Accreditation:

 Accreditation Standard IIIA, Human Resources, especially part I, clearly states “the institution assures the integrity and quality of its programs and services by employing personnel who are qualified by appropriate education, training, and experience to provide and support these programs and services.” Dr. Barbara Beno, Executive Director for the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges/WASC, clearly communicated to me that the College of Micronesia-FSM must ensure that degrees of all staff are valid. The measure of validity and integrity that the Accrediting Commission uses is the same as that for faculty and administrators that the degrees are from institutions accredited by the US Department of Education or are equated by recognized accrediting agencies. Directive from the Executive Director for the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges/WASC supports communication distributed last week to faculty and staff that those who attended and graduated from foreign institutions must have their credentials/transcripts evaluated by a recognized organization in the USA.

Chuuk Campus Renovation:

I reported in the last President’s Update that based on information received from FSM Transportation, Communication, & Infrastructure Department’s key staff, the Infrastructure Development Funds cannot be used on renovating buildings on leased land. However, Mr. Steve Savage, a JEMCO staff, has informed the College that Infrastructure Funds under Compact II can be used to renovate buildings on leased land. What the funds cannot be used for is payment of the leased land.

Meeting With Secretary Nena S. Nena and Staff:

A COM-FSM delegation of three consisting of Mrs. Jean Thoulag, Vice President for Instructional Affairs, Mr. Benson Moses, Chairperson for Education Division, and Mr. Spensin James, President, met with Secretary Nena S. Nena of the Department of Health, Education, and Social Affairs and his staff on Monday, June 20, 2005, at the FSM Special Education Program Office in town. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss programs that the College and the Department of HESA can collaborate on in the near future. The following were identified and agreed on as possible programs to collaborate on: teacher training program for over 551 FSM teachers that have not received their AA/AS/AAS Degree, and training programs for teachers who have received their AA/AS/AAS Degree and can work toward their Bachelor Degrees, and TQEG courses. It was also agreed that COM-FSM continues its efforts on re-establishing the 4 th Year Program in Teacher Education with the University of Guam. Both parties agreed to continue to meet to establish training programs that will assist FSM teachers to meet the FSM Teacher Certification.

New Accreditation Liason Officer for the COM-FSM:

President James appointed Mr. Joseph Saimon, Coordinator for Media and Information Technology Center, as the new Accreditation Liaison Officer for the College effective June 17, 2005. The responsibilities of the Accreditation Liaison Officer include: communicating accreditation matters to ACCJC/WASC, ensuring that the College is in compliance with accreditation standards, and submitting annual reports and other reports to the Commission.

Language and Literature Faculty Receives Master Degree:

Congratulations to Ms. Patricia Pedrus, Assistant Professor, Language/Literature Division, who has successfully completed the requirements of her Master’s Degree Program from ESL School for International Training in Vermont. Patricia started her program in summer 2003 and has completed her program in May 2005. Well done, Patricia Pedrus.

10 Things Employers Want Community College Graduates to Learn in College:

In Bill Coplin’s handbook for students, he suggested 10 crucial skills that students must master before heading into the job market: establishing a work ethic; developing physical skills; communicating verbally; communicating in writing, working directly with people; gathering information; using quantitative tools; asking and answering the right questions; and solving problems. These ten things offer students a proactive approach to developing their skills that will make them be more attractive to potential employers. Most college education and programs integrate these skills in courses, but many students do not see the connection between course’s objectives and long term-personal growth.

I hope the academic divisions can review the list and determine how they can incorporate these skills into their courses/programs.

Notification of Grant Award:

I am pleased to announce that the College of Micronesia-FSM has received notification from Mr. Nikolao I. Pula, Director, Office of Insular Affairs, Washington, D.C, that grant application for Training of Vocational Instructors/Apprenticeship Programs has been approved for funding. This grant provides $27,023 from the Department of Interior and will be supplemented with at least $27,023 from the College of Micronesia-FSM. The training for the 18 to 19 vocational instructors from the six COM-FSM campuses will take place during the week of July 21 st to August 5 th , 2005, in Pohnpei.

I would like to express my appreciation to Mr. Anwar Jahan, Director of Vocational Education Program at the College, and others that have worked hard in developing the grant proposal for this training program.

Director of Human Resources Resigned:

Ms. Linda Maradol, Director of Human Resources, resigned from the College effective June 24, 2005. She worked at the College for about eight (8) years. She was a dedicated and hard working person and the College will miss her. Ms. Rencelly Nelson has been designated as the Acting Director of Human Resources until further notice.

