Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

FSM Extends Treaty Regarding the College of Micronesia

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): October 8, 2009 - The extension of the "Amended Treaty Among the Governments of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau Regarding the College of Micronesia" has been approved and signed by the FSM Executive Branch. The treaty was scheduled to expire on September 30th, 2009, but with the resolution signed by Vice President Alik on behalf of President Mori, the Treaty will be extended for another two years.

This treaty allows the three countries to share a $3 million U.S. land grant which goes to the Palau Community College, the College of the Marshall Islands, and the College of Micronesia-FSM in partnership with the College of Micronesia.

The Amended Treaty has been extended several times and the current treaty will end on September 30, 2011. This Treaty anticipated and planned for a day when each college component of the College of Micronesia would obtain separate status as a Land Grant College, pursuant to Title 7 of the United States Code, but separate Land Grant College status has not yet been attained.

The resolution explains that during the 11th Micronesian Presidential Summit that was held in Majuro in July of 2009, the three Presidents agreed to renew, subject to the approval of their governments, the Amended Treaty for two years, as requested by the Board of Regents of the College of Micronesia.

Because the extension does not affect any other terms of the Amended Treaty, the President, or the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, under Section 504 of Title 10 of the Code of the Federated States of Micronesia, is allowed to conclude certain international agreements without ratification of the FSM Congress, as long as the agreements do not involve a delegation of a major power of government of the FSM to another government and do not involve major financial obligations requiring further appropriation. Therefore, the Presidential resolution was used to extend the treaty.

Currently, Micronesia Land Grant Programs are offered in Palau, the Marshall Islands, and all four FSM states by and thru the three national colleges in the categories of Extension, Research, and Residential Instruction/Education.