Currently, Micronesia Land Grant Programs are offered throughout Micronesia (Palau, Marshall Islands, and the FSM states of Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae) by and thru the three national local colleges namely, Palau Community College, College of the Marshall Islands, and College of Micronesia-FSM in partnership with the College of Micronesia.

The US Congress in 1980 designated College of Micronesia as the land-grant college for the (former) Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. The COM land-grant status was subsequently extended by each of the Compact of Free Association agreement between the three Micronesian nations and the US Government.

Three categories of programs are offered: 1) Extension; 2) Research; and 3) Residential Instruction/Education.

The Extension Programs are offerend in six sites: Koror, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Majuro.

The Research Program has three Agricultural Experiment Stations affiliated with each of the three Micronesian colleges at PCC, CMI and COM-FSM which has substations in Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap.

The Residential Instruction program is offered as part of the regular instructional programs at each of the three colleges.

Funding for the land-grant programs are provided by the federal government as follows:     

          1. Hatch Act appropriation for Research programs;

  2. Smith-Lever Act appropriation for Extension programs;

  3. Endowment Fund which provides income to support instruction and related programs;

Rules and Regulations governing land-grant programs are issued by the US Department of Agriculture. USDA requires that programs to be funded with these federal funds must be approved as part of the USDA-approved Plan of Work (POW) in the case of Extension; and Program of Research in the case of Agricultural Experiment Station research programs.

College of Micronesia provides oversight of the Micronesia land-grant program.  COM is governed by a three-member COM Board of Regents representing the three respective COM Treaty signatory nations.   COM's Central Office is located in Kolonia, Pohnpei, FSM.  

Besides the annual appropriation for Hatch and Smith-Lever funds, COM was granted a $3 million endowment fund in 1985.  The fund is presently managed by professional money managers and currently has a market value of around $5 million dollars. Since 1985, about 75 to 85% of the annual income has been drawn and provided to support instructional programs as well as the extension and research programs.

Being a land-grant college, COM is part of the land-grant network of institutions throughout the mainland US and its affiliated insular areas. Through this network, COM has access to scientists, educators, extension agents and other professional people in the various fields and expertise.

COM is also a member of the ADAP (Agriculture Development in the American Pacific) along with the other insular land-grant institutions: University of Hawaii, University of Guam, American Samoa Community College and the Northern Marianas College.

1980     US Congress approves the land-grant status to College of Micronesia; (Section 506 (a) of the Education Amendment of 1972 (Public Law 92-318, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 301 note).  COM serves all Micronesian “districts”.

1982     US Congress appropriates $3 million endowment fund for COM; (COM Board of Regents selected professional money managers.)

1986     CCM School of Nursing is moved from Saipan to the Marshall Islands providing the frame work for the establishment of a college in the Marshall Islands;

1986     Compacts for FSM and RMI are implemented.  Trust Territory Government’s responsibility over COM is limited to MOC in Palau.

1987     In September, the first COM Treaty is signed among RMI, FSM and ROP affirming their desire to continue supporting COM as a unified system. (It was subsequently amended in May 1989, extended in August 1991 and amended in July 1992.)

1989     On October 10, COM Board of Regents approves a charter establishing COM-Majuro as an independent college under the COM system.

1991      In January, COM Board of Regents change the name "COM-Majuro" to "College of the Marshall Islands".  In June, CMI became accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

1992     In July, the three governments agreed to extend the COM Treaty to March 31, 1993 while finalizing negotiations on the new Treaty.

1993     New COM Treaty is implemented.  Three independent colleges emerge with their own governing boards: College of the Marshall Islands; Palau Community College; College of Micronesia-FSM.  COM continues as the land-grant institution.

1995     The “Trust Partnership/Relationship” among CMI, PCC, COM-FSM and the COM is implemented regarding the operation of land-grant programs. 

            (Administrative and program functions on a day to day basis are delegated to the Presidents of CMI, PCC and COM-FSM.  Central Office is downsized to focus on reports, funding, and coordination as required by USDA.  Agreements relating to the details of the “relationship” are made thru MOU’s.)

1999     A new funding scheme is implemented by USDA pursuant to Agriculture, Research, Extension and Education Reform Act (AREERA) of 1998. 

(COM and other “territories” land grant institutions are designated as if 1890 institutions for the purpose of federal funds matching requirements—from zero to 50% match by FY2002.)

2001    BOR requested and the three governments extended the Treaty to 2002; then 2003; then 2004;

2004    BOR requested and the three Presidents approved during their Presidential summit in Yap to extended the Treaty for two years to Sept. 30, 2006;

2005    BOR requested and the three Presidents agreed, during their July Presidential Summit in Palau, to recommend to their respective governments to extend the COM Treaty to 2009 to coincide with the termination of Palau Compact's current financial provisions.  Copy of the Presidential Communique will be posted in this website as soon as it is made public.

(More important dates and events will be posted in the future.)