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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, October 16, 2002

HPU partners with Naval War College

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

Hawai'i Pacific University has entered a unique partnership with the U.S. Naval War College to accept each other's coursework toward a master's degree.

HPU is the first university in the nation to reach such an agreement with the 118-year-old college in Newport, R.I., the Navy's premier center for strategy, doctrine and experimentation, officials said.

The partnership means naval officers can take the three-course Non-Resident Seminar Program at Pearl Harbor, transfer to HPU's Diplomacy and Military Studies program, and get a master's degree from the War College or HPU.

"The partnership between HPU and the War College in support of professional military education ... validates the strength of our program and the uniqueness of our curriculum not found in any other university," said Michael Pavkovic, associate dean and program coordinator.

U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Walter F. Doran will sign today the memorandum of understanding with HPU President Chatt G. Wright.

Officials say that what makes the arrangement unique is that all graduate-level coursework from HPU in the Diplomacy and Military Studies program is transferrable to the War College, and vice versa. The War College accepts only some courses from other schools.

Professor Charles Chadbourn, coordinator of the War College's graduate degree program, called the HPU program "one of the most academically demanding in the country."

The program, started in 1999, was designed to complement the military coursework offered by institutions such as the War College and the Navy locally with its non-degree Pearl Harbor offerings.

"It was obvious this was a need HPU could fill, given the military population here," Pavkovic said.

About 30 diplomacy and military studies classes are offered as part of the master's degree program, and about 40 percent of the 80 students taking courses are active-duty military or Defense Department personnel.

Graduate degrees help with promotion, and in order to make captain in the Navy these days, a master's degree is a necessity, Pavkovic said.

Pavkovic said a separate agreement for coursework transfer with HPU was being signed next week with the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Va.

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.