College of Micronesia Land Grant (COM)
Currently, College of Micronesia Land Grant Programs are offered throughout Micronesia (Palau, Marshall Islands, and the FSM states of Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae) by and through the three national and 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 designated the College of Micronesia as the Land-Grant college for the (former) Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in 1980. Each of the Compact of Free Association agreements between the three Micronesian nations and the US Government subsequently extended the COM Land-Grant status.
Three categories of programs are offered: 1) Extension, 2) Research, and 3) Residential Instruction/Education.
The Extension Programs are offered in six sites: Koror, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Majuro.
The Research Program has three Agricultural Experiment Stations affiliated with each Micronesian college at PCC, CMI, and COM-FSM, which have substations in Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap.
The Residential Instruction program is offered as part of the regular instructional programs at the three colleges.
Funding for the land-grant programs is provided by the federal government as follows:
- Hatch Act appropriation for Research programs;
- Smith-Lever Act appropriation for Extension programs; and
- Endowment Fund, which provides income to support instruction and related programs.
The US Department of Agriculture issues rules and Regulations governing land-grant programs. 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. Professional money managers presently manage funds with a market value of around 10 million dollars. Since 1985, about 75 to 85% of the annual income has been drawn and provided to support instructional extension and research programs.
Being a land-grant college, COM is part of the network of institutions throughout the mainland US and its affiliated insular areas. This network gives COM access to scientists, educators, extension agents, and other professionals in various fields and expertise.
COM is also a member of the ADAP (Agriculture Development in the American Pacific) and the other insular land-grant institutions: the University of Hawaii, the University of Guam, the American Samoa Community College, and the Northern Marianas College.