Bermudians through the US Naval Air Station want to keep presences on the Island.

But to date, arrangements to use classrooms at Bermuda College or elsewhere have not been made for any of the three schools.

And Bermudians are scrambling to complete their degrees before City Colleges of Chicago, the University of Maryland, and Webster University are forced to close their doors.

"I don't know of any other US military Base that has opened itself up to the local community,'' for post-secondary education, said Mrs. Dee Block, director of the Education Centre at the Base.

By studying at the Base, Bermudian students not only saved on travel abroad.

They also saved on tuition, because they received the same military discounts as Base personnel.

But with the Base scheduled to close on September 1, the schools are losing their classrooms and office space.

"I have some students who are panic-stricken, and trying to complete what they started in 1987,'' said Ms Deanna Smith, area coordinator for City Colleges. "Suddenly, it's all collapsing on them, and they don't know how to finish.'' Some had even taken leaves of absence from work so they could double up on their course loads, she said.

Ms J. Ruth Hagens, local coordinator for the University of Maryland, said Bermuda College was approached by visiting dean Dr. Paul Hamlin in April of 1994.

"We don't want to leave,'' Ms Hagens said on Thursday. "I don't know why they haven't made a decision.'' But on Friday, Bermuda College spokesman Ms Jan Doidge said the college does hope to offer University of Maryland programmes -- which include Bachelor degrees in management studies, business and management, and behavioural sciences - on Stonington campus after the Base closes.

"I think the college has perhaps been a little recalcitrant in the lack of speed with which we've completed discussions with them,'' Ms Doidge said.

Acting dean of adult and continuing education Mrs. Helen Pearman-Ziral is interested in talking to Ms Hagens, she said.

Meanwhile, local Webster University director Ms Dara van Dijk is working on a plan by which that school -- which offers Masters degrees in finance, management, and human resources development -- would secure its own office and classroom space in Hamilton once the Base closes. That will depend on funding commitments from the home campus in St. Louis, Missouri, among other considerations.

Students hurry to complete degrees before Base closes Bermuda College was not interested in linking up with Webster because it already offered post-graduate degrees through Boston University and the Mind Extension University, Ms Doidge said. The latter offered a Master of Arts from George Washington University and a Master of Business Administration from Colorado University, she said.

Ms Smith said City Colleges approached Bermuda College, but because the college also offered two-year associate degrees, it was not interested in an affiliation. Ms Doidge confirmed that. "I don't see what benefit to the community there would be,'' she said.

Instead, Ms Smith said it was hoped some City Colleges students would be able to complete their degrees using videotapes and home study, followed by an exam.

The schools had also put out "feelers'' to Government, but it was unable to commit Base facilities at this time, Mrs. Block said.

The University of Maryland has awarded 84 Bachelor degrees to Bermudians since it opened at the Base in 1957. Another 50 university degrees have gone to Bermuda residents not connected to the Base.

And about two-thirds of the 400 Masters degrees awarded since Webster University came to the Base in 1981 have gone to Bermudians or Bermuda residents.

Meanwhile, about 70 Bermudians have earned associate degrees at City Colleges, which opened in 1984 after Los Angeles Metropolitan College left the Base.

Some Bermudians have worked their way through the Base schools, obtaining degrees from all three, Mrs. Block said.