The College of Micronesia-FSM (COM-FSM), which began operation in 1963 as the Micronesian Teacher Education Center (MTEC), is a multi-campus institution in the Federated States of Micronesia

Federated States of Micronesia

The Federated States of Micronesia or FSM is an independent, sovereign island nation, made up of four states from west to east: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. It comprises approximately 607 islands with c...

.

The College of Micronesia has a state campus in each of the four states with its national campus in the capital city of Palikir

Palikir

Palikir is the capital of the Federated States of Micronesia since 1989, when it replaced Kolonia, the other large settlement on the island.It has a population of 4,645 and is located on the island of Pohnpei.-External links:* *...

, Pohnpei

Pohnpei

Not to be confused with Pompeii, the ancient city destroyed by Vesuvius in AD 79.Pohnpei "upon a stone altar " is the name of one of the four states in the Federated States of Micronesia , situated among the Senyavin Islands which are part of the larger Caroline Islands group...

. The COM-FSM system also includes the Fisheries and Maritime Institute (FMI) on the Yap

Yap

Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...

 islands.

Programs and accreditation

The College awards associate degrees to students who complete a prescribed two-year program of study. The time is extended for students who need to complete preparation classes before beginning the degree program. The college has articulation

Articulation (education)

In Australia and United States education, articulation or more specifically course articulation, refers to the process of comparing the content of courses that are transferred between postsecondary institutions such as TAFE institutes, colleges or universities...

 agreements with several online and conventional institutions.

The College awards certificates of achievement to students who complete a prescribed one-year program of study. Other short-term certificate programs are offered at the State Campuses in response to expressed local needs.

The College of Micronesia is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Western Association of Schools and Colleges

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is one of six official academic bodies responsible for the accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in the United States and foreign institutions of American origin. The Western Association of...

 (WASC), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Post-secondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education

United States Department of Education

The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...

. Accreditation was awarded in 1978 and reaffirmed in 1982, 1987, 1992, 1998, and 2005.

In 2004, the College was placed on “Warning” by WASC on the basis of its self study report and visit. The warning status was removed in 2005.

Notable faculty

• Iris Falcam
  Iris Falcam
  Iris Green Falcam was an American-born Micronesian librarian, researcher and public servant. Falcam served as the First Lady of the Federated States of Micronesia from 1999 to 2003 during the tenure of her husband, former President Leo Falcam.Iris Falcam was a native of Hawaii, but resided in the...
  
  , former First Lady
  First Lady
  First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
  
   and librarian
  Librarian
  A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
  
  for the Pacific collection from 1979 to 2010.

External links

• College of Micronesia-FSM website