Welcome to the SPIO Higher Education Network

We bring together Pacific Islander scholars to navigate higher education successfully so that we can (1) Build Pacific Islander presence in higher education, (2) Build Pacific Islander presence across professional fields (3) and increase Pacific Islander economic freedom. 

The SPIO Higher Education Network is a free, safe, inclusive, global, and digital space for scholars and professionals of Pacific descent to make meaningful connections, share educational and career resources, and build a unified global community. This network serves as a tool to democratize global Pacific community-building and access to educational and career resources beyond country lines.

Officially launched on August 1, 2020.

This network is run by South Pacific Islander Organization, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization building free digital resources for Pacific Islander scholars. 

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, South Pacific Islander Organization will strive to keep this network a free, safe and inclusive space meant to empower our dispersed global Pacific community.

While the SPIO Higher Education Network data is owned by South Pacific Islander Organization, the data will never be sold or shared to external entities.

Since we are building Pacific presence in higher education and professional fields, we cater specifically to:

• Undergraduate and graduate applicants who need application resources and mentorship.
  
• Current undergraduate or graduate scholars looking for an online support community, resources to navigate higher education successfully, and connections to professionals.
• Recent graduates and professionals who want to connect with other professionals, mentor scholars, and educate our community about their career paths and company. 

For security measures, we currently do not allow minors to access the platform. We may, in the future, open this platform to minors.

• Easily search, connect, and message with people from your Home Islands and current (or dream) Professions.
• Contribute to Topics like applying to college, finding scholarships, searching for internships, navigating higher education successfully, and more.
• Search our directory of Educational Resources.
• As we grow and learn from our community, we will strive to adapt our features to the needs of our network.

We ask all members to live by South Pacific Islander Organization's values and follow these Member Guidelines:

Focus on connection and knowledge sharing.

Your stories and experiences may be exactly what other members need to hear today to solve a problem or seize an opportunity. We’re here to push each other forward and lift each other up. Find ways to help each other think bigger, reframe challenges, and stay curious. We’re here to push each other forward and lift each other up. 

Be respectful and supportive.

Please be kind and constructive when you add a new post, ask a question, or comment on someone else's contribution. Encourage and support your fellow members. Our hosts and moderators hold the right to delete any hurtful posts and remove any members who do not abide by our guidelines. 

Provide context.

We love it when our members share links and resources. If you do, add some commentary or give us some context so that we can understand more about why you care about this particular topic or article.

South Pacific Islander Organization reserves the right to remove any hurtful user-generated content and remove any member who do not abide by our Member Guidelines.

Thank you to our Higher Education Network Ambassadors and 2020 SPIO Partners for being the first to believe in the power of digital connection.