President's Update 291

M E M O R A N D U M

April 18, 2007

To: All Concerned

From: President, COM-FSM

Subject: Update #291

Accreditation

The College of Micronesia-FSM submitted its Focused Mid-Term Report, a three years report after the Accreditation Reaffirmation Visit in March 2004, to Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) on March 14, 2007. An acknowledgement of the receipt of the Focused Mid-Term Report by WASC has been received by President's Office on April 4, 2007. The acknowledgement letter also informed the College that the Commissioners will be reviewing the report at their meeting in June 2007 to determine if they will accept the report or not.

The College has also submitted its Annual Report to WASC on April 16, 2007.

Board of Regents

The Board of Regents recently met in Chuuk State during the week of March 26-27, 2007. The actions and directives from the Board meeting in Chuuk are attached for your information. Board of Regent members also met with faculty, staff, and students during their meeting in Chuuk and the following concerns/problems were expressed to members: need more programs to be offered at Chuuk Campus, need to improve dispensary services, timely arrival of textbooks, processing of transcript requests are too slow, do not know where to get assistance on supplies request, need more third year program courses to be extended to Chuuk Campus, need aircons in classrooms, and transportation problems.

The next Board of Regents meeting will be in Pohnpei during the third week of May 2007.

President's Retreat 2007

The college hosted over 115 participants in the 2007 President's Retreat held at the FSM China Friendship Sports Center from March 19 – 23, 2007. The participants included representative from all six college campuses plus key national and state stakeholders. Three main questions were addressed at the Retreat:

Where are we?
Where are we going?
How do we get there?

President's welcoming remarks

In his opening remarks President James stressed a number of key areas.

Need to review data, evidence and trends affecting the college
Engage our stakeholders in their views and expectations of the college
Determine how the college programs and services can best assist economic and social development of the nation
The college cannot work in isolation from its stakeholders
While what happens in the Retreat is important, of greater importance is how we implement the recommendations and decisions of the Retreat and we communicate the results
To be successful our students need

Foundation skills

Basic skills
Thinking sills
Personal qualities

Competencies (productively use)

Resources
Interpersonal skills
Information
Systems
Technoloy

Retreat design

The Retreat was designed to be highly interactive with presentations being used to set the stage for in-depth discussions. A key concept was to develop shared understanding of where the college is right now and what factors and trends are influencing the college and what are key issues and problems facing the college. The last stage of the Retreat was to address priority problems and challenges facing the college leading to action plans and implementation.

To assist with promoting discussion and dialoguer participants were encouraged to use a series of simple tools.

To help identify assumptions participants were recommended to separate what is Known "now" from what is Unclear and both from what is Presumed (by the person with the problem or his agent).
To assist with problem identification participants were encouraged to ask - "Don't ask 'What's the problem,' ask 'What's the story?' That way you'll find out what the problem really is."
To help better understand how systems affect the college participants were encouraged to ask - H ow did we (through our internal thinking, our processes, our practices, and our procedures) contribute to or create the circumstances (good and bad) we face now?
To promote more proactive approaches to problem solutions participants were encouraged to ask two questions:

What possibilities for action exist?
What can we (I) do?

The Retreat also included discussion sessions that were directed at addressing specific issues:

Staff senate - (who represents, how it is structured, should there be a single staff senate or one at each campus, etc.)
Student body organization (same questions as above)
Organizational chart (structure) evaluation
What is the image of the college? What does the college want its image to be?
Communication plan input

Problem statements and strategies to address those problems

Based on extensive review of the data, evidence and trends affecting the college a set of problem statements were generated along with SWOT analysis of the college. Key strategies and action steps to address major issues facing the college were also developed.

There is insufficient dialogue and information exchange between external stakeholders and the college in regard to economic and social development needs, program development, service delivery and funding for students and the college. The college needs to:

Improve dialogue and information exchange between the College and stakeholders pertaining to funding for students and the college.
Improve dialogue and information exchange between the College and stakeholders pertaining to the delivery of College services.

Improved communication and exchange of information between stakeholders and the college for program development/improvement.
Improve dialogue and information exchange between the College and stakeholders pertaining to College programs and services related to economic growth and social development.

