Update from the President's Office - No. 198

November 21, 2001

MEMORANDUM

To:       All Regents, Faculty, Staff, and Students

From:     President

Subject:  Update from the President's Office-No.198

Chuuk Campus update. Vice President for Instructional Affairs Spensin James and Director of Academic Programs Joe Habuchmai visited Chuuk Campus October 18-19, 2001, to conduct workshops for the faculty on the development of course outlines and student advising. Also during the month of October, Director of Personnel Linda Maradol conducted a series of workshops at Chuuk Campus on the updated personnel manual. Mark DeOrio, Information Systems Technician from the National Campus also visited Chuuk Campus October 23-25, 2001, to install a new router to get Chuuk Campus back on the College's network. Other visitors included Vic Hobson of the US Department of Interior, Celestino Emwalu of the Chuuk State School System, Sandy Dawson of PREL, Aier Willyander of the FSM Division of Education, Nick Andon of FSM Telecommunications Corporation, Korety Mori and Freddie David of the FSM and Chuuk State Immigration Offices respectively, Clark Graham who explored the idea of establishing a basketball clinic, and nearly 200 students interested in participating in the Upward Bound Program.

The Chuuk Campus Math and Science Department has coordinated the DELTA program (under the direction of PREL) and the College Success Program in collaboration with the FSM Division of Education.

Students in the vocational classes produced drawings in the drafting classes that were used as working drawings in the Introduction to Carpentry class. Students produced pieces of furniture as a result of these efforts.

A total of 78 students are enrolled in the Intensive English Program. Due to the limited number of computers, the English Department is holding classes all day on Fridays and Saturdays for two sections of ESL 071 until the end of fall semester with three volunteer instructors. Special thanks is expressed to these instructors for their extraordinary dedication.

The new Education Department Chairperson, Connie Maipi, has been reviewing documents, becoming familiar with the requirements of the education programs, and ordering textbooks in addition to teaching classes. The Chairperson of the Business Department reports that they are serving over 100 students in the Computer Lab.

Chuuk Culture and Education Studies Project Coordinator Joakim Peter is teaching two Social Science courses - SS 130 and SS 150 - in addition to working on the following projects: Chuuk Multimedia Project, Publications (Chuuk Campus Nius), Oral History Project, Lecture Series, and the Chuuk Musical Archives.

Chuuk Campus Student Body Association officers for school year 2001-2002 are as follows: Dirik Daniel, President; Vivian Well, Vice President; Joyce Ruben, Secretary; and Nerleen Hauk, Treasurer. Congratulations to all of you on your election! We wish you a productive school year!

The Chuuk Upward Bound Program selected 27 new students (out of 182 applicants) to replace the graduating seniors and those who have dropped out of the program. The program is offering 25 classes which are being taught by 8 part-time instructors. In addition, 16 tutors provide services in math, science, English, computer, and other subjects. Prior to the implementation of the tutoring services, a meeting was held with students and parents to provide information on the services to be provided, the role of parents in assisting the students, policies and regulations, and program benefits.

Under the Land Grant Program , the FY 2000-2001 Annual Report and the EFNEP report were completed and submitted. Also under the Youth Development Program, a 2-month training program for 2 groups of high school dropouts is underway. The first group's program includes skills in agriculture, nutrition, cooking, and small business as well as academic subjects, while the second group's program is concentrated on academic skills. A total of 64 youths are participating in this project.

FSM Fisheries and Maritime Institute update. According to the September/October report from FSM FMI Director Matthias Ewarmai, the first Watchkeeping Rating Course was concluded on September 13, 2001, at a ceremony with Yap Chief of Transportation, Moses Marpa, as guest of honor. A total of 19 seafarers from ships flying the FSM flag completed this course. The second Watchkeeping Rating Course began on October 1, 2001, with 16 students who are seafarers from the Micro Glory, the Micronesian Provider, the Micro Dawn, the Micro Trader, the Micro Spirit, and the Paluwlap. Due to a misunderstanding regarding the starting date of the course, seafarers from the MV Caroline Islands and the MV Caroline Voyager missed this class. It is hoped they will be able to attend a similar class to be offered in January.

The visit by the Executive Director and Associate Director of the Accrediting Commission and Director of Personnel Linda Maradol and myself took place during the early part of October. (See Update 195 for details.)

