COM-FSM is party to $1.2 million grant with UOG

The College of Micronesia-FSM will be benefitting from a $1.2 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, for the Guam/Micronesia Area Health Education Center grant. The University of Guam’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences received the funding on behalf of the region.

The funding will support AHEC grant objectives including the recruitment of students into primary care and public health careers and providing interdisciplinary training and continuing education for health professionals in Guam, the Marshall Islands, Pohnpei, Chuuk and Kosrae.

This marks the second year of funding for the AHEC grant and a 38 percent increase from year-one funding.

The University of Guam was designated as the program office for the Guam/Micronesia Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in 2009 in partnership with the University of Hawaii, the Guam Community College, the College of Micronesia-FSM, the College of the Marshall Islands, and the Pacific Islands Health Officers Association.

The goal of the Guam/Micronesia AHEC is to improve the health of the underserved through collaborative regional training initiatives across the Micronesian region. The Guam/Micronesian Area Health Education Center emphasizes community-based interisland training for healthcare providers and students while enhancing health career education and recruitment from elementary to community college levels.

Jon Berger is new Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO)

John Berger, the Assessment Coordinator (left)
will be the new Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO)
Joe Saimon, the Director of Development and
Community Relations (right) is the outgoing ALO.

National Campus, Palikir,– According to a September 3, 2010, letter from the College president to the accrediting commission, Mr Jon Berger will be the next ALO. In his memo to Dr Barbara Beno of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), President Spensin James stated that this appointment will come into effect on October 1, 2010. He will be replacing Mr Joseph Saimon who has been the accreditation liaison officer (ALO) for the College since 2004.

According to President James’ letter, Jon Berger formerly served as the director of academic programs and more recently as math and career & technical education instructor at Yap Campus. In spring 2008, Jon was awarded as Yap Campus Top Instructor and again in 2009. Jon was relocated to the National Campus as the new assessment coordinator under the instructional department.

According to Mr Berger “being an ALO is a very important position in the College which can also be a stressful position. I was tasked by the president (of the college) to provide training, mentoring and leadership for the college with regards to accreditation. I look forward to the challenge of it,” he said.

As ALO, the following will become Mr Berger’s new responsibilities:

• Keep the college community informed about the Commission policies, procedures, and activities;
• Promote a campus culture that is concerned about accreditation;
• Promote a campus culture that values a focus on student learning outcomes;
• Make the college's accreditation documents accessible;
• Facilitate Annual Reports;
• Facilitate Substantive Change reports;
• Facilitate other reports to the Commission; and
• Provide information on current Self Study efforts

Mr Berger received his bachelor’s degree at the University of Florida and his master’s degree at Fayetteville State University at North Carolina.

APAFS Country Conference to Take Place at the College again

The College of Micronesia-FSM National Campus will be the venue for the Asia Pacific Association for Fiduciary Studies (APAFS) on Thursday, September 9, 2010. The conference will take place at the FSM-China Friendship Sports Center Practice Court, where finance experts will once again gather at the College.

According to a release from the Asia Pacific Association for Fiduciary Studies, the series of country conferences is a venue for more sophisticated, in-depth discussions on investment of institutional funds and other topics relevant to fiduciaries of institutional funds. These information-driven gatherings boast of presentations from recognized experts on the latest trends and best practices affecting institutional funds today.

With focus on Managing Trust Funds as Fiduciaries, APAFS will be tapping relevant matters on financial crisis, capital markets, and attendees will take part in a Program of Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) Training and “The Prudent Process” led by Philip Mendiola-Long AIF, President & CEO, Sherman Consulting, LLC.

Sponsors of the conference include, Atalanta Sosnoff, Metropolitan West Capital Management, LLC, MorganStanley SmithBarney and Sherman Consulting, LLC.

Participants will be well equipped and informed on the following:

• Program of Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) Training and “The Prudent Process” by Philip Mendiola-Long
• Equity Markets discussion moderated by Jason Miyashita, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney featuring Kamani Kuala’au, Atalanta Sosnoff Capital, LLC and Mark J. Heath, Metropolitan West Capital Management, LLC
• Financial Crisis on a Global Scale/Behavioral Finance by Jason B. Miyashita, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney

Agenda for the day is as follows:

8:00AM – 8:45AM	Continental Breakfast
8:45AM – 9:00AM	Introduction & Welcoming Remarks
9:00AM – 10:30AM	“The Prudent Process: Part 1” by Philip Mendiola-Long, AIF President & CEO, Sherman Consulting, LLC
10:30AM – 10:45AM	Refreshment Break
10:45AM – 12:00PM	“The Prudent Process: Part 2” by Philip Mendiola-Long, AIF President & CEO, Sherman Consulting, LLC
12:00PM – 1:00PM	Lunch & Presentation: The Current Status of APAFS Mark Heath, APAFS Deputy Executive Director
1:00PM – 2:15PM	“The Prudent Process: Part 3” by Philip Mendiola-Long, AIF President & CEO, Sherman Consulting, LLC
2:15PM – 3:15PM	“The Prudent Process: Part 4” by Philip Mendiola-Long, AIF President & CEO, Sherman Consulting, LLC
3:15PM – 3:30 PM	Refreshment Break
3:30PM – 4:00PM	Financial Crisis on a Global Scale Behavioral Finance Jason B. Miyashita, Vice President, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
4:00PM – 5:00PM	Panel Discussion: Equity Markets Moderator: Jason B. Miyashita, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Kamani Kuala’au, Atalanta Sosnoff Capital, LLC Mark J. Heath, Metropolitan West Capital Management, LLC

Registration for the Country Conference is free. For more information about the country conference and APAFS, visit www.apafs.org or email admin@apafs.org.