until this point, the campuses are partially implementing the new organization change by phasing in the changes. Chuuk, Pohnpei and FMI campuses have reported their readiness to implement the organizational chart at their campuses, and it is expected that this will be completed by July 1, 2005. Kosrae, National, and Yap campuses need more time before implementing the organizational chart at their campuses and will therefore be given until October 1 to complete the implementation.

Therefore, the following are the implementation dates for the organizational chart at all campuses:

Chuuk, Pohnpei and FMI campuses by
July 1, 2005
Kosrae, National, and Yap campuses by
October 1, 2005

 

New Hires and Employees who have left the College
New Hires:  
Marleen Ychiro Student Service Specialist I for the Peer Counseling Center, Chuuk Campus
Sincerlynn Ludwig Clerk Typist III for the Human Resources Office
Juvelina Rempis Librarian I for the National Campus
Miuty Nokar Counselor for the Upward Bound Program at Chuuk Campus
David Johnson Information System specialist for the Lang./Lit Division at National Campus
William Edwin Administrative Specialist I for the Research and Planning Offic
Those who have left the College:
Gregg Longenecker – Business Instructor, National Campus
Marcus Henry – Extension Agent, Chuuk Campus
Harbert Tom – English Instructor, National Campus
Bernie Demaliwat – Vocational Associate Professor, Pohnpei Campus
Amzi Martinez - Vocational Instructor, Kosrae Campus
Karl Brookins – Math/Science Associate Professor, Yap Campus

Improving Communication among COM-FSM Campuses The Research and Planning Office conducted a survey among students, faculty, and staff at the COM-FSM campuses on communication and ways of improving communication at all level at the College. The communication survey results are attached.

Thank you.

 

 

All Respondents

 

 

 

 

 

Total: 448

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Response Percent

Response Total

1. What is your role at the college?

Student

75.30%

336

Contract employee

2.90%

13

Classified employee

4%

18

 

Management employee

3.80%

17

 

Faculty employee

7%

31

 

Professional employee

7%

31

 

 

Total Respondents   

 

446

 

 

(skipped this question)   

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Response Percent

Response Total

2. What is your primary campus?

Chuuk

14.90%

65

FMI

8.20%

36

 

Kosrae

9.60%

42

 

National

33.20%

145

 

Pohnpei

16.70%

73

 

Yap

17.40%

76

 

 

Total Respondents   

 

437

 

 

(skipped this question)   

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Response Percent

Response Total

3. I have a good understanding of what goes on at the college (for example information, changes, and updates)?

I strongly agree.

14.90%

66

I agree.

49.10%

218

I neither agree nor disagree.

22.10%

98

4. How do you find out information about the college (check all that apply)?

Talking with your friends

57.50%

256

Other students or supervisors

56%

249

Meetings or reports of meetings

43.40%

193

Newsletters

24.30%

108

 

Radio

16.20%

72

 

Email

33.70%

150

 

Other (please specify)

10.80%

48

 

 

Total Respondents   

 

445

 

 

(skipped this question)   

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Response Percent

Response Total

5. Have you ever read, or do you know about, the Presidential Update (check all that apply)?

Yes, I have read an online copy of the Presidential Update.

27.50%

122

Yes, I have read a paper copy of the Presidential Update.

25.50%

113

Yes, I have been told about information in the Presidential Update.

12%

53

 

No, I do NOT read the Presidential Update.

28.40%

126

 

What is the Presidential Update?

21.40%

95

 

Not sure.

18.70%

83

 

 

Total Respondents   

 

443

 

 

(skipped this question)   

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

6. Have you read a newsletter from the college (check all that apply)?

Yes I have read the COM-FSM Sharks newsletter.

33.40%

148

Yes, I have read a campus newsletter.

29.10%

129

Yes, I have read a sponsored programs newsletter.

12.90%

57

 

Yes, I have read a student newsletter.

12%

53

 

No, I have not read a newsletter.

34.80%

154

 

Not sure.

15.10%

67

 

 

Total Respondents   

 

443

 

 

(skipped this question)   

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Response Percent

Response Total

7. How would you let someone know if you had a good idea for changing something at the college (check all that apply)?

I would suggest my idea at a committee/student organization meeting.

42.70%

191

I would tell my supervisor/advisor.

55.70%

249

I would talk to a leader of the College of Micronesia - FSM

26.20%

117

 

I would email a leader of the College of Micronesia – FSM.

29.50%

132

 

I would talk to someone in the Faculty/Staff Senate or the Student Body Association.

39.40%

176

 

I would do nothing.

7.20%

32

 

Other (please specify)

4.30%

19

 

 

Total Respondents   

 

447

8. Have you ever (check all that apply):

Seen a written description for how to do things at the college?

37.30%

164

Attended a committee or student organization meeting?

38%

167

 

Talked with your supervisor/advisor about the college?

45.50%

200

 

Emailed the president or other leader?

16.60%

73

 

Contacted the Faculty/Staff Senate or the Student Body Association?

16.40%

72

 

None of the above.

23.40%

103

 

Other (please specify)

2.30%

10

 

 

Total Respondents   

 

440

 

 

(skipped this question)   

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Response Percent

Response Total

9. Is there some way you would like to receive information (check all that apply)?

Newsletter

48.90%

216

Email updates

62%

274

Meetings

43.90%

194

Trainings

31.70%

140

Students/Supervisor

41%

181

Friends

32.60%

144

 

Other (please specify)

5.20%

23

 

 

Total Respondents   

 

442

 

 

(skipped this question)   

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Response Percent

Response Total

10. I would like more information about (check all that apply):

 

 

 

 

Accreditation

42.80%

189

Organizational changes

48.40%

214

 

Long-term plans of the College of Micronesia-FSM

62.70%

277

 

Committee work

29.90%

132

 

Course offerings

53.40%

236

 

College organizations, clubs and events

45.50%

201

 

Budget information

47.10%

208

 

Other (please specify)

4.80%

21

 

 

Total Respondents   

 

442

 

 

(skipped this question)   

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you.