According to these articles, a number of students from China came to attend Saipan University and did not find what they expected: http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=33474 http://www.saipantribune.com/archives/newsstoryarch.aspx?cat=1&newsID=33428&archdte=12-12-2003 http://www.saipantribune.com/archives/newsstoryarch.aspx?cat=1&newsID=33267&archdte=12-5-2003 http://www.saipantribune.com/archives/newsstoryarch.aspx?cat=1&newsID=33226&archdte=12-4-2003 Today's article will likely be archived by 3pm PST.
Yes. A contact of mine in the Northern Marianas government said that ONLY the College of the NMI is a legit academic institution. Others: Adam Smith (!) claims a nonexistent instrument called a "charter", and Saipan aka Tinian University is not.
According to articles in the Saipan Tribune today, the US Attorney's office in Saipan has charged the proprietor of Saipan University with inducing interstate and foreign travel to execute a scheme to defraud. According to the articles, the proprietor has turned himself in to the FBI and local authorities raided the offices of Saipan University. http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=33545 http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=33546 These articles will be archived (still available for free, but the URLs will change) at approximately 3pm PST.
According to an article in today's Marianas Variety, the FBI has seized money in accounts belonging to Saipan University and American International University (Guam), http://www.aiuguam.ac/index.asp. See http://www.mvariety.com/frontpage/front01.htm. This article will only be available until approximately 4pm PST today- the Marianas Variety has no archive.
Good job following this, Jason! Thanks for the update,which reiterates our warning that the Northern Marianas are NOT a haven for mills, despite a handful of attempts (Saipan, ASU, and Tinian "Universities") to set up shop. The resources for swift whomping (like Brunton in Hawaii or Contreras in Oregon) are not there, but the will to whomp certainly is--and, eventually, the results. Great news!
I think that Adam Smith has the Liberian accreditation now. So why should they care about Saipan charter?
It has claimed both for quite some time--the Liberian thing quite possibly predates the Marianas claim. Inquiries to the ostensible Liberia office of ASU are redirected to ASU's home office in Connecticut. ASU has bounced around several lax US jurisdictions as they tightened regulations. ASU now claims a "charter" from CNMI. CNMI officials assured me that 1) there is no such thing as a "Charter" and 2) ASU had had no contact with CNMI government at any time. CNMI officials also stated that they have nothing comparable to CA-approval, and that the only legitimate college or university based in CNMI is the College of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Today's Saipan Tribune features an article mentioning the seizure of funds in Saipan University and American International University accounts. http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=33976. This article will be archived at approximately 3pm PST today.
American International University The Jan. 13, 2004 Pacific Daily News features an article on two Guam elected officials' reactions to the indictment of the owner of Saipan University and American International University: http://www.guampdn.com/news/stories/20040113/localnews/213287.html
Article from KUAM Guam TV website on Saipan University and American International University: http://www.kuam.com/news/8257.aspx
