Political Leadership Perceptions on the College of Micronesia System in the Federated States of Micronesia

Political leaders who establish policies and priorities for the nation have influence on how the FSM\u27s sole postsecondary education institution, the College of Micronesia, Federated States of Micronesia (COM-FSM) sets its goals and priorities. During this critical juncture of the FSM nation\u27s growth and its effort to be self-reliant, COM-FSM\u27s purposes and priorities are intricately related to the ongoing processes toward self-reliance. Using a case study methodology, this study examined the perceptions of political leaders in the Federated States of Micronesia relating to the purposes and priorities of the College of Micronesia-Federated States of Micronesia (COM-FSM), and the four campuses in Chuuk, Kosrae, Yap and Pohnpei. Open-ended interviews, review of documents and observations provided the data for the study. The findings suggest that national and state level perceptions are aligned with the stated purposes and priorities of the college. Teacher training and vocational education are perceived as major roles for the college while issues related to the college\u27s role with respect to culture and language remain ambiguous. The study also noted that managing a multi-campus system in Micronesia has its advantages and disadvantages in terms of logistics, cultural and linguistic diversities, and unstable funding. Implications, recommendations and limitations of the study are noted