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M E M O R A N D U M

November 16 , 2005

MEMORANDUM 

To:           All Concerned 

From:       President, COM-FSM 

Subject:     President’s Update #263

Accreditation

The substantive change proposal on Certificate of Achievement Program in Small Engine, Equipment, and Outboard Motor Repair from Pohnpei Campus was submitted to the Accrediting Commission for Junior and Community Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) on October 18, 2005, for action and approval. Words had been received from WASC that their key staff on substantive change proposals will be discussing the substantive change proposal with the College’s Accreditation Liaison Officer, President, and appropriate staff through a teleconference on November 18, 2005.

The approval and acceptance of the substantive change proposal by the Commission will allow the College to offer this new program at Pohnpei Campus. The approval and acceptance of the report will also be followed by a one member team visit by a Commissioner or their staff.

The College’s Accreditation Working Group is also busy collecting data and documents that are needed for its next Progress Report to be submitted to the Accrediting Commission on March 15, 2006. This report is an important report which will greatly impact the College’s accreditation.

Board of Regents

The Cabinet members have been asked to submit agenda items from their departments and programs that need to be included on the December 5-8, 2005, Board of Regents’ meeting. The major agenda items at the upcoming Board of Regents’ meeting will be on the permanent site for COM-FSM Chuuk Campus and the Fiscal Year 2007 Budget for the College.


Chuuk Campus

The working group on permanent site for the COM-FSM Chuuk Campus is still collecting legal and supporting documents on the sites that Board of Regents will be selecting from. The documents have been difficult to obtain from the Chuuk State Land Commission Office. The working group will be preparing briefing papers on each site that will be included in the Board of Regents binders sometimes the end of this week (November 18, 2005).

The bid announcements on the renovations of the facilities at the current site are expected to be out sometimes during the end of November 2005. The actual renovations of the facilities at the current sites are expected to start in January 2006.

The College president has been invited to an oversight hearing on Chuuk Campus on Wednesday, 11/16/05, at 3:00 at the FSM Congress. The FSM Congress Committee on Health, Education, and Social Affairs will be conducting this public hearing.

FSM Fisheries and Maritime Academy

An Evaluation Team from JICA will be visiting the FSM Fisheries and Maritime Academy and the College of Micronesia-FSM during the week of December 7-11, 2005. The evaluating team will be evaluating the development of curriculum and training of instructors at the FSM FMI during their visit. Since the collaborations at the FSM FMI are joint agreements between the FSM and Japanese Government, members of the evaluation team include representatives from the FSM National Government and the College of Micronesia-FSM. The representatives from Japan, FSM Government, and the College will be conducting the evaluation of the institute in Yap and then proceed to Pohnpei to complete their evaluation.

System Wide Budget for FY 2007

The Finance Committee conducted budget hearings with the departments, divisions, and campuses during the week of November 7-10, 2005, in order to reduce the system wide budgets by about $1.35 million. The Finance Committee was able to reduce the submitted budgets by about $1.00 million but there is still a need to reduce the College wide budget by $300,000 before it is submitted to BOR for action and approval. The Board will only entertain or review a balanced budget. The President and the Vice Presidents will work with the Comptroller on balancing the budget.

The administration would like to thank the Finance Committee members and staff who have worked hard on the FY 2007 budget hearings.

PIALA Conference

The following COM-FSM staff attended the Pacific Island Association of Library and Archives in Kosrae during the week of November 7-10, 2005: Iris Falcam, represented Jean Thoulag, Vice President for Instructional Affairs, and presented the keynote address at the Conference, Lucy Oducado, Atarino Helieisar, Karleen Manuel, Nercy Syne, Kersweet Eria, and Edson Asito.

Drug Free Fun Walk

The administration would like to thank all the supporters, faculty, students, and staff that participated in the 2005 Drug Free Fun-Walk on November 4, 2005. The Fun-Walk generated $1,030 for the COM-FSM Endowment fund. Appreciation is also extended to the FSM NOC and College staff who worked hard in organizing the event.

Agriculture Programs at the COM-FSM Kosrae Campus

Portion of this update is dedicated to the Agriculture programs at the COM-FSM Kosrae Campus. Attached are articles and photos contributed by Lyle Caconguis, Agriculture Instructor at the COM-FSM Kosrae Campus. Keep up the good work. We will be happy to include in our next update photos and articles from other campuses that will advertise instructional programs.

Thank you.

FYI from VPCRE