WASC Team Visits all COM-FSM Campuses

Palikir, Pohnpei - March 11, 2010 –– The WASC visiting team commenced their official visit at all the College’s six sites on the Monday of March 8, 2010.

Sandra Serrano, Chair of the Visiting Team, is the Chancellor of the Kern Community College District

National and Pohnpei campuses were visited by Team Chair Sandra Serrano, Team Assistant Kate Pluta, team members Douglas Dykstra, Ricardo Navarrette, Sean James, Carolyn Bloch and Mary Ann Laun. Martha Tillman visited Kosrae campus and joined the Pohnpei team members on March 9. David Barney, who visited Yap and FSM-FMI campuses, and Dave Clarke, who visited Chuuk Campus, joined the rest of the team in Pohnpei on March 10.

The team met with members college community and held interviews with the president, vice presidents, directors, coordinators and division chairs, individual faculty groups and students. They also conducted two open forums where the College community and the public were invited to present their questions to the team. According to the College’s accreditation liaison officer, over 60 interviews were conducted with members of the College community.

Most of the interviews were conducted on March 8 and 9. The College has organized a reception for the visitors on the evening of March 11.

The team will conclude their visit on Friday with a meeting between Sandra Serrano and College of Micronesia-FSM President Spensin James. Their meeting will be followed by an exit meeting with President James and with members of the college to share brief observations, comments, and major findings based on the team’s evaluation. The team’s confidential recommendation to the accrediting commission regarding the status of the College will not be disclosed at this time.

Team Assistant Kate Pluta with team members Sean James, Ricardo Navarrette, Mary Ann Laun and Carolyn Bloch at the National Campus open forum.

According to the accrediting commission guidelines, a draft of the team report will be sent to President James for correction of only factual errors. This will take place approximately two weeks after the visit. After the report has been reviewed by team members and submitted by Team Chair Serrano to the accrediting commission office, a copy of the final report will be sent to President James before the commission meets and decides on the status of the College’s accreditation. This will enable the College to be made aware of the team’s recommendations on the standards before the final report is received from the Commission.

The team will conclude their visit with an exit meeting at the National Campus on the morning of Friday, March 12, and will depart Pohnpei in the afternoon.