We, the International Students of MPC, petition the Trustees of Monterey Peninsula College and the MPC Administration to do everything in their power to save Nancy Predham, Director of International Student Programs, and the International Student Program itself.

As her co-workers and the students she serves can attest, Nancy Predham is one of the most hard-working and diligent employees at MPC. Her dedication and commitment to MPC, her job, the program and the international students is completely unparalleled.  The International Student Program brings cultural diversity, global engagement, and fresh perspectives to MPC academic and social life.  The program Nancy directs is the source of an ever-expanding community of international MPC students from all corners of the world.  Under Nancy's leadership, MPC now for the first time in its history has students from countries such as Benin, Cambodia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and many more.  Nancy Predham has been critical to the success of this program.

Once international students arrive on campus, Nancy places their well-being as her top priority.  On top of the heavy load of responsibilities on her shoulders, Nancy provides crucial academic counseling and performs foreign credential evaluations to international students free of charge.  Nancy is on top of her game, and her endless "check-in" emails, phone calls and voicemails to the international students are evidence that she always goes out of her way to help individuals, the program and the school.  Few staff members are as focused on the well-being of their students as Nancy Predham.

Nancy possesses a deep familiarity and comprehension of dynamic immigration laws and is able to interface effectively with the Department of Homeland Security.  Her work is so superlative that neighboring schools have come to her to seek expertise in the immigration field.  Nancy exhibits great patience and capability in corresponding with different embassies and consulates around the globe.  Her knowledge has allowed her to regularly offer services such as assisting prospective international students who may have been denied visas, writing letters that pave the way for international students' parents to be able to attend graduation ceremonies, crafting letters of support for her students, and more.

Moreover, Nancy's work creates a net economic benefit for MPC.  By attracting international students who pay full out-of-state tuition to the school, Nancy creates revenue for the school that is estimated at $500,000 annually.   This amount is equivalent to what approximately 800 in-state students would bring to the school in tuition fees each semester.  

Nancy has delivered a successful, efficient, high-quality International Student Program.  The loss of Nancy Predham and/or the International Student Program would be an unacceptable loss.  Without Nancy Predham, MPC would lose not only a hard-working and incredibly valuable employee, but also its international community and half a million dollars in income annually.  As the International Students of MPC, our friends, fellow students, families, and supporters, we would like to request that the Board of Trustees reconsider its initial decision to eliminate her position.  We, the undersigned, are confident that less catastrophic alternatives can be found that will better allow MPC to meet its financial needs.  Thank you for your consideration of this request and for your support of Nancy Predham and the International Student Program.