AIB College of Business: A Legacy in Business Education

Founding and Evolution (1921–2000)

The institution began in 1921 as the American Institute of Business, founded by Everett O. Fenton and Ray Hansen in downtown Des Moines, initially housed at the Victoria Hotel on Sixth Avenue Wikipedia. In 1941, it transitioned into a nonprofit organization Wikipedia.More Bonuses

In 1957, Keith Fenton succeeded as president, serving for over four decades until 1998—when the Administration Building was named in his honor Wikipediaportal.clubrunner.ca. That same year, Nancy Williams became president, having a 17-year tenure at the college prior Wikipedia. In 2000, the college rebranded itself as the AIB College of Business, reflecting its broadened scope of baccalaureate offerings Wikipedia.

Academic Programs and Campus Expansion

Initially emphasizing secretarial, accounting, and business administration courses, AIB didn’t grant four-year degrees until the early 2000s Inside Higher EdWikipedia. Ultimately, it offered Bachelor of Science degrees in areas such as Accounting, Business Administration, and Court Reporting, alongside a range of Associate of Applied Science programs including Information Technology, Sports & Event Management, Media Communications, and even the rare Voice Captioning degree—one of the few of its kind in the U.S. Wikipedia.

By the mid-2010s, AIB had a 20-acre campus on Fleur Drive in Des Moines and served over 1,000 students Wikipedia.

Athletics and Campus Life

Athletics at AIB resumed in 2007 after a long hiatus; the college added multiple varsity teams like basketball, golf, volleyball, soccer, bowling, baseball, softball, dance, and cheerleading, competing in the NAIA’s Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC) approximately from 2010 to 2015 portal.clubrunner.caWikipedia+1. The teams proudly bore the name “AIB Eagles”, with a mascot named “E.O.”—a tribute to founder Everett O. Fenton Wikipediaportal.clubrunner.ca.

Challenges and Decision to Close

Facing financial stress, competition from public institutions (including free community colleges), and shifting enrollment dynamics, AIB leadership chose to shutter the institution on its own terms, rather than be forced out Inside Higher Edportal.clubrunner.ca. In January 2015, AIB arranged to donate its Des Moines campus to the University of Iowa (UI) Inside Higher EdWikipedia.

Transition & Closure (2015–2016)

The original plan envisioned a UI-Des Moines branch, potentially shared with Iowa State and UNI, known internally as a “Regents Regional Resource Center” WikipediaInside Higher Ed. Accreditation and logistics challenges, however, meant AIB students mostly had to either graduate or transfer by the campus’s official closure on June 30, 2016—marking the end of 95 years of operation Wikipediaportal.clubrunner.cathegazette.com.

By July 2018, UI confirmed plans to close the Des Moines campus entirely and put the property up for sale due to low enrollment and resource constraints thegazette.comWikipedia.

Campus Sale and Enduring Legacy

The University of Iowa sold the 17-acre campus in August 2019 for approximately $7.5 million Wikipedia. Proceeds established the AIB College of Business Scholarship Fund, offering renewable $1,000 scholarships to UI students—40 such awards were granted in Fall 2020, all to Iowa residents in business-related majors Wikipediaforiowa.org.

The scholarship fund continues to nurture business students, with UI officials and the Williams-Fenton family emphasizing AIB’s legacy of educational generosity foriowa.org+1.

Historical Footnote & Student Records

AIB is acknowledged among Iowa’s closed—or defunct—institutions, whose student records are now held by the University of Iowa Office of the Registrar. Transcripts and verifications from closed schools like AIB can be requested directly through UI’s registrar office Office of the Registrar.

Summary

From its humble inception in 1921 to its final closure in 2016, AIB College of Business served nearly a century as a dedicated institution offering business-oriented associate and bachelor’s degrees, distinctive programs like Voice Captioning, and a spirited athletic presence. Strategic challenges ultimately led its administration to “gift” the campus to the University of Iowa, converting physical assets into scholarships. Though AIB no longer operates, its legacy endures—both in the students it shaped and those it continues to support through scholarship.read this post here