Inadequate development, understanding and application of quality standards for an effective student centered learning environment. The college needs to:

Enhance/develop and implement quality standards throughout the system in all areas.
Improve understanding of standards
Assess/use results as basis for decision making

Governance processes including development, implementation and evaluation do not

include all necessary internal and external stakeholders. The college needs to:

Develop implementation plan for Communication Policy
Develop implementation plan for Communication Policy

The academic level of the majority of incoming students is inadequate to meet college level standards. The college needs to:

Improve dialogue and communication between NDOE, SDOE (s) and the college to improve K-12 & 13 educational outcome
Promote the value of education among all stakeholders
Incorporate with K12 in designing and implementing to raise the awareness and importance of vocational education/technical programs

The success and retention rate of students at the college is less than 40%. The college needs to:

Enhance working relations with K-12 to bridge the gap for students entering college (increase the number and/or per cent of degree students entering the college, reduce the number and/or per cent of under prepared students entering the college, provide realistic expectations to students entering the college, provide supplemental course and programs, etc.)
Increase quality and effectiveness of remedial programs at the college.
Promote programs and services (retention plan, increased tutoring, improved advising, mentoring etc.) that increase student success and retention within the College
Improve quality control in student services College wide.
Improve quality control in administrative services College wide.
Ensure consistency and quality of instructional services College wide
Improve facilities and technology availability and accessibility.
Develop and implement an institutional assessment plan.
Improve the image of the College

Follow up and implementation

Follow up on the Retreat has already started with presentations to the BOR in its March 2007 meeting in Chuuk and training/briefing/discussions with Chuuk campus faculty, staff and students on the Retreat and immediate implementation of key strategies including a communications plan to implement the communications policy adopted by the Board and implementation of the Shared Governance Policy.

A college wide action plan is being developed based on the results of the Retreat. Additionally, individual campus and department/division/program plans will also need to be developed.

For more information including copies of presentations, working sessions and results/recommendations of the Retreat, do not hesitate to contact the offices of the President, the Vice President for Administration, and Institutional Research and Planning.

Mobil Oil Micronesia Donates Money to College's LRC and Annual Fun Walk:

Mobil Oil Micronesia, Inc. presented to President James on April 12, 2007, a monetary contribution of $12,000 from the Scholarship Foundation to the College of Micronesia-FSM. The gift to COM-FSM will assist the College to increase reading materials and procure computer equipment for the student of COM-FSM and the community of Pohnpei.

In addition to the $12,000 contribution, Mobil Oil Micronesia, Inc. donated $2,500 to support and annual COM-FSM Fun Run Walk event scheduled for May 5, 2007.

"Mobil Oil Micronesia, Inc., recognizes that education is the foundation for the future our community. We hope that the gift provided will enhance the learning environment for the students at the COM-FSM and our community who utilizes the COM-FSM Library. " said Kamal Singh, President, Mobil Oil Micronesia, Inc.

"Our objective is to be able to provide financial assistance to educational institutes to enhance the educational environment of the schools in the region through educational learning materials, i.e. books and equipment, and school facilities, i.e. classrooms and libraries, for our children, the future leaders of the communities we operate in" said Singh.

Mobil Oil Micronesia, Inc. has been a member of the business community for over 40 years and has contributed monetary and in-kind donations annually to various educational institutes, health, safety and environmental organizations in Micronesia.

President James represented the key cabinet members at the at the turn over of the funds ceremony and thanked President Kamal Singh for their donations and generosity to the College.

COM-FSM Founding Day:

The College of Micronesia-FSM National Campus celebrated its Founding Day, April 1, 1993, on April 2, 2007, by having students from different islands and states in the FSM showcasing their cultures by performing traditional dances and floats reflecting their life styles. The College has included in its priority goals a goal to promote the uniqueness our community, cultivate respect for individual differences and champion diversity. The cultural day activities will be part of the Founding Day celebrations that is going to be done every other year. The photos shown below were taken at the 2007 Founding Day.

Trio Programs Leadership Conference College Visit 2007

The College of Micronesia-FSM Campus will be the venue for the Trio Leadership Conference College Visit 2007. Over 200 Trio Programs (Talent Search, Upward Bound and SSP) From the four FSM States and the Republic of Marshall Islands will be attending this conference during the week of April 16-19, 2007. The organizing committee for the conference has organized the following activities and sessions for the participants during the week: sports competition, college orientation, courtesy visits, site visits to historical sites and other sites in Pohnpei, cultural presentations, leadership, world finances, climate change, and other presentations that will keep the participants busy during the week.

The College's administration expresses its appreciation and thanks to the organizing committee members, presenters, and all sponsors of this conference.

