Yap CRE/AES receives 200K grant

The College of Micronesia-FSM has been selected to receive an award in the amount of $200,000 for the project: Small Farm Outreach and Technical Assistance Program for Socially Disadvantaged Outer Island Population in Yap.

The major goal of the project is to enhance outreach, technical assistance and education efforts to reach the outer island population. According to an award letter from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Office of Advocacy and Outreach, the project will enhance the coordination of outreach, technical assistance and education efforts for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and to provide technical assistance for business creation in the economically challenged rural communities served by the college.

Mr. Anderson Neal Jr., the Socially Disadvantaged Farmer and Rancher Program Coordinator, thanks the College on behalf of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO), for submitting the competitive proposal to participate in the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (OASDFR) Competitive Grant Program.

The grant was applied for by Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai, the Researcher at the Agricultural Experiment Station of Yap Campus.

The final Grant Award Package will be forwarded to Dr. Muru for his signature within two weeks.

College graduates 113 during spring commencement exercises

The College of Micronesia-FSM National and Pohnpei campuses held their 51st Commencement Exercises on May 14, 2010. The commencement exercises was held at the FSM-China Friendship Sports Center. The theme for the Graduation was “Dawn of a new beginning”.

The College honors the two valedictorians, Nick Santiago of National Campus and Deatra Iehsi of Pohnpei Campus. The commencement speaker was the Social Sciences Division Chair Professor Mariana Ben Dereas.

Below are the numbers of graduates from each program at each of the campuses:

BA and AA degree graduates at COM-FSM
Spring 2010 Graduation at the National Campus.

National Campus:

Third Year Certificate of Achievement
Teacher Preparation – Elementary: 5
Accounting: 4
General Business: 3

Associate of Science Degrees
Business Administration: 5
Computer Information Systems: 16
Marine Science: 5
Early Childhood Education: 2

Associate of Arts Degrees
Teacher Preparation: 4
Liberal Arts: 18
Liberal Arts / Health Career Opportunity Program: 7
Micronesian Studies: 7
Liberal Arts / Media Studies: 1

Pohnpei Campus:

Associate of Applied Science Degrees
Hospitality and Tourism Management: 4
Telecommunication Technology: 2
Electronics Technology: 1
Building Technology: 1

Certificate of Achievement
Agriculture and Food Technology: 2
Carpentry: 1

Chuuk Campus:

Associate of Science in Teacher Education – Elementary: 10

Yap Campus:

Associate of Science in Teacher Education – Elementary: 2
Certificate of Achievement in General Studies: 10

Kosrae Campus:

Associate of Science in Teacher Education – Elementary: 2
Certificate of Achievement in Agriculture and Food Technology: 1

Summer student registration highest in three years

The College of Micronesia-FSM has enrolled 1,590 students as of June 1, 2010. This figure, which excludes the enrollment numbers from Yap Campus, is the highest summer enrollment the College has recorded for the past three summers.

Crowds of students show up at the National Campus
during Summer Registration.

According to Joey Oducado, the College’s registrar, the following are the enrollment figures for each campus:

• National Campus: 837
• Pohnpei Campus: 379
• Chuuk Campus: 340
• Kosrae Campus: 159

Yap Camps will begin their enrollment process next week.

Enrollment figures at the National Campus alone show an increase of 45% compared to summer 2007 figures. All campuses see a steady rise in the number of students registering during summer semesters. This summer’s enrollment figure at the National Campus is higher than last year’s by 20%. Kosrae, the FSM state with the lowest population, is able to increase its enrollment figures since last summer for at least 12%.

Enrollment figures from Yap and FSM-FMI campuses will be made available after next week.