General Information:

The Campus Directors and the members of the President's Cabinet will be meeting in Pohnpei at the National Campus on May 13-15, 2004. The major agenda item for this meeting will focus on the roles of state campuses.

The next regular meeting of the COM-FSM Board of Regents has been scheduled to take place during the week of May 17-21, 2004, at the National Campus.

The College of Micronesia-FSM community wishes to express its sympathy and condolences to the family of the late Senator Ambros T. Senda who has been a strong supporter of the College. Our thoughts and prayers go to Senator Senda's family.

The Presidential Search Committee has been organized and consists of eleven (11) members representing the Board, administration, personnel, faculty, staff, students and each campus. The committee will be meeting shortly to finalize the vacancy announcement and recruitment process.

National Campus:

Acting President's Office has been informed by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Honorable Sebastian Anafel, that Mr. Randall G. Shriver, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Island Affairs, Department of State and Mr. David Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Insular Affairs, Department of Interior will be visiting the National Campus site on Wednesday, 5/5/04, at 3 p.m. in the afternoon. They asked for a tour of the campus, especially the FSM-China Friendship Center.

A delegation met with the FSM Budget Review Committee on May 29, 2004, at the FSM President Conference Room to verify figures for the COM-FSM FY 2005 budget. This meeting was necessary so the two groups could iron out any differences regarding the College's budget before the budget hearing with FSM Congress later this month.

The Acting President traveled to Chuuk State during the week of April 27-30, 2004, to lobby the Chuuk leadership for their support on acquiring a permanent site for COM-FSM Campus/Chuuk. Acting President also discussed with the leaders in Chuuk as well as faculty, staff, and students at COM-FSM Campus/Chuuk the immediate need to secure adequate facility for student learning there. The trip was successful.

The National Campus Faculty and Staff Incentive Award for the school year 2003-2004 is scheduled to take place on May 14, 2004. The Staff Development Committee has distributed the incentive award forms to faculty, staff and students to nominate the faculty of the year, professional staff of the year, and four other categories of incentive awards.

The Curriculum Committee met on April 22, 2004, and recommended the enrollment management plan for implementation Fall Semester 2004 at all the COM-FSM campuses. The indicators used by the Curriculum Committee in establishing an enrollment cap for each of the campus is based on classroom seating capacity, available computers for students use, full-time faculty to student ratio, support services available at each campus, and faculty to student ratio. The following are the recommended enrollment caps for each campus for Fall Semester 2004:

Chuuk Campus ....................... 720 Students
Kosrae Campus ....................... 250 "
Pohnpei Campus ...................... 450 "
National Campus ..................... 970 "
Yap Campus ........................... Will be determined later

*Kosrae Campus'enrollment management cap does not include 110 teachers who will be taking courses there.

The Fundraising Steering Committee is being organized with the following members:
President
Ringlen Ringlen…………………………………........Administration Representative
Jessica Stam………………………………………....Administration Representative
Campus Directors…………………………………....(5 Directors)
Morehna R. Santos………………………………......President, Staff Senate
Pelma Palik……………………………………….....Alumni Representative
Jasmin Gonzales……………………………………..Faculty Representative
Susan J. Moses (??)…………………………………Faculty Representative
Mariana Ben-Dereas………………………………...Faculty Representaive
Benson Moses………………………………………Staff Representative
Iris Falcam…………………………………………..Staff Representative
Arlene Dumantay…………………………………….Staff Representative
Martin Mingii………………………………………...Staff Representative
Gina Tobin…………………………………………...SBA Representative
Podis Pedrus…………………………………………BOR Representative

The committee will be meeting shortly to elect officers and finalize the fundraising plan for the College. Any concerns or suggestions about fundraising activities can be addressed to any member of the committee.

The final exams at the National Campus are scheduled to take place on May 11-13, 2004. The Learning Resource Center has extended the hours of service for students during that week to 10:00 p.m.

The SSS Program held its semester Award Ceremony at MITC, on April 30, 2004. SSS Programs at Pohnpei and National Campuses got together to honor and recognize students and tutors. Students were honored for their academic excellence, active participation and degree completion. Tutors were recognized for their commitment and efforts toward the students and the program. There were 46 people in attendance including Vice President for Support and Student Affairs Mr. Ringlen Ringlen who presented the welcoming remarks.

