The Northern Marianas College on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota will be taking on a new look unveiled by their new president Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero.


"The Proa tribe is just such an amazing team here," he said. "They have been through so much devastating typhoons, economic uncertainties, austerity measures, but each and every single time this Proa tribe just like the entire Northern Marianas demonstrated that they are Proa strong and they are Marianas Strong."

At the helm of the NMC Proa, Deleon Guerrero says brighter skies are on the horizon when it comes to the college's role in the region.

"We are also looking ahead at establishing NMC as more of a four-year research institution that offer more four-year degree programs," he said. "So with all of this at NMC we see our role as helping in the community and the economic development of the Northern Marianas."

Deleon Guerrero says while colleges take a hit in enrollment in pandemic times, NMC is seeing an increase in its 1.300 student population. Half of those students are back to face-to-face learning. In time for a new facilities master plan that was approved.

"Our goal is to not only renovate the As Terlaje campus which is going to be fantastic but it is also to move forward with renovating our instructional sites on Luta and Tinian and to be contributors to the economic revitalization of our communities," he said. "In fact, looking here at the As Terlaje campus, we are not just confining ourselves to the hill. We are partnering with DPW, government entities, to also revitalization the entire stretch of road from the shell gas station all the way to the As Terlaje intersection."

He says they hope to create a "college town" similar to those in the states.

"The plan itself breaks down the reconstruction of As Terlaje into very specific phases," Deleon Guerrero said. "So the very first phase is the student center, which will be housed right on the northern end of campus, right there on the road...we are going to move the center there."

New program buildings, classrooms, and faculty and staff offices are part of that phase. Phase two moves on to the rest of campus, allowing NMC to operate amid the construction.

They are also looking to expanding more of their services and research to the Northern Islands.