The University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu and the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (DOE) are working together to make it easier and more cost-effective to earn a college degree by offering students the opportunity to receive free college credits upon the successful completion of high school coursework.
UH West Oʻahu Chancellor Rockne Freitas and Hawaiʻi DOE Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi recently signed the Hawaiʻi Advanced Placement Programs of Study (HAPPS) articulation agreement that enables students from high schools that participate in DOE Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs to receive advanced placement college credit for high school Business Career Pathway courses. Students who successfully complete the accelerated high school business curriculum and pass a specialized comprehensive exam will receive three free advanced placement college credits for UH West Oʻahu’s BUSA 120: Introduction to Business course upon acceptance and enrollment at the university.
“We are excited to provide the opportunity to Hawaiʻi’s high school students to receive credits for the hard work they’ve completed before setting foot in a college classroom,” said Freitas. “Offering advanced placement credits for relevant business coursework saves them money and shortens their time to graduation, allowing students to move into the workforce or continue on to graduate studies even sooner.”
“We are grateful to UH West Oʻahu for the opportunity to open more doors for our students to get a jump start on college success,” said Matayoshi.
To receive three free advanced placement credits for UH West Oʻahu’s BUSA 120: Introduction to Business course, high school seniors are required to:
- Receive a “C” average or higher in Business Career Pathway coursework from a DOE CTE participating high school
- Pass a comprehensive exam administered by the DOE with a 70% score or higher
- Be accepted and enroll at UH West Oʻahu
Students are eligible to receive the advanced placement college credits starting in fall 2014. UH West Oʻahu is accepting applications for the fall 2014 semester until July 1, 2014.
—A UH West Oʻahu news release
