Mar Elias College, officially Nazareth-Galilee Academic Institution (NGAI), located in Galilee, Israel, started as branch campus of the University of Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.  Over the last four years, NGAI has become a leading model of higher education and peace in the Middle East.  At NGAI, students from all backgrounds and religions come together in an environment of learning and relationship building that has become a model for establishing peace in the Middle East.  Since NGAI’s inception in October 2003, enrollment has grown by over 230 percent with students pursuing baccalaureate degrees in Communications, Computer Science and Environmental Science/Chemistry.  NGAI began operating on the campus of Mar Elias Educational Institutions (MEEI).  Quite simply, a visit to any classroom on NGAI’s campus will clearly show that peace is possible in the Middle East and that it can begin in the classroom.   NGAI’s model of success as a center of education and peace has not gone unrecognized.  Israel’s Council for Higher Education (CHE) has certified that NGAI meets all the CHE requirements to become a fully accredited Academic institution within Israel.  As a result, NGAI recently received full accreditation, making it a fully accredited academic institution in the State of Israel. Pursuant to the 1958 Higher Education Council Law, the Cabinet At the Weekly Cabinet Meeting 29.3.09 approved the Higher Education Council's 17.3.09 decision to issue the Mar Elias College a permit to open an institute of higher education.