17 Dec 2012

CNMI college president faces no confidence vote

8:09 pm on 17 December 2012

Faculty members at the Northern Marianas College have reportedly lost trust and confidence in the leadership of president Sharon Hart after 19 of 23 members gave her a vote of no confidence last Friday.

The vote is for alleged financial mismanagement after the faculty found Ms Hart spent 200 thousand US dollars on off-island travel last year using students' tuition fees.

She is also criticized for violating the college procurement regulations in authorising the purchase of 10 second-hand computers without proper bidding.

The president has also been accused of unethical actions over the hiring of her husband, Steven West, as a short-term consultant for the college's new foundation.

He was paid about 14 thousand dollars for a five-week project.

The faculty members also say that Ms Hart continues to ignore the recommendations of the accreditation report that a chief financial officer be hired.