Thank you.

	College of Micronesia-FSM Federated States of Micronesia

	Computing · Directory · Home · Jobs · Library · News

		April - Palikir, Pohnpei
		M E M O R A N D U M April 18, 2007 To: All Concerned From: President, COM-FSM Subject: Update #291 Accreditation The College of Micronesia-FSM submitted its Focused Mid-Term Report, a three years report after the Accreditation Reaffirmation Visit in March 2004, to Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) on March 14, 2007. An acknowledgement of the receipt of the Focused Mid-Term Report by WASC has been received by President's Office on April 4, 2007. The acknowledgement letter also informed the College that the Commissioners will be reviewing the report at their meeting in June 2007 to determine if they will accept the report or not. The College has also submitted its Annual Report to WASC on April 16, 2007. Board of Regents The Board of Regents recently met in Chuuk State during the week of March 26-27, 2007. The actions and directives from the Board meeting in Chuuk are attached for your information. Board of Regent members also met with faculty, staff, and students during their meeting in Chuuk and the following concerns/problems were expressed to members: need more programs to be offered at Chuuk Campus, need to improve dispensary services, timely arrival of textbooks, processing of transcript requests are too slow, do not know where to get assistance on supplies request, need more third year program courses to be extended to Chuuk Campus, need aircons in classrooms, and transportation problems. The next Board of Regents meeting will be in Pohnpei during the third week of May 2007. President's Retreat 2007 The college hosted over 115 participants in the 2007 President's Retreat held at the FSM China Friendship Sports Center from March 19 – 23, 2007. The participants included representative from all six college campuses plus key national and state stakeholders. Three main questions were addressed at the Retreat: Where are we? Where are we going? How do we get there? *President's welcoming remarks* In his opening remarks President James stressed a number of key areas. Need to review data, evidence and trends affecting the college Engage our stakeholders in their views and expectations of the college Determine how the college programs and services can best assist economic and social development of the nation The college cannot work in isolation from its stakeholders While what happens in the Retreat is important, of greater importance is how we implement the recommendations and decisions of the Retreat and we communicate the results To be successful our students need Foundation skills Basic skills Thinking sills Personal qualities Competencies (productively use) Resources Interpersonal skills Information Systems Technoloy *Retreat design* The Retreat was designed to be highly interactive with presentations being used to set the stage for in-depth discussions. A key concept was to develop shared understanding of where the college is right now and what factors and trends are influencing the college and what are key issues and problems facing the college. The last stage of the Retreat was to address priority problems and challenges facing the college leading to action plans and implementation. To assist with promoting discussion and dialoguer participants were encouraged to use a series of simple tools. To help identify assumptions participants were recommended to separate what is Known "now" from what is Unclear and both from what is Presumed (by the person with the problem or his agent). To assist with problem identification participants were encouraged to ask - "Don't ask 'What's the problem,' ask 'What's the story?' That way you'll find out what the problem really is." To help better understand how systems affect the college participants were encouraged to ask - H ow did we (through our internal thinking, our processes, our practices, and our procedures) contribute to or create the circumstances (good and bad) we face now? To promote more proactive approaches to problem solutions participants were encouraged to ask two questions: What possibilities for action exist? What can we (I) do? The Retreat also included discussion sessions that were directed at addressing specific issues: Staff senate - (who represents, how it is structured, should there be a single staff senate or one at each campus, etc.) Student body organization (same questions as above) Organizational chart (structure) evaluation What is the image of the college? What does the college want its image to be? Communication plan input Problem statements and strategies to address those problems Based on extensive review of the data, evidence and trends affecting the college a set of problem statements were generated along with SWOT analysis of the college. Key strategies and action steps to address major issues facing the college were also developed. There is insufficient dialogue and information exchange between external stakeholders and the college in regard to economic and social development needs, program development, service delivery and funding for students and the college. The college needs to: Improve dialogue and information exchange between the College and stakeholders pertaining to funding for students and the college. Improve dialogue and information exchange between the College and stakeholders pertaining to the delivery of College services. Improved communication and exchange of information between stakeholders and the college for program development/improvement. Improve dialogue and information exchange between the College and stakeholders pertaining to College programs and services related to economic growth and social development. Inadequate development, understanding and application of quality standards for an effective student centered learning environment. The college needs to: Enhance/develop and implement quality standards throughout the system in all areas. Improve understanding of standards Assess/use results as basis for decision making Governance processes including development, implementation and evaluation do not include all necessary internal and external stakeholders. The college needs to: Develop implementation plan for Communication Policy Develop implementation plan for Communication Policy The academic level of the majority of incoming students is inadequate to meet college level standards. The college needs to: Improve dialogue and communication between NDOE, SDOE (s) and the college to improve K-12 & 13 educational outcome Promote the value of education among all stakeholders Incorporate with K12 in designing and implementing to raise the awareness and importance of vocational education/technical programs The success and retention rate of students at the college is less than 40%. The college needs to: Enhance working relations with K-12 to bridge the gap for students entering college (increase the number and/or per cent of degree students entering the college, reduce the number and/or per cent of under prepared students entering the college, provide realistic expectations to students entering the college, provide supplemental course and programs, etc.) Increase quality and effectiveness of remedial programs at the college. Promote programs and services (retention plan, increased tutoring, improved advising, mentoring etc.) that increase student success and retention within the College Improve quality control in student services College wide. Improve quality control in administrative services College wide. Ensure consistency and quality of instructional services College wide Improve facilities and technology availability and accessibility. Develop and implement an institutional assessment plan. Improve the image of the College *Follow up and implementation* Follow up on the Retreat has already started with presentations to the BOR in its March 2007 meeting in Chuuk and training/briefing/discussions with Chuuk campus faculty, staff and students on the Retreat and immediate implementation of key strategies including a communications plan to implement the communications policy adopted by the Board and implementation of the Shared Governance Policy. A college wide action plan is being developed based on the results of the Retreat. Additionally, individual campus and department/division/program plans will also need to be developed. For more information including copies of presentations, working sessions and results/recommendations of the Retreat, do not hesitate to contact the offices of the President, the Vice President for Administration, and Institutional Research and Planning. Mobil Oil Micronesia Donates Money to College's LRC and Annual Fun Walk: Mobil Oil Micronesia, Inc. presented to President James on April 12, 2007, a monetary contribution of $12,000 from the Scholarship Foundation to the College of Micronesia-FSM. The gift to COM-FSM will assist the College to increase reading materials and procure computer equipment for the student of COM-FSM and the community of Pohnpei. In addition to the $12,000 contribution, Mobil Oil Micronesia, Inc. donated $2,500 to support and annual COM-FSM Fun Run Walk event scheduled for May 5, 2007. "Mobil Oil Micronesia, Inc., recognizes that education is the foundation for the future our community. We hope that the gift provided will enhance the learning environment for the students at the COM-FSM and our community who utilizes the COM-FSM Library. " said Kamal Singh, President, Mobil Oil Micronesia, Inc. "Our objective is to be able to provide financial assistance to educational institutes to enhance the educational environment of the schools in the region through educational learning materials, i.e. books and equipment, and school facilities, i.e. classrooms and libraries, for our children, the future leaders of the communities we operate in" said Singh. Mobil Oil Micronesia, Inc. has been a member of the business community for over 40 years and has contributed monetary and in-kind donations annually to various educational institutes, health, safety and environmental organizations in Micronesia. President James represented the key cabinet members at the at the turn over of the funds ceremony and thanked President Kamal Singh for their donations and generosity to the College. COM-FSM Founding Day: The College of Micronesia-FSM National Campus celebrated its Founding Day, April 1, 1993, on April 2, 2007, by having students from different islands and states in the FSM showcasing their cultures by performing traditional dances and floats reflecting their life styles. The College has included in its priority goals a goal to promote the uniqueness our community, cultivate respect for individual differences and champion diversity. The cultural day activities will be part of the Founding Day celebrations that is going to be done every other year. The photos shown below were taken at the 2007 Founding Day. Trio Programs Leadership Conference College Visit 2007 The College of Micronesia-FSM Campus will be the venue for the Trio Leadership Conference College Visit 2007. Over 200 Trio Programs (Talent Search, Upward Bound and SSP) From the four FSM States and the Republic of Marshall Islands will be attending this conference during the week of April 16-19, 2007. The organizing committee for the conference has organized the following activities and sessions for the participants during the week: sports competition, college orientation, courtesy visits, site visits to historical sites and other sites in Pohnpei, cultural presentations, leadership, world finances, climate change, and other presentations that will keep the participants busy during the week. The College's administration expresses its appreciation and thanks to the organizing committee members, presenters, and all sponsors of this conference. Thank you.