Saipan’s IBPC links up with Argosy University

A privately owned college in the CNMI has entered into an agreement allowing Hawaii’s Argosy University to pursue approval to offer degree programs and courses through the local institution.

The International Business and Professional College signed the memorandum of agreement with Argosy University during a special ceremony on Dec. 16 at the Argosy campus in Honolulu.

Once all regulatory approvals are received, Argosy University will provide courses in the business and education programs to local and international students in the CNMI.

“Argosy University-Honolulu’s highly regarded programs will be increasingly accessible to a greater number of students. This partnership enables each of us to reach beyond our respective shores to offer additional opportunities to students in the greater Pacific Basin nations of the CNMI, Micronesia, the Philippines, Japan, China, and Korea, as well as here in Honolulu,” interim Argosy president Ron Ogrodnik said in a press statement.

“This agreement is significant because of the great promise it will hold to serve students—now and in the future,” Ogrodnik added.

For his part, IBPC president Herman P. Sablan said Argosy was one of three educational partnerships that IBPC is forging with private educational institutions. He said IBPC will be signing separate memoranda of understanding with one college and another university in January.

Sablan said such collaborations would allow for local students who cannot afford an education off-island to pursue degree programs not offered at the Northern Marianas College.

Students from nearby islands and countries also stand to benefit from the partnerships, as they will no longer have to travel all the way to the United States to take U.S.-certified college programs, he added.

Sablan bared plans for Argosy to start offering degree programs at IBPC by the Spring 2005 semester.

Currently, IBPC offers certificate programs in hotel operations, computer use, customer service, leadership and management, classroom management, as well as NCLEX review classes and teacher certification for the Public School System.

The college has an enrollment of about 110 full-time, international students and some part-timers.

Sablan said IBPC could accommodate up to 300 students when the partnerships take effect.

Those who attended the Dec. 16 signing ceremony include Argosy University System president Gregory O’Brien, Gov. Juan N. Babauta, Frank Flores of the CNMI Governor’s Office, Ogrodnik, and Sablan.

Argosy University has campuses in 13 locations: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, Orange County, San Francisco Bay Area, Sarasota, Shaumburg, Seattle, Tampa, Twin Cities, Washington D.C., and Honolulu.