College of Micronesia-FSM

Thomas R. Murray explains the Community College of Micronesia originated from a teaching training center on the grounds of the Pacific Islands Central School, later known as Pohnpei Island Central School (PICS) and now Bailey Olter High School, established in 1962.Thomas, R. Murray. "The U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Micronesia)" (Chapter 3). In: Thomas, R. Murray and T. Neville Postlethwaite (editors). Schooling in the Pacific Islands: Colonies in Transition . Elsevier, January 26, 2016. {{ISBN|1483148556}}, 9781483148557. Start: [https://books.google.com/books?id=7U1tBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA67 67]. CITED: p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=7U1tBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA91 91]. The official school history alternatively says it originated in 1963 when the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) contracted the University of Hawaii to administer the Micronesian Teacher Education Center, an in-service training facility for selected TTPI teachers.{{Cite web|url=http://www.comfsm.fm/?q=bor-policy-manual-historical-reference|title = Historical Reference | College of Micronesia - FSM}}

According to Thomas R. Murray, Community College of Micronesia began operations in 1969 as a way of enhancing the training of area teachers, and it initially issued elementary education associate degrees. Teachers of elementary school students who desired more advanced degrees formed the bulk of the student bodies of the College of Micronesia-FSM extension centers. However, the school's official history, that it was in 1970 the TTPI High Commissioner signed Administrative Directive No. 70-2 changing the name of the center to Community College of Micronesia (CCM), after which the college began offering a college curriculum in its own name. Beginning in 1971, the TTPI Department of Education began assuming more responsibility for the college; the university involvement was phased out in 1973. CCM remained essentially a teacher college until 1974 when the first non-education-related associate degree program was added to the curriculum.

According to Thomas R. Murray, the school as it is known today was formed by the 1976 merger of the Community College of Micronesia in Kolonia, Pohnpei; and the Micronesian Occupational College, which was built in Koror, Palau between the late 1960s and the middle of the 1970s.Compact of Free Association in the Micronesian States of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands: Environmental Impact Statement. United States Department of State, 1984. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=_6g4AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA36 36]. "From the late 1960s to mid-1970s the major high school complexes throughout the Trust Territory were constructed: notably,[...]additions to the Ponape High School[...]" However, the school's official history says the change occurred in 1978 when an act of the Seventh Congress of Micronesia joined CCM with the then Micronesian Occupational Center in Palau and the College’s nursing school in Saipan to form the College of Micronesia (COM) as a public corporation governed by a Board of Regents.

In 1987, the newly independent nations of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a treaty affirming a desire to continue supporting COM. However, in 1991, the three nations signed an agreement to restructure COM to allow more local autonomy. As a result, in 1992, the Seventh Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia passed Public Law No. 7-79 establishing the College of Micronesia-FSM as a public corporation under its own Board of Regents. Thus, on April 1, 1993, the College of Micronesia-FSM became the national college of the federation. In 1999, through a memorandum of understanding with the national government, COM-FSM accepted management of the Fisheries & Maritime Academy (FMA) in Yap, renamed the FSM Fisheries & Maritime Institute.

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The college awards associate degrees and certificates as well as two bachelor's degrees. It also has articulation agreements with several online and conventional institutions.

The College of Micronesia is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. In 2004, the college was placed on "Warning" status by its accreditor; that status was removed the following year.{{cite news |url= http://www.fm/news/kp/2005/07_9.htm |title= COM-FSM Regains Accreditation |work= The Kaselehlie Press |date= 21 July 2005 }}

• Dirk Ballendorf, historian of Micronesia, President of the College of Micronesia from 1977 to 1979.{{cite news |first=Joy|last=White|title=Micronesia historian Ballendorf dies at 73 |url=http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/53345-micronesia-historian-ballendorf-dies-at-73 |work= Marianas Variety |date=2013-02-06 |accessdate=2013-02-17}}
• Iris Falcam, former First Lady and librarian for the Pacific collection from 1979 to 2010.{{cite news|title=FSM's former first lady passes away|url=http://www.mvariety.com/community-bulletin/fsms-former-first-lady-passes-away.php|work=Marianas Variety News & Views|date=2010-02-25|accessdate=2011-02-11|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110714141207/http://www.mvariety.com/community-bulletin/fsms-former-first-lady-passes-away.php|archive-date=2011-07-14}}
• Adelyn Noda, Kosrae's youngest ordained deaconess.{{Cite book|last=Buck|first=Elden M.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Aq7YAAAAMAAJ&q=Adelyn+Noda|title=Island of Angels: The Growth of the Church on Kosrae : Kapkapak Lun Church Fin Acn Kosrae, 1852-2002|date=2005|publisher=Watermark Pub.|isbn=978-0-9753740-6-1|pages=523|language=en}}

• Education in the Federated States of Micronesia

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• [http://www.comfsm.fm Official website]

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Category:Colleges in the Federated States of Micronesia

Category:Education in the Federated States of Micronesia

Category:1963 establishments in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands