associate degree program - Instituto de Banca y Comercio

HISTORICAL BACKGROUNDInstituto de Banca y Comercio is a private, post-secondary institution of a non-traditional character, whichoffers short training programs and associate degrees to young adults and adults in the Business,Technical/Vocational/Health, Beauty and Culinary Arts fields. It operates under the laws andregulations of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.It was founded by Mr. Fidel Alonso Valls in 1975 in the city of San Juan. Since then, it has maintained asteady growth and development. It currently has a main campus and eleven (11) additional campuses thatoperate in the cities of San Juan (1975), Ponce (1983), Mayagüez (1984), Cayey (1986), Guayama(1986), Manatí (1992), Fajardo (1991), Caguas (2000), Humacao (2008), Carolina (2009), Arecibo(2009) and Bayamón (2010); plus eleven (11) Campus Additions.Since 1978, Instituto de Banca y Comercio has been accredited by the “Accrediting Council forIndependent Colleges and Schools” (“ACICS”) to award diplomas. All of its programs are authorized byPuerto Rico Council of Education. The campuses in San Juan (2006) and Ponce (2009) are authorized byPuerto Rico Council of Education (Higher Education Division) and accredited by “ACICS” to awardassociate’s degrees. All the units are authorized by the Federal Department of Education to participate inthe Title IV programs of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.In March of 2007, Instituto de Banca y Comercio was acquired by Leeds Equity partners, an investmentfirm in New York.The institution’s success is due to the capability and sense of commitment of its professors, the locationof its units, the attention offered to students, the use of modern technological resources and the innovativeway in which it has managed the educational process, preserving its academic excellence within achanging environment that has been incorporated into the curricula to keep it current.[12]