What does Initiative 17-12 aim to do?
If passed, Initiative 17-12 will give the Northern Marianas College the authority and flexibility to establish and periodically revisit the College's mission statement, which will help NMC meet accreditation standards.

Why is a mission statement important?
Universities and community colleges across the nation typically have a mission statement that indicates the institution's aims, values, and reason for existing. In order to remain effective, these institutions of higher learning revisit their mission statements periodically to ensure that the statements are relevant, appropriate, and reflective of the community that the colleges and universities serve.

Why can't NMC establish its mission statement?
As it stands now, the Northern Marianas College's mission statement established more than 25 years ago is currently fixed and embedded in the CNMI Constitution. Because it is written into the CNMI Constitution, the College is limited in its ability to revisit the mission statement on a periodic basis to make necessary adjustments to reflect evolving community needs. The passage of Initiative 17-12 will give NMC the authority and flexibility to establish the College's mission statement.

How does Initiative 17-12 help NMC meet accreditation standards?
Accreditation standards state that the Northern Marianas College should have a mission statement that defines the institution's broad educational purposes, its intended student population, and its commitment to achieving student learning. Equally important, accreditation standards require that the mission statement of the Northern Marianas College should be reviewed on a regular basis using the institution's governance and decision making processes and should be revised when necessary.

Without the passage of Initiative 17-12, the College will not be able to review the mission statement on a regular basis nor will it be able to make any revisions without undergoing a constitutional amendment, which can be a lengthy and difficult process.

Why is this issue on the ballot?
Initiative 17-12 is on the ballot because the CNMI Constitution needs to be amended to allow NMC to establish its mission statement. Any amendment to the CNMI Constitution needs to be approved by the voters.

Does NMC support the passage of Initiative 17-12?
Yes. The Northern Marianas College is seeking all voters' support in passing Senate Legislative Initiative 17-12.

Click here to download a PDF copy of Initiative 17-12.

Click here to view a summary (in three languages) of Initiative 17-12 (from CNMI Election Commission) Carolinian Senate Legislative Initiative No. 17-12- Eew Senate Legislative Initiative ebwe amendááli Section 2(b) reel Article XV lol Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands reel ebwe atoriza li Board of Regents reel rebwe liweli mission statement il Northern Mariana College. Senate Legislative Initiative No. 17-2 e pomwoli ebwe amendááli Constitution reel ebwe ngaley Board of Regents bwángil reel ebwe ayoora mission statement il college. Ighila nge mission statement il Northern Mariana College nge e lo lól Commonwealth Constitution. Bwele reel millel, Board of Regents ese mwal ebwe liweli mission statement igha e nisisitay reel ebwe atabwey liwel kka me college me ebwe bwal atabwey accreditation standards. English Senate Legislative Initiative No. 17-12—A Senate Legislative Initiative to amend Section 2(b) of Article XV of the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands to authorize the Board of Regents to revise the mission statement of the Northern Marianas College Senate Legislative Initiative No. 17-12 proposes to amend the Constitution to authorize the Board of Regents to establish the mission statement of the college. Currently, the mission statement of the Northern Marianas College is set forth in the Commonwealth Constitution. Because of this, the Board of Regents cannot revise the mission statement as needed to reflect the changing needs of the college and to comply with accreditation standards. Chamorro Senate Legislative Initiative No. 17-12 - - - I Senate Legislative Initiative para u amenda i Seksiona 2(b) gi Attikulu XV gi Konstitusion Commonwealth gi Sangkattan na Islas Marianas para u åturisa i Board of Regents para u ribisa i mission statement gi Northern Marianas College I Senate Legislative Initiative No. 17-12 ha proponi para u amenda i Konstitusion ni para u åturisa I Board of Regents para u estapblesi i mission statement gi Kulehu. Gi prisenti, i mission statement gi Northern Marianas College ha pega mo’na gi halum i Konstitusion Commonwealth. Sa’ put esti, I Board of Regents ti siña ha ribisa i mission statement kumu manisisita ni para u reflect I nisisåriu na tinilaika gi kulehu yan para u kumpli yan i accreditation standards.

To obtain more information about the upcoming election in the CNMI, please visit the CNMI Election Commission website at http://www.votecnmi.gov.mp/.