A short-term expert in the repair of outboard motors, Akira Ishihara, arrived Yap on October 6, 2001, to assist the Engineering Division in the delivery of a course which ran from October 22 - November 1, 2001. The objective of this course, which was delivered during the evening hours, was to provide the learner with the knowledge and skills necessary to operate, repair, inspect and maintain two- and four- cycle outboard motors of less than 75 horsepower. Sixteen (16) participants successfully completed the course.

Another short-term expert on electronic engineering arrived on October 11, 2001, to set up the radar, fish finder, and echo sounder on the Cassiopeia and the radar simulator in the Navigation Lab. He also taught instructors how to use this equipment. The equipment that was installed is required for the training and certification of Class 6 Masters and Class 5 Masters and up.

Matthias was nominated by the FSM Department of Transportation, Communication, and Infrastructure to participate in a Japan-Pacific Shipbuilding Conference which was held in Singapore November 12-13, 2001. The primary emphasis of this conference was how Japan can assist the Pacific islands in meeting their needs and requirements relating to shipping services, including contribution of equipment (ships).

Pohnpei Campus update. Pohnpei Campus and its Talent Search Program sponsored alcohol and drug awareness activities during the week of October 29th. These activities included talks from experts, video viewing, jail facility visits, and drama, essay, poem, and song competitions. Winners of the competitions include: Comedy Drama - Head Start Ladies Group; Poem - Belinda Shed; and Essay - Antelise Vera Cruz. Congratulations to these winners!!

A non-credit course in Pohnpeian Language began on October 30th, and an English Seminar in Improving Workplace Writing Skills began on October 23rd for Australian Embassy and Bank of the FSM employees. A series of sessions for employees of the Conservation Society of Pohnpei began on October 22nd. This series includes Computer Training, Time Management Skills, Employee Evaluation, Building Effective Teams, Public Relations, Effective Writing and Communication, Grant Writing and Reporting, Board Training, and a Board and Staff Retreat. The first session of the Computer Training being offered for Pohnpei State was completed on November 9, 2001, and the second session began on November 12, 2001. A total of 141 Pohnpei State employees are participating in this program.

Twenty (20) new computers were installed in the computer lab with the replaced ones going to the study hall. Also, a donation of books for the library was received from Guam Community College.

The Pohnpei Campus Advisory Council met on October 25, 2001, to finalize the priority sections of the Pohnpei Campus Five-Year Plan. A follow-up meeting was held on November 15, 2001.

A total of 134 farmers, homemakers, and individuals were served by the staff of the Cooperative Extension Services program (Land Grant) during the month of October in the areas of crop monitoring, banana improvement, and swine improvement, home gardening, black pepper production, EFNEP, and false sakau.

In the Upward Bound Program, classes began on October 8, 2001, with 10 instructors teaching 4 levels of science, 4 levels of math, 4 levels each of English Reading/Literature and English Grammar/Composition, and 2 electives of Speech Communication and Career Exploration. The English Curriculum has been adjusted to better serve the needs of the students. Tutorial sessions are scheduled to begin this month.

Cabinet actions. The Cabinet met on Friday, November 16, 2001, and approved the proposed Certificate of Achievement in Cabinet Making/Furniture Making for submission to the Board of Regents. Also approved for submission to the Board was an amendment to the Academic Suspension Policy. The policy currently reads as follows:

Students who remain on academic probation for two consecutive semesters are placed on academic suspension for one regular semester. After one semester, a suspended student may apply for readmission. Readmission is not automatic and will be granted by the Admissions Board or for the open admissions programs by the State Campus Director on probationary status only when there is evidence that the student will perform satisfactorily.

The proposed amendment, submitted by the Admissions Board and adopted with modifications by the Cabinet, would change the first sentence to read as follows:

Students who remain on academic probation for two consecutively enrolled semesters (not including summer session) are placed on academic suspension.

The primary purpose of the change is to clarify the policy. This policy will be reviewed by the Board at its December meeting.

Board of Regents meeting.The COM-FSM Board of Regents will be having a teleconference meeting Wednesday, November 21, 2001, to discuss a personnel issue in executive session. The next regular meeting of the Board is now scheduled for the week of December 10-14, 2001. Pohnpei Campus is hosting this meeting.

Retirement plan implementation. David John, President of Administrative Services Corporation, held a series of orientation sessions with employees at both the National and Pohnpei Campuses on the College's retirement plan on November 19-20, 2001. Similar sessions will be held at the other campuses in the future. Director of Personnel Linda Maradol will be facilitating enrollment in this plan with the hope of beginning with the first payroll of the new year.

Personnel. Nothing to report this time.

More Next Time!