Update from the President's Office - No.215

October 09, 2002 MEMORANDUM

To:All Regents, Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni, Community Patrons, and Our Valued College Friends

From:Dr. Michael Tatum, President

Here we are, already into the month of October, with classes in full swing and our campuses once more vibrantly alive with our stellar faculty back at the helms of their classrooms, our students going from class to class with happy demeanors of determination on their faces, and our dedicated staff people all busy at their jobs. This is truly a great time of the year!

New Beginnings  New Days, New Ways

With the school year marching along, it becomes incumbent on us all to move forward with vigor and a focus on the future. But this is like preaching to the choir. Everywhere I look I see evidence of creative minds urging us ever forward. There are many examples of this vibrance on our campus, but one that comes immediately to mind is Dana Lee Ling. There isnt a day that passes by that Dana doesnt have some outstanding thought or new idea to share. Whether it is Joggling, computer technology, collection of baseline data, or new and innovative ways to help our students, Dana is always there with his enthusiasm and unique vibrato of thoughts. Coupled with his Go Sharks cheerleading, I cant help but think that we are on the right path.

Just recently I ran across a contribution of Danas. I like the way that Danas mind works!  

SHARKS 

S Studious

H Hardworking

A Active

R Respectful

K Knowledgeable

S Swift

Yes, the creative juices are flowing everywhere here at the College of Micronesia-FSM and I find it inspiring. Each day brings each of us new challenges, but each challenge also brings with it opportunities. I encourage us all to look at this school year as a New Beginning and an Opportunity to look for New Ways to tackle the problems and challenges that confront us daily as we strive to deliver quality education here in the FSM.

 The past is but the beginning of a beginning, and all that is and has been is but the twilight of the dawn."  H.G. Wells

New Days, New Faces

Ms. Rosa Tacheliol, English Instructor  Yap Campus

Mr. Joseph Ayin, Construction and Electricity Instructor  Yap Campus

Ms. Devanesam Senarathgoda, English Instructor  Chuuk Campus

Mr. Alvios William, English Instructor  Chuuk Campus

Ms. Amy James, Counselor with Talent Search  Pohnpei Campus

Ms. Evelyn Soumwei, Administrative Assistant  Chuuk Campus

Mr. Renton Isaac, Information System Specialist, Kosrae Campus

Ms. Rencelly Nelson, Education Specialist, National Campus

Mr. Joseph Nyakairu, Hotel Restaurant Management  Pohnpei Campus

Ms. Amy James, Counselor for Talent Search  Pohnpei Campus

Other new faces recently seen on our campus and visiting Pohnpei belong to the following list of visitors:

Dr. Brian Crawford, Associate Coastal Resources Manager,
University of Rhode Island

Dr. Maria Haws, Coastal Resources Program
University of Hawaii-Hilo

Monsieur Jean-Pierre Vidon, French Ambassador / Suva, Fiji

Mr. J. Clifford Wallace, Senior Judge, United States Court of Appeals
San Diego, California

Mr. David Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Insular Affairs, United States Department of the Interior, Washington, DC

Mr. Victor Hobson, FAS Federal Programs Coordinator,
United States Department of the Interior, Kolonia, Micronesia

Mr. Larry Dinger, United States Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia,
Kolonia, Pohnpei

Dr. Leroy F. Heitz, Director of Water Resources Engineering,
University of Guam

Dr. Shahram Khosrowpanah, Water and Environmental Institute,
University of Guam

Mr. Dean Anthony, Director of Rural Housing Development,United States Department of Agriculture,
Kolonia, Pohnpei

Dr. Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop, Social Economist,
Pacific Forum Secretariat, Samoa

Mr. Ronald Gonzales, Winzler & Kelly Consulting Engineers
Hagatna, Guam

Ms. Dotty Kelly, Center on Disability Studies, University Center for Excellence,
University of Hawaii at Manoa

Mr. Steve Spencer, Community Technology Coordinator
San Diego State University

Mr. Gif Johnson, Managing Editor, Pacific Magazine,
Majuro, Marshall Islands

Mr. Floyd Takeuchi, President, Pacific Basin Communications, Pacific Magazine,
Honolulu, Hawaii

Mr. Midion Neth, Deputy Secretary for HESA, FSM

Mr. Akira Ouchi, Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Mrs. Roylin Wada, United States Department of Interior,Office of Insular Affairs,
Washington, D.C.

Mr. Thomas Hushek, Deputy of Mission, United States Embassy, Pohnpei

Dr. Emil Friberg, Assistant Director / Senior Economist,United States Accounting Office,
Washington, D.C.

Ambassador Herbert D. Jess, Federal Republic of Germany,
Makati, Philipines

If you want an accounting of your worth, count your friends.  Merry Browne

We thank each of these visitors for their support and interest in the College of Micronesia-FSM and for taking the time to visit us and share with us the vision that we have for the future.

