NEEDS ASSESSMENT

TOPIC AREA:

    Descriptive Background and Demographics

The Northern Marianas Islands is the newest member of the American Political family. After approximately thirty years as a part of the U.S. administered United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Northern Marianas became a Commonwealth of the United States in 1978.

The CNMI is located in the western Pacific between Hawaii and the Philippines and is approximately 100 miles north of the U.S. island territory of Guam.

As part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Northern Marianas Islands were administered by the Department of the Interior which allowed the people to develop their own pace with little influence from the outside. There was a gradual increase in the availability of education, starting with elementary schools. The first public high school graduation in the Northern Marianas was in 1965.

The Northern Marianas College (NMC) was established in 1976, but it was operated out of the Department of Education. In 1981, the College was legally separated from the Department of Education, and was established as it is today.

The Adult Basic Education Program was administered by the Department of Education as part of a consolidated grant operating under a general State Plan. The transfer of the Adult Education Program to NMC was accomplished in 1983 and the College was then designated as the "State Educational Agency,' for the purpose of the Adult Education Act.

Organizationally, the Adult Education Program is administered by a Director of Adult Education (see attachment A - organizational/chart) who reports to the Dean of Vocational/Technical and Continuing Education.

The Northern Marianas College is under the leadership and guidance of the President of the Northern Marianas College. The President is appointed by the Board of Regents on a competitive basis. The President of the Northern Marianas College is a member of the Governor's cabinet.

The CNMI government enacted legislation in 1985 (Public Law 4-34 that designated the Northern Marianas College as an autonomous agency that will be governed by a Board of Regents. This legislation has provided the Northern Marianas College with explicit funding that will be designated to enable the College and describes the Boards of Regents and its role. The latest legislation concerning the College was PL 9-53 signed into law on September 29, 1995 which guarantees the College 6 million dollars for Full Time Employees (FTEs). This is, however for the College credit classes.

The current organization of the Northern Marianas College consists of Business and Hospitality Program, Vocational/Technical programs, Land Grant programs, other instructional programs, community and continuing education services as well as general college services.

Needs Assessment Topic Areas