Journal Staff and Correspondents
Institutions of higher education in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau and the Marshall Islands are reshaping the educational landscape with new programs, expanded facilities, and community-focused initiatives. While some celebrate milestones, others face challenges, highlighting both the promise and the pressures facing higher education in the region. This is the first in a series examining education across Micronesia.
The University of Guam, the region’s largest institution of higher learning, has grown from a small teacher-training college in 1952 into a land-grant university and four-year college central to Micronesia’s educational landscape.
UOG marked a milestone this year by graduating a record 375 students in its spring 2025 commencement. The university is responding to local and regional needs by expanding academic programs and investing about $50 million in new facilities, including the Dr. Lucio Chua Tan Student Success Center, a new School of Engineering, the Margaret Perez Hattori-Uchima School of Health Nursing Annex, and a new Water and Environmental Research Institute facility—each set for completion in 2025 and 2026. These projects will centralize student services, address the demand for locally trained engineers and health professionals, and enhance research capabilities for water and environmental studies.
This year, UOG will launch its 2025-2030 Academic Master Plan, which Santos-Bamba described as a series of “game-changers.” Approved by the Board of Regents, the plan aims to improve student success and academic quality by reducing credits required for graduation from 124 to 120, removing hidden prerequisites, expanding flexibility in general education, and improving access to scheduling. “We’re making it easier and faster for students to complete their degrees,” Santos-Bamba said. The plan is designed to boost enrollment and retention while aligning programs with the evolving needs of Guam and the region.
Recent academic innovations include UOG’s first fully online doctoral program in Instructional and Academic Leadership, new master’s degrees in Data Science and Library and Information Science, and the launch of its first four-year program in civil engineering.
Under President Anita Borja Enriquez, UOG is also strengthening community engagement through the Global Learning and Engagement Department, which partners with the private sector to provide workforce training both on campus and at business locations. “Through Global Learning and Engagement, UOG is responding to the educational, training, and employment needs of the community,” Santos-Bamba said.
The university has expanded its reach by creating satellite programs in the Northern Mariana Islands and across Micronesia, promoting higher education in fields such as criminal law and education.
On May 15, President Enriquez and a team from UOG’s College of Education traveled to Palau to confer 20 degrees in elementary and special education to Ministry of Education teachers. Santos-Bamba explained, “The program was specially tailored to help students who were working while attending school. It was a hybrid model,” she said, noting that the university responded to a request for proposals from the Ministry of Education. “When they were awarded the bid, the faculty came together to create a program that allowed the 20 teachers to learn online, but UOG also flew their teachers out to Palau for some face-to-face time.” A similar program is now underway in Yap, where about 30 teachers are pursuing education degrees.
While faculty and administration focus on the programs, they also face challenges.
“Like any organization, it's resources … and capacity. Because we need the resources to build capacity and to grow,” she said, adding that UOG has to share government funds with agencies that are important for the island as well. “Public health, and public safety … and even within education we are not necessarily the priority, for example, our leaders have to look at (Guam Department of Education), right?” She added that they continue to work and hope that they are given the resources they need to continue to serve the community.
Resident tuition rates for UOG are $221 per credit for residents and $442 for non-residents. Fees for registration, student services library services and others range from $300 to $400 a semester. For more information, visit www.uog.edu.
Northern Marianas College remains the top choice for NMI students beginning their college journey, even as its new student center rises atop As Terlaje.
NMC President Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero offers four reasons why freshmen should start their higher education at the 44-year-old institution:
- Start smart: NMC’s unofficial slogan, “Start Smart,” encourages local students to begin their college education at home. Deleon Guerrero said this is a smart financial decision, allowing students to save money at a quality institution that can serve as a springboard to other top universities. Many NMC students who start their studies locally eventually transfer to institutions such as Emory University, Gonzaga University, and the University of Washington.
- Community impact: Data shows that students who start at NMC are more likely to remain in or return to the Commonwealth, contributing to the local workforce and helping sustain a vibrant economy.
- Local Connections: NMC’s longstanding partnerships with local employers and organizations keep students connected to homegrown opportunities. The college provides access to internships, employment, and entrepreneurship programs, including placements with businesses like TurnKey Solutions, teaching positions with the CNMI Public School System, and business start-ups through the Small Business Development Centers.
- Personal attention: “At NMC, you are more than just a number,” Deleon Guerrero said. “You are a valuable member of a Proa Tribe that strives for greatness here at home and across the world, reaching for destinations just beyond the horizon.”
Northern Marianas College offers a variety of academic programs, including associate degrees in applied science, general studies, science and arts, nursing, and science in engineering. The college also provides Bachelor of Science degrees, some of which are offered directly by Northern Marianas College, while others are available through university partners via online or distance learning. In addition, Northern Marianas College awards certificates of achievement, which are shorter programs focused on specific skills for immediate entry into the workforce.
Notable programs include criminal justice, nursing, business administration, which includes an international business option, and new media communications, which can also be completed online. The liberal arts program emphasizes physical activity and wellness.
Beyond credit programs, Northern Marianas College offers non-credit training such as the Governor’s Broadband Bootcamp, which recently provided technical training to 269 students in preparation for expanded broadband connectivity. The college also runs programs that build health care capacity, support early childhood development, and promote food security and nutrition, serving a wide range of community needs.
