Northern Marianas College President Galvin Deleon Guerrero, EdD, today released the following statement on the White House’s latest executive order to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. 

“As was announced today, President Donald J. Trump signed “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities”, an executive order that aims to close the U.S. Department of Education. As with previous actions and announcements regarding federal funding and support for education, this development has raised a number of questions and concerns within our community and, in particular, at Northern Marianas College.

However, I assure you that we remain steadfast in our commitment to you: our students, our employees, and our community. To that effect, I have directed the College team to develop and implement effective response strategies to safeguard our people. As a result of their work, we have determined that, for now, financial aid under the Federal Student Aid (FSA) program will continue and vital college programs and services will also continue.

Furthermore, our team continues to work closely with our local, regional, and national partners to monitor and assess the impact that this executive order and other executive actions are having, or may have, on College programs and services. For example, we have learned that Secretary of Education Linda McMahon recently announced, “Closing the Department does not mean cutting off funds from those who depend on them.” As Secretary McMahon elaborated, “We will continue to support K-12 students, students with special needs, college student borrowers, and others who rely on essential programs.”

Also, know this: We have a phenomenal team at the College that remains both vigilant and diligent in doing everything we can to continue serving our students and our community. For over four decades, this team has done incredible work to meet the islands’ workforce and economic needs, build new, state-of-the-art facilities, and improve the lives of thousands of students. Indeed, the Northern Marianas College team represents the best of the Marianas.

And, as I have said many times before about the Proa Tribe and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, no matter what storms hit us–actual typhoons, a global pandemic, geopolitical forces beyond our control–nothing sinks our proa. We always sail ahead.

That is exactly why I always say, with complete confidence: STAY SAFE, STAY CALM, and SAIL ON.”