New Hires:

The following employees were recently hired by the College:

• John Ifamilik – Farm Laborer, Agriculture Division, National Campus
• LJ Rayphand – Education Specialist, SSSP, National Campus
• Aileen Salle – Account Clerk II, Business Office, National Campus

Palikir Lab School :

The College of Micronesia-FSM National Campus continues to use the Palikir Elementary School as Lab School. The Lab School is used as a model school by the Education Division to pilot test new curriculum, etc. The school is also used by the Education Division to train pre-service teachers.

Dr. Richard Womack represented the College at the Palikir Elementary School Graduation on June 9, 2005.

Update on Trio Programs:

On June 24, 2005, the House passed H.R. 3010, the bill that restores funding to ALL TRIO programs. It is important that the College continues the TRIO Programs in order to assist the disadvantaged students in the FSM. The following is an excerpts from the statement presented by US Congressmen Mike Simpson, of Idaho State, “Like so many other members of this House who joined me in the effort to save TRIO, several of whom are TRIO graduates themselves, I fully understand the worth and importance of these programs, and I will do everything I can to ensure that these programs continue to receive funding for many years to come”.

The Administration of the College has worked closely with the Association of Community Colleges in the USA to continue lobbying efforts for the restoration of funding for all TRIO Programs. The following are the TRIO Programs currently available at the College:

-Upward Bound Programs

-Student Support Services Program

-Gear Up Program

-Talent Search Program

Staff Development Opportunities:

The College of Micronesia-FSM has staff development funds to assist potential FSM Citizens to work on their Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate Degrees. The following employees are working on their Master’s Degrees: Mr. Joe Felix, Jr., Delihna Manual, Maria Donre, and Kalwin Kephas. The following employees are working toward completing their thesis and dissertation: Mr. Wilson Kalio, Mrs. Mariana Ben Dereas, and Mrs. Margarita Cholymay.

The College has established articulation agreement with a number of institutions in the USA that can extend their graduate programs online to potential employees of the College. Recently Drexel University is inviting potential leaders of higher education leaders to work on their master’s degree in the following areas: Administration and organization management, enrollment management, institutional research, and academic development in instruction and technology. These programs can be offered online as well as on executive format. The programs will take two years to complete and interested and potential employees of the College can apply online. See Spensin James or Mariana Ben Dereas, if you are interested in these programs.

IT Policy Reminder:

In support of its mission of teaching, research, and public service, and within its institutional priorities and financial capabilities, the College of Micronesia-FSM (COM-FSM) provides access to computing, network and information systems and services for students, faculty and staff. Collectively, these computing, network and information systems and services comprise the institution’s information technology infrastructure. Such an environment can only exist when the users and managers of the information technologies behave responsibly and respectfully.

COM-FSM technology policy applies to all computers, computing, information and network systems and services owned or administered by the COM-FSM, as well as to individual activities that take place over the Internet or other external network connections using College systems, connections or user accounts.

Access to COM-FSM networks and computer systems is a privilege granted subject to existing technology policies, COM-FSM conduct codes and all applicable local, state, and federal laws.

The COM-FSM strives to inform all users of these policies, but users are responsible for their own actions. The COM-FSM accepts no responsibility or liability for the specific acts of individuals that violate this or any other authorized policy, code of conduct or statute.

Regarding computing resources and specifically internet usage, these resources are intended to support the academic programs of the College. Anyone pursuing academic work may use the facilities and equipment. Use must be limited to curriculum, academic, and College related work. Computing resources are to be considered as shared, finite resources provided by the institution to promote scholarship and learning for all students, staff, and faculty. Monopolizing this shared resource through deliberate action or inaction is not allowed.

For Internet Resources, school related work, such as work for classes, committees, and school projects, has first priority.

When COM-FSM learns of possible inappropriate use or violation of responsibility, the designated committee will notify the individual thought to be responsible, and a formal investigation will take place. Action will be taken appropriate to the type of violation. In an emergency, in order to prevent further possible inappropriate activity, (the designated committee) may temporarily disallow access to technological services at COM-FSM. Any determination of inappropriate use serious enough to require disconnection shall be promptly communicated to all persons involved.

Violations of College policies governing the use of College computing resources may result in restriction of access to College computing resources in addition to any disciplinary action that may be applicable under other College policies, guidelines or procedures, up to and including dismissal.

The COM-FSM Technology Policy can be viewed on the COM-FSM home-page at this address; http://www.comfsm.fm/computing/techpolicy.html

 

Thank you.