The new three-story, 38,365-square-foot Student Center will feature a double-height dining and multi-purpose hall; offices for admissions, records, financial aid, and career services; a bookstore; CNMI archives; lounges; food vendor stalls; a library; tech lounge; counseling and tutoring centers; a testing center; meeting rooms; a student activities and leadership office; and an
outdoor terrace.
The facility is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, with additional support from FEMA and the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs. Construction began in August 2023 and is expected to be completed later this year. NMC is also pursuing LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for the student center, promoting environmentally friendly and cost-efficient building practices.
Additional campus projects set to break ground this year include two classroom buildings, a workforce development and training center, and a Center for Research and Extension Development, which will house NMC’s Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Services.
NMC’s resident tuition rate is $128.25 per unit; the non-resident rate is $190 per unit. For a typical associate degree, such as an AA in Liberal Arts, the average total tuition and fees amount to $8,076 for two academic years (four full-time semesters). Books and supplies average about $2,000 for two years, bringing the total estimated cost to $10,076 for a two-year program.
Students who qualify for maximum financial aid, which could include $14,790 in Federal Pell Grants and Student Aid, $3,000 in CNMI student aid, and $4,800 in Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance over two years, could receive more in aid than the total cost of tuition, fees, and books. The remaining funds can be used for expenses such as rent, transportation, childcare, and other educational needs.
“There are many scholarship programs that support students and their educational goals,” Deleon Guerrero said. “In addition to federal financial aid, there are CNMI scholarship programs and private sources. Students can use these funds not just for tuition and fees, but also for devices, materials and supplies, rent, transportation, childcare services, and other critical expenses.”
Despite these incentives, NMC’s enrollment has seen a slight decrease, with minimal fluctuations between spring-to-spring and fall-to-fall terms. Deleon Guerrero attributes this trend to factors common in higher education, such as a decline in the number of high school graduates and some students choosing immediate employment or certifications over degree programs.
NMC continues to strengthen student retention efforts, expand program offerings, and provide flexible course delivery options—including online and hybrid formats. Proactive support services help maintain student engagement and reduce fluctuations in enrollment.
Learn more about NMC by calling James Rayphand at Admissions at (670) 237-6773 or emailing james.rayphand@marianas.edu.
Palau Community College has launched its first bachelor’s degree program — a Bachelor of Science in Science — marking a major milestone for the institution.
PCC has grown significantly since its beginnings as a vocational school under the Japanese administration in 1927. Today, it is an accredited institution offering a range of academic and workforce programs to meet Palau’s needs.
Tellei credited the faculty, staff, and President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. for their roles in creating the new program and securing funding for the three-story facility. He said the goal is to address Palau’s urgent need for more nurses and science and health professionals.
The new building is also supporting the 2025 Pacific Mini Games by accommodating athletes and officials. Tellei, who chairs Palau’s organizing committee for the games, said this reflects PCC’s commitment to serving both students and the broader community. He added that investments for the games are expected to leave a lasting legacy for youth development and sports infrastructure.
As PCC prepares for the future, it is also planning a leadership transition. Tellei, who has led the college for decades, confirmed he will retire in about a year. The Board of Trustees has begun searching for a new president to continue advancing PCC’s mission. The announcement is available at pcc.palau.edu/pcc-search.
PCC currently enrolls about 387 students. In June, the college celebrated 86 graduates. In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition was just over $3,000—about $5,000 less than the national average for associate colleges. After grants and loans, the average net price drops to $2,810.
PCC offers associate degrees in agricultural science, business, criminal justice, education, and more, as well as career and technical education and special programs, some in partnership with other institutions.
The College of the Marshall Islands was put on “warning” status by US accreditors for three years of “delinquent” audits — the first time since 2009 that CMI has been placed on warning by accreditors.
In a June 27 letter David Newnham, CMI president, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges leaders noted “the serious concern on the part of the Commission” over CMI’s lack of compliance with “accreditation eligibility requirement 5,” which requires regular audits. The accreditation letter noted that the warning status requires a special report to address the audit deficiency, with the deadline of Nov. 1, 2026 to provide audits from 2022, 2023 and 2024.
The audit for 2022 is currently in progress.
“As I had previously stated to our Board, there was a chance that we could be placed on warning,” Newnham told the Journal on July 2. “However, the Commission appreciated my personal appearance and has granted CMI 18 months to complete our 2024 audit.”
Newnham said the warning status does not change CMI’s accreditation status or affect college operations.
“While the college is on warning, CMI will retain its accredited status so that we can continue to successfully serve our students and community,” he said. “This warning is due to the delayed audits, not because of the content of the most recently completed audit (2021) or any other concerns.”
The 2021 CMI audit was filed with the US government in October 2024, and the 2022 audit got underway in May this year.
“We are continuing to work directly with our EY field accountants as we are on the cusp of completing our 2022 field work,” Newnham said. “EY has agreed that once the 2022 audit has been completed, we will move to the 2023 audit followed by the completion of our 2024 audit. In consultation with EY, we have determined that our 2024 audit can be completed by December 2025.”
The CMI president added: “I look forward to continuing our progress towards the completion of our delinquent audits and submitting a ‘Special Report regarding our deficiencies’ by January 2026, a full 11 months before our required submission date.”
CMI’s summer semester now in progress has seen its highest enrollment since before the COVID pandemic, with a total of 671 students — 394 females and 277 males. For more information, visit www.cmi.edu. mbj