Days Ahead  Status of the Compact  Preparation for Accreditation

The status of the Compact between the FSM and the United States continues to occupy most of our minds. The administration of the college has been involved in making contacts to encourage support for inclusion of post-secondary education in the agreement. At a recent meeting sponsored by the United States Embassy in Pohnpei, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior David Cohen spoke to a group of US Expats about the Compact. Some members of our faculty and administration were present to ask questions and voice support for a post-secondary mandate in the Compact. Mr. Cohen was very supportive of the comments made and said that he believes that post-secondary education will not be neglected in the Compact, even if not specifically mentioned. We all need to voice our concerns regarding this issue.

Another area that has attracted much attention is all of the activity related to accreditation. An all inclusive meeting of faculty and staff was recently held at the FSM-China Friendship Sports Center, where those attending were introduced to the new accreditation standards. Since that meeting there has been a beehive of activity as work groups have formed and organized in order to start the work that needs to be done. Mr. Glen Snider, our Acting Director of Research and Planning and Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) did a commendable job of organizing and conducting this meeting. Still we have much to do, but this will be an exciting time for all of us at the college as we learn and grow from this positive experience.

As we proceed forward, I can see Dana cheerleading us all with his now famous Go Sharks!

Happy Days and Congratulations

Commendations and Congratulations are in order for our talented and dedicated TRIO Directors and Personnel for jobs well done and for Grant Renewals. Sincere Thanks to each of you for all that you do to help our students prepare for college and be successful in their college careers. Kudos for a job well done!

We also need to congratulate Belinda Suzuki, instructor for our Business Division at the National Campus. On October 3^rd, Belinda gave birth to a beautiful baby girl! Her name is Bellana and she arrived weighing a healthy 6.2 pounds. Baby Bellana, mom, and dad are reported to all be doing well. Congratulations to the Suzuki Family! We expect to see Bellana as a student on our campus in a few years from now.

Congratulations also go out to Dr. Josekutty, Land Grant, who recently traveled to Belgium where he presented the paper Inter-situ Conservation of Endangered, Vitamin A Rich Bananas. While there, Dr. Josekutty also participated in advanced training in the area of banana technology. Our professional staff in Land Grant continue to represent us well. We are appreciative of the fine job that they are doing

Long Days  News of the recent Board of Regents Meeting held in Chuuk

Just two weeks ago the Board of Regents for the College of Micronesia-FSM held their regularly scheduled meeting. Previously scheduled to be held in Yap, the meeting was held in Chuuk to study and evaluate the Chuuk Campus and seek resolve to finding a permanent solution to the problems our students and faculty face in Chuuk, especially with regard to facilities.

Besides the Chuuk Campus dilemma, the FY 2003 Budget was a major focus of the meeting. The guidelines for the FY 2004 Budget were also established. The bottom line remains the fiscal crunch the college is experiencing in the midst of increasing enrollments, student and program needs, increased national and community expectations, and need. It is imperative that the FSM Congress work with us to sustain our growth and needs, especially as accreditation rapidly approaches. The College of Micronesia-FSM, our college, is indeed the Gem of the country and we must all work together to rally support in order to sustain our high levels of performance and excellent quality of education. The solution must be Win/Win/Win. College/Government/Community - All working together. We must all be SHARKS.

Other actions taken at the Board of Regents meeting included the following:

        Approval of the proposed modifications to the Certificate of Achievement Program in Agriculture and Food Technology

        Approval of the proposed modifications to the Associate of Arts Degree Program in Media Studies

        The new Associate of Science Degree in Business Administration was approved

        Both the Associate of Applied Science Degree Programs in Telecommunications and in Electronic Technology were approved

Days of Opportunity and New Horizons

One of the early pioneer educators in the American West, Jacob Spori, once said:

 The seeds we are planting today will grow and become mighty oaks,

 and their branches will run all over the earth.

I believe that Mr. Sporis vision of the future of his students also applies to the students that have been entrusted to us and our stewarship here at the College of Micronesia-FSM. I believe that we need to look at the challenges facing us as Opportunities to Grow. I dont know of a single educator who entered into the profession with visions of getting rich, or for that matter, particularly famous. For most of us the bonus we receive is from the successes our students achieve.

Allow me to share a personal experience with you. Last week I had the opportunity to participate in a workshop sponsored by Heinrich Palik, his Talent Search staff, and the Pohnpei Campus. The moderator for the workshop was Rita Harris. Rita was also a student and an advisee of mine nearly twenty years ago when she was studying at Eastern Arizona College. I cant begin to convey to you the intense feelings of pride I felt as I watched Rita standing in front of this workshop, teaching and leading. I must also say that Rita is a self-made woman. She is the one who made herself who she is today, certainly not me. But just the idea that she had passed my way and that maybe I had contributed my small part to her success was a bonus for me. Thank you Rita.

And thanks to you all. I might well see life through gilded lenses, but I see Opportunity abounding each day. I see my lifes glass as brimming to the point of overflowing. I believe that just beyond the Horizon there will be many New Beginnings and New Ways and New Days for us all. I am looking forward with anticipation.

 The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

    -Eleanor Roosevelt

I wish you all well.

With warm regards and appreciation for each of you,

 Mike

Dr. Michael Tatum

President