Palau Community College

MESEKIU'S

NEWS

Friday, March 14, 2008                                 Weekly Newsletter                                         Volume 10, Issue 11

BOT, Administrators, Faculty, and Staff Attend Leadership Training

PCC staff and faculty listen intently to Dr. E. Jan Kehoe (r) during her leadership seminar at the PICRC on Monday.

Dr. E. Jan Kehoe, President of Community College Leadership Development Initiatives (CCLDI) and Chair of the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) was in this week to conduct

a one-day leadership seminar to the Board of Trustees (BOT), administrators, faculty, and staff of the college. The training was held at PICRC conference room last Monday, March 10^th. The leadership training couldn't have been held at a more appropriate time as the College is getting ready to begin work on the 2010 Accreditation Self Study.

Traveling with her husband, Mike Kehoe, Dr. Kehoe's 3-day stop in Palau allowed the couple to tour the island and visit the rock islands, go on a safari tour of the big island with a visit to the Capitol at Ngerulmud, Melekeok State. The couple was also afforded the grand tour of the

campus by President Tellei. Before leaving, Dr. Kehoe and her husband donated a generous sum of $500 to the College Endowment Fund.

The College BOT members, administrators, faculty, staff and most especially the students would like to extend their genuine appreciation to Mr. Mike Kehoe and Dr. Jan Kehoe for their generous support to the College Endowment Fund and also the guidance with respect to accreditation.

 President Dr. Patrick U. Tellei (r) receives the $500 donation to the PCC Endowment Fund from Dr. E. Jan Kehoe and her husband Mike Kehoe (not pictured).

Students from Palau High School crowd the campus parking lot during the first day of the Vocational/Technical Education Awareness Week.

(See more pictures on page 2)

Vocational/Technical Awareness Week Draws Over a Thousand Students

President Dr. Patrick U. Tellei (3rd from right) pose for a photo with Mindszenty High School students before their campus tour.

The three-day PCC Vocational/ Technical Education Awareness Week concluded yesterday with organizers saying that they were happy to see over a thousand students from both the elementary and high schools throughout Palau visit PCC.

Elementary students, mostly from Koror and Babeldaob, and high school students from Palau High School, Belau Modekngei School, Mindszenty High School, and Emmaus High School toured the campus. Touring students were able to meet PCC students, tour the many facilities on campus, and witness the various programs available at PCC.

Organizers say that the Vocational/Technical Education Awareness Week would not have been as successful without the cooperation and dedication of the PCC Staff, Students, and most especially the support and participation of all the schools, Gear-Up program, and the Palau Chamber of Commerce. To all our visitors, it was a pleasure having you on campus and we look forward to seeing you all next year!

ACCJC and PCC Officials Visit Extension
Programs in Yap

(Continued from front page)

Students from Emmaus High School getting ready for their campus tour.

Visiting students with their tour guides heading down to the vocational/technical shops to begin their tour. 

16 Participants Complete GIS Workshop

GIS expert, Royce Jones (r) with the GIS Participants during their second day of workshop.

Royce Jones, a Geographic Information System (GIS) expert for the Pacific region, conducted a two-day GIS workshop on Monday and Tuesday, March 10^th and 11^th. The workshop was held in the Operations & Maintenance Improvement Program (OMIP) computer lab on campus and was attended by 16 experienced GIS users from various government ministries, agencies and utilities, as well as environmental organizations. A range of topics was covered, including various tips and tricks in using this rather sophisticated mapping software.

Dr. E. Jan Kehoe (r) with Coordinator Anna Boliy during the tour at the program's mini library/resource area.

On March 7^th, Dr. E. Jan Kehoe, President of Community College Leadership Development Initiatives (CCLDI) and Chair of the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) conducted a site visit of the PCC-Yap Nursing Program. The PCC-Yap Nursing Program's Substantive Change Proposal was approved on October 2007 with a scheduled site visit as a federal requirement because it is an extension program outside of the PCC's main campus. Yap Health Service Director James Gilmar, Yap AHEC Executive Director Dr. William Thane Hancock, PCC Yap Nursing Program Coordinator Anna Boliy, ALO

Dahlia Katosang, Dean Alvina Timarong and Asst. ALO Dei Olikong met with Dr. Kehoe and toured the Yap Nursing Program facilities. The tour was to ensure that the classroom, learning lab, mini library and computer lab have adequate tools and materials to support student learning. Dr. Kehoe and PCC team also toured the Community Health Centers in the villages as part of the required site visit. ACCJC Chair Kehoe was pleased with what PCC has and is doing with its Yap Extension Program to deliver and promote the learning in Yap.

While in Yap Dean Timarong, Director Katosang and Director Olikong took the opportunity to visit the students in the Yap Early Childhood Program. Two different group advising sessions were held during the late afternoons to address student financial aid, current courses. Students also had the opportunity to share their concerns and questions with the PCC officials. Fifteen students in the Early Childhood Program will be finishing this semester and the College has extended its invitation to have them attend the spring commencement in May 23, 2008 in Palau.

Outer Island students posing with Dean Alvina Timarong in front of the Yap Early Childhood Program (Head Start) building were their PCC classes are taking place.

BITS AND PIECES...

WELCOME

U.S. Department of State Official Visits College...

President Dr. Patrick U. Tellei (r) with Chief of Staff Billy Kuartei (l) and the Melinda Rae Lucke (c) of the United States Department of State.

Before leaving the island, Melinda Rae Lucke of the United States Department of State and Chief of Staff Billy Kuartei paid a courtesy visit to the College and met with President Tellei. Lucke is the United States Department of State- Country Desk Officer for the Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island Affairs.

