UH Hilo and Northern Marianas College

Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and Northern Marianas College

This memorandum of understanding (MOU) summarizes agreements between the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo (UH Hilo) and Northern Marianas College (NMC) to cooperatively promote successful educational experiences for students from both institutions. UH Hilo regards students from the Pacific region as an important population and recognizes the mutual benefits of the articulation and transfer of courses with NMC. The following understandings will guide this effort, until modified or amended.

Purpose and Goals

1. Attract qualified students from NMC and facilitate their transition to UH Hilo.
2. Provide specific degree pathways and advising information for NMC students who wish to pursue bachelors’ degree at UH Hilo.
3. Encourage and improve articulation between academic programs at both institutions.

Terms of the Agreement

1. Admissions Requirements

• Regular Degree Programs: NMC students must meet the following requirements to be admitted to a regular degree program at UH Hilo:
• Complete at least 24 transferable college level credits with a minimum GPA of 2.0.
• Score at least 500 on the TOEFL or complete NMC’s EN 101 and 202 (with grades of C or above)
• English Language Institute: NMC students who have not completed EN 101 and EN 202 with a grade of C or better, or have not scored at least 500 on the TOEFL will be considered for admission to UH Hilo’s English Language Institute (ELI). The ELI program is a non-credit intensive English language program in which students improve their English reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Students admitted to the ELI program take an English Proficiency Test upon arrival in Hilo and are required to successfully complete certain English courses before beginning their studies in a regular bachelor’s degree program.

2. Transfer Recommendations

• NMC students are strongly encouraged to remain at NMC until they have earned an associate degree. NMC students who enter UH Hilo with an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts will have fulfilled UH Hilo’s General Education requirements, except for some majors that have specific General Education requirements.
• NMC students are advised to complete EN 101 and EN 202 (with grades of C or above) prior to transferring to UH Hilo. Students who do so will not need to submit a TOEFL test score to be considered for admission to UH Hilo. They will also have fulfilled their English composition requirement at UH Hilo.
• NMC students planning to major in business administration or a natural science (e.g., computer science, biology, marine science), or pursue admission to the College of Pharmacy are advised to develop strong mathematical skills by taking MA 132 and MA 161. A strong foundation in mathematics is essential for success in these degree programs.

3. Program Articulation and Advising

• UH Hilo provide a list of NMC courses and their UH Hilo equivalencies. A table listing NMC courses and their UH Hilo equivalencies is posted on the UH Hilo Admissions website. The table will be updated by UH Hilo as UH Hilo receives new catalogs from NMC.
• UH Hilo will provide a set of “2+2 Academic Maps” for selected bachelor’s degree programs. The “2+2 Academic Maps” sheets show the courses required at UH Hilo for a certain degree program, along with the courses that may be taken at NMC to fulfill some of those requirements. It is intended to assist NMC students who wish to transfer to UH Hilo, and will help students take courses at NMC that will apply toward degree programs at UH Hilo. Please note that UH Hilo does not offer a bachelor’s degree program in education.

4. Support Services

• UH Hilo is committed to providing support services that promote and facilitate the success of students. Students who transfer to UH Hilo from NMC will be eligible for all support services on campus, including tutoring, mentoring, advising, cross-cultural adjustment, and counseling. UH Hilo will make special efforts to outreach to NMC transfer students and encourage them to take advantage of the services available.

5. Financial Aid and Scholarships

• US Federal Financial Aid: To apply for financial aid and scholarships (including those listed below), students should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early as possible. Submitting the FAFSA by the February 1 priority deadline each year gives students the best chance of being awarded all the financial aid and scholarships for which they are eligible.
• Pacific Islander Scholarships: UH Hilo is committed to providing financial aid and scholarships to citizens of Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) who demonstrate financial need. Citizens of the CNMI will be charged 150% of the resident tuition rate at any UH campus. However, to assist students with this increased cost, UH Hilo will award a Pacific Islander Scholarship in the amount of the difference between the 150% tuition rate and the resident tuition rate to students who demonstrate financial need. Students do not need to apply for this scholarship; eligible students will automatically be considered for the scholarship and awarded the scholarship if they demonstrate financial need via submission of the FAFSA.

6. Administration and Management

• The management of this agreement will be coordinated through the Chief Academic Officers or their designees at each institution. Changes in the courses, programs, or policies at either institution will be communicated by continuing to provide each other with catalogs which will show yearly changes to the Chief Academic Officers or their designees at each institution, which may result in modifications or amendments to the terms of the agreement.
• The Chief Academic Officers at each institution will identify programs on each campus that might benefit from an articulation agreement and work with the faculty in these programs to develop degree pathways and advising materials to facilitate transfer between the two institutions.
• The terms of this agreement are predicated on the NMC’s continued accreditation with a US regional accreditation agency.
• This agreement will be in effect from the date signed below and will continue thereafter for a period of five years, at which time the agreement may be reviewed and revised or reissued as agreed upon by both parties. The agreement may be terminated by either party at any time, provided that the other party is given prior written notification.

Signed June 2016