Iokwe Aolep, I know that many of you have read the headlines in the paper today regarding the decision by the government to award USP with the Long Island Hotel, purchased for $4million. As we go forward we will need everyone here at CMI to remember that The College of the Marshall Islands is the national college of these islands, and there is only one in the RMI and we are that school. I want to express to you that there is much to take pride in, that many of you have helped to create and sustain a more successful, more sustainable and more efficient Marshallese Institution and much of this has been done over some difficult years. There have been tremendous successes over the years, with last week’s graduation being the largest we have ever seen and with more to come! That is a direct result of the work and effort of everyone here at CMI. • We have seen an expansion of needed programs – vo tech, GED, Maritime, Special Education, Public Health • More and more improvement in our students ability to perform in the classroom, by the change over the last eights years between the number of credits for Developmental and Traditional college credits • A doubling of the student population and still providing needed services to our students • CMI has been the leader in being efficient users of other people’s money, we have succeeded in an financial environment that was very difficult – • CMI is the national leader in energy efficiency and energy technology – and again being respectful with how we think and use other people’s money and through those savings supporting needed programs and activities. • We have and will be using new software for the Business Office, HR, Physical Plant, Academic Affairs and the new school SIS system • Faculty working closely with our high schools and teachers • We have new programs and initiatives that will require attention going forward – looking at technical education, 4 year programs for teaching and nursing, other programs involving climate change and Marshallese language and studies • There is much for all of you to reflect upon and be proud of, much still left to do. Like many of you, I am also disappointed that some of the critical needs of the national college were not addressed, that national college sure could have made real use of that type of funding for the CMI endowment and our own unfunded construction needs that still require attention – this office will continue to try to bring these matters to the attention of the government and donors. We need to continue with our efforts – and we will demonstrate through our deeds, outputs and outcomes that we are more than worthy of being the national college of these islands - that is what it will take for us to succeed and to thrive in the future. You have all brought honor and respect to yourselves, to the students and this institution through your dedicated hard work over many years and I know this will continue. As we move forward, we will have to try and address what this recent development will mean to our mission and our work, it may mean we have to change some of our thinking, think outside the box, more than we already have – I want all of us to seriously view this as a challenge and that we will not be afraid or fearful of taking on this challenge and that we will continue to improve our efforts and work so that we continue to serve with success, pride and confidence- that we are ready to continue our service to the students and the people of these islands! Kommol tata Carl S. Hacker President College of the Marshall Islands P.O.Box 1258 Majuro, MH 96960 Ph: (692) 625 - 6895/Cell: 455 - 4448 Fax: (692) 625 - 7203 E - Mail: [email protected] Website: cmi.edu
Posted on: Thu, 29 May 2014 01:31:39 +0000
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