COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA-FSM

P. O. Box 159
Kolonia, Pohnpei 96941
Federated States of Micronesia
Phone: (691) 320-2480 Fax: (691) 320-2479 E-Mail: national@comfsm.fm

President’s Message to the Community

Dear Colleagues and Fellow Members of the COM-FSM Community,

Our community has made significant progress in so many areas during the past year. We continue to work in this new, yet increasingly familiar culture of assessment, accreditation, purposeful dialogue, and participatory governance, in support of the college’s continuous quality improvement. Yet, individually and collectively we are mindful that we will always have more work. I am confident that we will be successful in achieving the goals presented in the White Paper (April 2012). There is much evidence to support the level of confidence we now deliberately and appropriately share.

We submitted the College Status Report on Student Learning Outcomes Implementation (SLO Report), the combined Midterm Report and Follow-Up Report to ACCJC on March 15, 2013, and hosted the Follow-Up Team visit on March 25-27, 2013. I know we felt the visit went well and are anxious to read the Follow-Up Team Report.

When informed of the decision of the Commission through its action letter, the action letter and the Follow-Up Team Visit Report will be made public. We anticipate receipt of the Action Letter in early July, 2013.

We were also informed that our SLO related work was cited as an “exemplar” in a case study shared by Dr. Beno, President of the ACCJC at a workshop earlier this month. Additionally, the college was recognized in the ACCJC spring news letter for its work to translate accreditation training power point slides into the Pohnpeian language to ensure our employees with limited English language proficiency could also participate.

On May 15, 2013 the college will submit a Supplemental Report to ACCJC documenting the progress to complete additional work related to the mission statement, strategic plan, Board of Regents development plan, and the progress of the space utilization study by Beca, Ltd.

As part of the submission of our Supplemental Report, I have requested permission for myself, Kasio Mida as Chairman of the Board of Regents, and Frankie Harriss as Accreditation Liaison Officer to appear before the ACCJC during the June 5-7, 2013 meeting. Appearing before the Commission would provide the college another opportunity to document completion of work considered in progress at the time the Supplemental Report was submitted. 

Let us continue our commitment to the mission and values of COM-FSM, ACCJC Accreditation Standards, and moving beyond compliance to constructive engagement.

On behalf of the Board of Regents I express my gratitude to everyone who has participated in, and contributed to the work that is documented in these critically important reports. As president, I am proud of the efforts of administrators, faculty, staff and students who actively engage in the participatory governance process that continues to strengthen this institution and support its continuous improvement.

The quality and quantity of evidence provided in the SLO Report should serve as a source of pride, especially to our faculty. If you have not already done so, I would encourage the entire community, to read the report, and be prepared to be impressed.

Every day we witness individual and collective efforts to successfully address accreditation issues for which we are on probation and ensure we understand and embrace accreditation as an ongoing process which serves to strengthen the college. The number of Regents, administrators, faculty and staff who have successfully completed the Accreditation Basics On-Line Course (385) or 100% is an important indicator of this commitment.

It was confirmed by Jack Pond, Vice President for ACCJC that COM-FSM is “the first college in the region to attain a 100% participation rate.” Let me offer my congratulations to everyone who has now successfully completed the course.

Consistent with our commitment to transparency, purposeful dialogue and participatory governance, committees received regular working drafts of the mission statement and strategic plan summary for review and input. The mission statement review and strategic plan processes were completed and these documents were presented to the Board of Regents for their review, feedback and approval at the May 6-7, 2013, meeting. We will need to wait until such time as the college is reaffirmed by the ACCJC to submit a substantive change report requesting to change the mission statement.

Final approval and funding for the college-wide space utilization study in support of a college facilities master plan has been secured and the contract has been signed. Work has already begun and we expect the project to be completed by the end of September. The completion of this study and the development of an enhanced facilities master plan is an essential component of the integrated educational master plan. This study will add value to our existing facilities master plan and further inform both our short and long term planning.

On May 22, 2013 the college will hold its 57th commencement exercises. We are pleased that Susan Moses, former COM-FSM President and Professor of Education will be our commencement speaker. It is my hope that all of you will join us as we celebrate this important day for our students and for the college.

We have submitted the 2014 budget to the FSM government. The budget reflects the needs, goals and objectives articulated in the integrated educational master plan and supports ongoing fulfillment of the college’s mission. The 2014 budget contains a modest tuition increase, and facilities fee so the college can effectively meet the total cost of ownership (TCO), increased utility and maintenance costs and ensure we continue to meet ACCJC Standard III: Resources-Standard IIIB: Physical Resources.

Continued financial support for the 2014 budget by the FSM Congress, especially the restoration of the scheduled $1.4 million decrement will be critical to our ability to achieve the integrated educational master plan and to address the accreditation issues for which the college is on probation. Such financial support from our nation’s leaders will enhance our accreditation related commitment and progress to move from compliance to constructive engagement.

I convey my appreciation to you for all of your work, efforts and dedication in service to the students we serve. Each of us plays an important role in the successful implementation of the mission of COM-FSM. When I joined you as president, I called upon us to “confront our challenges and create our future.” Given how well we have all come together, how well we communicate with each other, and our shared purpose to secure the future for COM-FSM and our students, we can only grow stronger.

It is a privilege for me to serve you as president.

Warm regards,

Joe

Joseph M. Daisy, Ed. D.,

President and Chief Executive Officer