NORTHERN Marianas College has restored the 80-hour work period for its locally funded employees, thanks to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security or CARES Act.
NMC Interim President Frankie Eliptico, said Gov. Ralph DLG Torres allocated approximately $4.7 million of the CNMI’s CARES Act funds to the college.
“We are thankful to the governor’s allocation of CARES education funds to NMC that helped the college resume its 80-hour work schedule,” Eliptico added.
In a press conference on Monday, he said even prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the college had already implemented austerity measures due to the devastation and economic impact of Super Typhoon Yutu.
The Covid-19 pandemic made it worse, he added.
He said despite the austerity measures, the college continued to have classes at full operation, Eliptico said.
“We never cancelled any single class. We wanted to see and make certain that students did not feel the austerity. We, [the management and the staff] absorbed it to make sure students make their way to their degree or finish the semester. We continued to do so without any impact on institutional programs,” Eliptico said.
Two weeks ago, the college restored the 80-hour work schedule of its employees.
“At the same time we are rebuilding the campus,” Eliptico said.
“So we are really grateful to the governor, to the U.S. Congress, President Trump, and U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan for his work on the CARES Act,” he added.
Eliptico said, “The funds help the college significantly, especially as the institution continues to post strong enrollment numbers and more and more students are looking at NMC for their personal and professional growth.”