On April 22, 2004, 27 Upward Bound Students from Kosrae and 7 Upward Students from Yap and the Directors and staff of the programs visited the National Campus. Their week included classroom visits, meeting with staff and the VPSSA, Ringlen Ringlen and a courtesy visit with the Acting President, Spensin James, tours, and picnic. On April 28th and 29th, the Upward Program and TSP Students at Pohnpei Campus hosted two separate dinners for the sister programs from Kosrae and Yap campuses. A word of thanks is conveyed to the staff from National and Pohnpei campuses who contributed to the success of the visit. Our appreciation to the students and staff of the UB and Pohnpei Campus for the wonderful dinner they hosted for the visiting guests.

COM-FSM annual Health Fair took place at the National Campus on April 28, 2004. Activities implemented on that day included presentation on Syphillis and on Vitamin A Deficiency, booth displays-representing various health and safety-related agencies/programs such as Pohnpei State Primary Health Care with its various programs, FSM and Pohnpei State Public Safety, the PMF Eye Clinic, the Salvation Army, the Pohnpei State Family Head Start Program and etc. Over 350 people participated in the Health Fair. VPSSA Ringlen Ringlen represented the College at the Fair and presented the welcoming remarks. Thanks goes out to everyone that contributed to the success of the 2004 Health Fair.

On April 15, 2004, the Chairman of the College of Micronesia-FSM Board of Regents received a letter from FSM President Joseph J. Urusmal in which he addressed some concerns regarding the COM-FSM FY 2005 budget submission to the FSM government. The administration and Board of Regents welcome this additional opportunity to expand the dialogue with the FSM government. Everywhere in the developed world, the delivery of education and health care consume a very large part of the budget of national and state governments. Leaders responsible for funding educational organizations must constantly encourage efficiency and best practices. The current financial situation of the FSM will require renewed vigor in utilizing our resources effectively if we are to deliver quality, affordable programs. In responding to the President, the College will continue to seek opportunities to work with the leaders of the nation.

The following faculty members will be leaving the College at the end of Spring Semester 2004:

Jeff Steel..........................Pohnpei Camous
Amy Cameron................ Pohnpei Campus
Paul Ridding................... National Campus
Robert Bruff................... National Campus
MJ Joseph.......................Kosrae Campus

Lisa David, Account Clerk IV, was recently hired by Business Office at the National Campus.

The Administration of the College would like to thank the faculty and staff who are leaving the College at the end of Spring Semester 2004 for their hard work and dedication during their years at the COM-FSM. We also like to wish them luck in their future endeavors. The College is in the process of recruiting suitable replacements.

A total of $1698 were collected from faculty, staff, and students at Kosrae, Palikir, and Pohnpei Campus for Yap Campus faculty, staff, and students that lost their valuable belongings during Typhoon Sudal. Administration would like to thank students, faculty, and staff who contributed to the collection for Yap Campus.

Chuuk Campus

Mr. Joaquim Peter, Director of Chuuk Campus, is on medical leave for about two weeks and Mr. Switer Eter, Assistant Director of Chuuk Campus has been designated the Acting Director until Mr. Peter returns to Chuuk.

Acting President visited Chuuk Campus during the week of April 27-30, 2004, where he met with the faculty members, staff, students, and parents and discussed the enrollment management plan, Chuuk Star project, and student activities. The meetings were educational and informative.

The Instructional Divisions are in the process of electing their chairs for school year 2004-2005. The newly elected chairs will be on temporary assignment until the organizational chart for the College is modified.

The purchase order for a back up generator for Chuuk Campus has been finalized. The cost of the back-up generator is at $27,000. The back up generator will be installed at the Chuuk Campus as soon as the Chuuk State Public Utility Company modifies the power distribution at the site.

FSM FMI

Following the aftermath of Typhoon Sudal, tree branches and coconut fronds were strewn everywhere, and pieces of tin roofs were littered the grounds of the campus. The faculty, staff, and students worked together in cleaning up the campus after the typhoon.

The faculty, staff, and students also participated in cleaning of the roads and the village of Rumuu, where the FSM-FMI boats are kept and remained intact from the typhoon. The organized clean up efforts by the Rumuu Village and the FSM-FMI were requested by Yap Governor's Office.

The faculty and staff were given half-day administrative leave for two weeks to rebuild their houses that were destroyed during Typhoon Sudal.

Kosrae Campus:

Director of Kosrae Campus is in the process of finalizing the MOU for the development of the Small Business Development Center with Kosrae State government.

Yap Campus:

Yap Campus is still trying to organize their main office after the return of power there. The classes at the campus resumed on April 26, 2004. We learned that the total seating capacity for Yap Site after Typhoon Sudal is at 70 seats. We are hoping that we can repair or rebuild the destroyed classrooms before Fall Semester 2004.

Thank you.