The DCR is now testing a new alumni software. This is a test messge

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.

STAP awards scholarships to COM-FSM students

National Campus, Palikir –The STAP Filipino organization based in Pohnpei gave scholarship awards to seven COM-FSM students. The ceremony took place on August 24, 2010. STAP stands for Samahang Tagalog ATBP at Pohnpei.

Out of 11 scholarship applicants, seven were chosen to receive the scholarship awards amounting to $500 each. The seven students were Laura Fujimoto, Venessa James, Anthony Lukogfunay, William Piki, Fritzgerald Weilbacher, Mylee Mario and Lashauna Wilson.

According to Jojo Pulmano, president of STAP, the organization has been giving away scholarships to COM-FSM students for the past 10 years. He said that the scholarship foundation started on September 2000, with the aim to help COM-FSM students finance their college education. Every year the organization gives away four scholarship awards. This year the STAP leadership decided to give away seven awards instead of the usual four.

College of Micronesia-FSM president, Mr Spensin James along with the vice president for instructional affairs, Ms Jean Thoulag welcomed the STAP officers. President James thanked them on behalf of the College. The STAP officers who visited the National Campus included Jojo Pulamno, Vida Ricafrente, Ramil Ilagan and Rafael Pulmano.

College Job Audit Passes Stages 1 and 2

COM-FSM National Campus, August 11, 2010 – The College of Micronesia-FSM received the preliminary communications relating to its ongoing Job Audit/ Compensation & Benefit study on July 26, 2010. The study is conducted by Alan Searle of Alan Searle & Associates Limited who submitted an executive summary of the first two stages of the study to COM-FSM President, Mr Spensin James.

According to Mr Searle, stage one of the study focused on reestablishing the internal equity of all positions at the college based on job size. Also conducted during this stage was an analysis of the current compensation structure. The study recommended that the college streamline its operations and performance. Stage two of the study focused on gathering external pay data or base salaries against each position evaluated in stage one. The study found that the range and formulas of employee benefits provided by the college to fulltime staff appear comparable among the other regional institutions.

The next stage will be the implementation of the recommendations from the first two stages of the study. According to the executive summary from Mr Searle, the recommended changes will be implemented after endorsement by the Board of Regents. This will involve the introduction of a new pay schedule, the identification of a specific implementation range for each unique position and agreement on the implementation criteria.

A three-page executive summary of the audit report has been sent out to all faculty and staff for review. According to a memorandum issued by President James, Mr Searle and some of the key administrative staff will be visiting all six campuses to meet with faculty, staff and key stakeholders to explain the results and recommendations of the audit report. The visit is scheduled on the first two weeks of September.

This visit is to ensure that campus representatives will bring their concerns regarding the report to the President’s Retreat on September 22-24. The retreat will then make recommendations to be presented to the COM-FSM Board of Regents.

National Campus Begins Fall 2010 with Freshmen Orientation

National Campus, Palikir 186 new students attended the student orientation which started on August 2, 2010 at the FSM-China Friendship Sports Center. Faculty, staff and administrators were present during the orientation and were introduced to the new students.

The new students listen attentively to presentations.

In his welcoming remarks, COM-FSM President, Spensin James, welcomed the new students and pointed out some measures the college is putting in place to improve the college's current accreditation situation.

The college invited FSM Assistant Attorney General, Ms. Lorie Johnson-Asher, to speak to the new students as the keynote speaker. In her speech, she encouraged the students to explore the broad boundaries of college life and work hard on their studies to become what they want to be.

The National Campus SBA President, Babyano Retuleilug, joined in the welcoming of the newest members of his association. According to Babyano, the college is a new chapter in their lives that they must look forward to. He warned them that there will be a lot of challenges that will come their way. However, he encouraged them by noting that the college exists to help them in their learning and personal experiences.

The students were engaged in a week of orientation programs and activities that include safety/security briefings, information sharing in matters pertaining to academic and student support, and briefings in other areas like information technology and health services that the college provides. The students were also given counseling assistance to help them decide a suitable course for them.