Accreditation:

The College of Micronesia-FSM will be visited by a four member Accrediting Commission team during the week of April 11-15, 2005.  The purpose of this visit is to validate the contents of the two substantive reports that were submitted to the Western Association of Schools and Colleges in October 15, 2004,  and March 15, 2005.  The team members will be visiting all campuses. 

Dr. Eva Conrad will be visiting Chuuk Campus.  Dr. Marie Smith will be visiting Kosrae Campus and Dr. Louise Pagotto will be visiting Yap Campus.  Drs. Marie Smith and Eva Conrad and Mr. Floyd Takeuchi will be visiting the National and Pohnpei Campuses.  The final decision on the visiting team’s report will be made at the Accrediting Commission’s meeting in June 2005. 

Budget:

The College has been advised by the FSM President’s Office to submit its Second Quarter Performance Based Budget Report on April 20, 2005.  The Comptroller’s and President’s Offices will be working with the College departments/divisions to complete the report and submit it on time to FSM President’s Office.

The College has been informed that the second supplemental request in the amount of $100,000 for the FSM Fisheries and Maritime Institute have been approved by the FSM Congress during its Special Session in March 2005.  Another supplemental request in the amount of $100,000 was approved by the FSM Congress at its January 2005 session.  The total supplemental requests approved by the FSM Congress for FSM Fisheries and Maritime Institute are at  $200,000.  The College’s administration would like to express its appreciation, gratitude, and thanks to the FSM Congress for its generosity and support to the FSM Fisheries and Maritime Institute.

Founding Day 2005:

The theme for the Founding Day 2005 was on “Cultural Diversity Gives Us Strength”.  The activities for this year’s Founding Day were different than the previous years’ in that the organizing committee decided to have the students from each of the FSM States and other places to display their cultures through dances, songs, etc.  The Founding Day 2005 activities started with float parade from PICS Track to Spanish Wall Soft Ball Field.  The floats and dances were colorful and exceptionally well presented. 

On behalf of the administration of the College of Micronesia-FSM, I would like to express our appreciation, gratitude, and thanks to the organizing committee members, SBA members, students, faculty, and staff at the National and Pohnpei Campuses for the excellent job shown in the preparations and presentations of floats and dances at the Founding Day 2005.  The whole College Community should be congratulated for an excellent job.  The Founding Day 2005 activities really unite us and strengthen us.  It was a superb public relation for the College.  Again thanks to all of us.

 

  

        

 

FSEOG and  Work Study Programs for FSM Students:

The College of Micronesia-FSM has been working directly with the FSM President’s Office in regards to reinstating the FSM student’s eligibility for the FSEOG and Work Study Programs.  Currently under Compact II arrangements, FSM Students who enrolled at institutions of higher learning after June 25, 2004 are not eligible for these two Federal Student Assistance Programs. The College of Micronesia-FSM students are eligible for these programs under the Supplemental Education Grant. The FSM Legal Counsel has written his legal interpretation on the programs and is working closely with the FSM Embassy in Washington, D. C. and U.S. Congress on reinstating the eligibility for the FSM Students.  The FSM Legal Counsel’s interpretation is attached for your information.

Sponsored Programs:

Unofficial words have been received by the Director of the Student Support Services Project that the SSSP has been funded again for another five years at $236,218 per year.

The Director of Research and Planning Office and staff were busy during the last 3 weeks working with the College staff on grant proposal writing.  The following proposals were developed by project directors and staff and were submitted to Washington, D.C for possible funding: Gear-Up Grant for Kosrae Campus and Apple Project (for Alcohol and Drug Free Education) for National Campus.  Pohnpei Campus is currently developing a new grant proposal for its Talent Search Program and we hope the other campuses will join Pohnpei Campus in submitting separate proposals.

Some of the staff have asked for a copy of Dr. Lilly Owyang’s site visit report on the validation of the Substantive Change Report on Associate Degree of Applied Science in Telecommunications, Electronic Technology and Building Technology at Pohnpei Campus so I am attaching a copy of the report to this update for your file.

Thanks