TRAINING

Licensed Residential Appraisal Program...

Palau Community College will be hosting a training program for Residential Appraisers. Mark Gruber, a certified appraiser and instructor from the Micronesian Appraiser Associates based in Guam will be coming to Palau to conduct a training from March 24-27. During his visit, he will offer an initial course- Basic Appraisal Principles- with subsequent courses to be offered in later meetings.

Anyone interested in becoming a certified/licensed appraiser is asked to contact the Continuing Education office at 488-6223, or 488-2471, ext. 237.

Happy Youth Day!

In Commemoration of the PCC Vocational/Technical Education Awareness Week, National Education Awareness Week, and the National Youth Day Holiday, PCC President Dr. Patrick U. Tellei joins the Board of Trustees and Staff in commending the accomplishments of PCC students, and extends best wishes to all the Youth of the Republic of Palau.

PCC conveys profound appreciation to the Palau Chamber of Commerce, Gear-Up Program, and all the schools for their support and participation in this year's Vocational/Technical Education Awareness Week.

Talent Search Program Takes GBH Students to Ngarchelong and Ngaremlengui
By: Talent Search Office

Last weekend, Talent Search Program participants from George B. Harris (GBH) Elementary School went on a field trip to Ngaremlengui and Ngarchelong States. Curious of what the PCC-Cooperative Research & Extension (CRE) does on daily basis, they visited the PCC-CRE Research and Development (R&D) Station in Ngermeskang, Ngaremlengui. Students had the opportunity to see at hand how a tissue-cultured taro is grown into a mature plant. They also saw a variety of invasive bugs and insects that the CRE staff have been collecting throughout Palau. In addition, the students sampled the R & D's renowned taro and tapioca ice cream and cookies.

The poultry and piggery staff showed students the innovative methods they use in raising chicken and pigs.

After they finished touring the CRE farm, they set off to Ngarchelong State to see the state's historical sites such as the stone monoliths at Badrulchau and the "Tet el bad" at Bai Derebei.

The Talent Search Program would like to thank VP Thomas Taro and the CRE staff for giving us the opportunity to tour the CRE Research and Development Station.

The historical site of Badrulchau in Ngarchelong State.

          ALUMNI NOTES:

Class of 2001 (PCC)
Pauline Jerry - 2001 PCC graduate with an Associate of Science (AS) degree in Office Administration (OA). Jerry works at the PCC Student Support Services- Project Beacon office as a Secretary. She has been working there for the past 3 years.

Class of 1998 (PCC)
Teory Idechong - 1998 PCC graduate with an Associate of Science (AS) degree in Secretarial Science (SEC). Idechong works at the PCC Registar & Records office as a Secretary. She has been working there for the past 26 years.

Class of 1985 (MOC)
Becheseldil Nakamura - 1985 MOC graduate with a Certificate of Achievement (CA) in General Office Clerk (GOC). Nakamura works at the PCC Continuing Education office as a Secretary. She has been working there for the past 6 years.

Alumni Notes showcases MOC/PCC alumni who contribute to the quality of life in their local community and are postive role models for other PCC students to emulate. If you are that alumni or know someone who is, please contact the PCC Development Office at telephone number 488-2471. We would like to feature you in future issues of the Mesekiu's News.

Previous Mesekiu Issues:

March 7, 2008
February 29, 2008
February 22, 2008
February 15, 2008
February 8, 2008
February 1, 2008
January 25, 2008
January 18, 2008
January 11, 2008
January 4, 2008
December 28, 2007
December 21, 2007
December 14, 2007
December 7, 2007
November 30, 2007
November 16, 2007
November 9, 2007
November 2, 2007
October 26, 2007
October 19, 2007
October 12, 2007
October 5, 2007
September 28, 2007
September 21, 2007
September 14, 2007
September 7, 2007
August 31, 2007
August 24, 2007
August 17, 2007
August 10, 2007
August 3, 2007

Reminder to All PCC Bi-Weekly
Endowment Donors!

Applications for tax refund are still available at the PCC Development Office so, if you have not filed your application, please do not forget to stop by the Development office to complete your form. Do not forget to bring a copy of your check stub for pay period 26 or a copy of your 2007 wage and tax statement. Deadline for submission is at the end of March.

If you have any questions, please call Development office at 488-2470/2471 ext. 253 or stop by our office located behind the PCC library.

Job Opportunities Available at PCC.

Positions & Salaries:

Accounting Technician
$9,913 to $16,954 per annum

Math Instructor
$16,010 to $21,068 per annum

Science Instructor
$16,010 to $18,730 per annum

Career Counselor
$17,317 to $19,479 per annum

Academic Advisor/Counselor
$15,000 to $18,000 per annum

Application forms can be obtained from the Human Resources Division at P.O. Box 9, Koror, Palau 96940 or the College website at www.palau.edu. For more information, please call the Human Resources office at 488-2470/2471 ext. 227 or stop by the office located in the administration building.

Announcement of Scholarship Opportunities

For application forms and information regarding other scholarship opportunities, please contact the Palau National Scholarship Office at P.O. Box 1608, Koror, Palau 96940 or call the office at (680) 488-3608; Fax to (680) 488- 3602 or Email to pnsb@palaunet.com.

Celebrating Birthdays

  Petrus Itelmong            March 15
  Karen Mobel                March 17
  Bruce Rimirch              March 19
  Keith Ignacio                March 20
 
       Happy Birthday To You!