As with all major institutions in American Samoa , the tsunami on September 29 th caused considerable disruption and some tragedy for the faculty, staff and students of the American Samoa Community College (ASCC), but during this time of crisis the College has responded with a number of programs to assist those affected by the disaster. These range from a project to provide textbooks and clothing for students and members of the public who lost their possessions, to adjustments to this semester's schedule to compensate for lost instruction time, to an entertainment event to raise assistance funds, and many other ongoing activities.

When ASCC resumed classes after the tsunami on Monday, October 5 th , President Dr. Seth Galea'i organized a task force to focus students affected by the disaster returning to school this semester. The task force, headed by Dr. Kathleen Kolhoff-Belle, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, requested that the Admissions and Records Office generate a student list based on the disaster areas recognized by the Red Cross, then announced publicly through the radio and print media that ASCC students in these affected areas should contact the College regarding their situation, and that the College could assist them if they planned on returning to school.

Along with the ASCC Student Government Association (SGA), the task force also organized an Emergency General Student Assembly on Thursday, October 8 th to give students the opportunity to pray and share comfort and support during their time of need, and to give remembrance to ASCC student Sabrina Seva'aetasi, who died in the tsunami. The College also organized a day for ASCC employees affected by the tsunami to meet with counselors to share their experience and any discuss any assistance ASCC could give them. Task force committee members made outreach visits to the east and west sides of the island in search of ASCC students who had yet to make contact. Meanwhile, the SGA, student clubs, and faculty members spread the word on campus through flyers and word of mouth that any student affected by the tsunami should contact the Admissions and Records Office and Counseling Services.

From its outreach activities, ASCC identified about 100 students from affected areas returning to school, as well as two who have completely withdrawn due to extenuating circumstances. Currently, these 100 students are back in school, and their most pressing need is textbooks for their classes. Administration, faculty and the students have undertaken a student book drive to raise money for textbooks through various means. Le Bookstore at ASCC has established a borrow program for students without textbooks, and also offers these students a fifty percent discount on new textbook purchases. With many students also needing school supplies, the SGA and student clubs are working on a "student dollar drive", and have also pledged all proceeds from the popular student activity "MTV Showdown" this Friday night towards school supplies for students in need.

After reviewing the college calendar to determine how to make up the lost contact hours for this semester, the Administration has extended the period of instruction from the original date of December 4 th until December 11 th . Instructors have been asked to accommodate this necessary adjustment, and to have student do as much make-up work as possible. Fall 2009 Graduation will take place on Friday, December 18 th , as originally scheduled. ASTEP courses have been extended for one week. "We have basically managed to get the semester back on track, despite lost time," said Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Irene Helsham.

A number of additional recovery-related activities remain ongoing at ASCC. Criminal Justice and Language & Literature instructor Lawrence Wilson organized a clothing donation drive that students at the College have utilized extensively, as both donors and recipients. In the evenings and on weekends, Wilson visits community sites to donate items suited for children and older adults. English Language Institute (ELI) chairperson Elisapeta Fa'alafi-Jones and her instructors have collected substantial clothing and food donations to benefit affected students currently enrolled in the program. Fa'alafi-Jones also organized the purchase of school supplies for ELI students in need, funded by a donation from the Service Learning head office in Honolulu . The College's Academic Affairs Office continues to collect voluntary monetary donations from employees for the 17 of their colleagues who lost their homes and/or belongings during the disaster.

National Red Cross representatives visited ASCC to offer advice on how to help students and employees cope with the tsunami aftermath. The Red Cross volunteered to help facilitate contact between ASCC and its students in seriously affected areas of the island, and also held three days of small group counseling sessions for students and employees. On Saturday, October 24 th , Lyle O'Neel of the Red Cross gave a presentation on Psychological Support During Times of Disaster in the ASCC Lecture Hall to a full audience of faculty, administrators, students, and members of the community.

While ASCC continues with its own recovery-related projects, it continues to receive much appreciated support from the public and private sectors. Last week, for example, Blue Sky Communications donated a full case of book bags to the College to help students who no longer have backpacks for their textbooks. "It seems the whole island is pulling together to help those in need and get things back to normal," said Dr. Helsham, "and ASCC is proud to be part of this effort."