College of Micronesia-FSM
The College of Micronesia-FSM is a public community college in the Federated States of Micronesia. It began operation in 1963 as the Micronesian Teacher Education Center.
The College of Micronesia has a state campus in each of the four states with its national campus in the capital city of Palikir, Pohnpei. The COM-FSM system also includes the Fisheries and Maritime Institute on the Yap islands.History
It as formed by the 1976 merger of the Community College of Micronesia in Kolonia, Pohnpei; and the Micronesian Occupational College, which was built in Koror, Palau between the late 1960s and the middle of the 1970s.
The former originated from a teaching training center on the grounds of the Pacific Islands Central School, later known as Pohnpei Island Central School and now Bailey Olter High School, established in 1962. Community College of Micronesia began operations in 1969 as a way of enhancing the training of area teachers, and it initially issued elementary education associate degrees. Teachers of elementary school students who desired more advanced degrees formed the bulk of the student bodies of the College of Micronesia-FSM extension centers.Academics
The college awards associate degrees and certificates. It also has articulation agreements with several online and conventional institutions.
The College of Micronesia is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. In 2004, the college was placed on "Warning" status by its accreditor; that status was removed the following year.Notable faculty
- Dirk Ballendorf, historian of Micronesia, President of the College of Micronesia from 1977 to 1979.
- Iris Falcam, former First Lady and librarian for the Pacific collection from 1979 to 2010.