A Rose By Any Other Name Would Smell As Sweet

PIBC will be changing it's name as of this summer to Pacific Islands University. This is being done to better reflect our new direction and the addition of the Master's program. For more details read the following post taken from our school's website.

PIBC to PIU

[3-March-09] A letter arrived in the mail this morning from Dr Russell Fitzgerald, the executive director of TRACS (our accrediting agency) informing PIBC that an institutional name change has been approved. Pacific Islands Bible College will become Pacific Islands University effective July 1st.

PIBC president, Dr Dave Owen, (pictured with the letter), quoting from the school's mission statement, explains that the new name is a part of an "expanded vision to be a leader throughout Micronesia and the Pacific Region in providing accessible, transformational, and quality Christian higher education. Our mission is to prepare men and women with a biblical worldview for leadership and service in life, work, and ministry in the global community, the churches of the Pacific region and 'to the ends of the earth.'"

"We've come to realize, that it is not enough to simply train people in how to read the Bible, as important as that is."adds Dr Brad Boydston, the vice president of academic affairs. "We need to help our students understand the increasingly complex world in which they are applying the Bible."

There will be three schools within the new university structure.

Pacific Islands Bible College will continue to be the home of the current programs, including the certificate, diploma, AA, and BA degrees in biblical studies.

Pacific Islands Christian College will be home for a new Certificate in Basic English (CBE) and eventually a BA in liberal studies.

Pacific Islands Evangelical Seminary will be the home for the MAR program which was launched last fall. There are plans to add an MDiv degree in the future.

PIBC is accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), which is recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE), the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE).

The school was founded in 1976 as Micronesian Institute of Biblical Studies and was located on Tol, in Chuuk. In 1991 the main campus moved to Guam in an effort to extend the ministry of the school to all Islanders. MIBS became PIBC -- Pacific Islands Bible College -- at that time.

This semester there are 222 students studying on the Guam campus or through classes at the PIBC sites in Chuuk and Palau.