The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa announced its Mānoa Promise program at a workshop on September 12. The workshop took place at Campus Center and was attended by more than 130 high school counselors from throughout the state. Founded on the principle that access to higher education should be available to all Hawaiʻi residents, the Mānoa Promise program will go into effect in fall 2015.
“The Mānoa Promise will facilitate local high school seniors finding their unique pathways into the UH System,” said Ryan Yamaguchi, UH Mānoa assistant director of admissions.
The program begins when a Hawaiʻi high school student applies for admission to UH Mānoa. “In this streamlined process, if a student is not yet prepared to enter the university, we will work in concert with our colleagues at the UH Community Colleges to define a pathway to UH Mānoa,” said Yamaguchi.
That pathway includes the following steps:
- UH Mānoa will communicate to each student not yet prepared to enter the university about the opportunity to attend one of the UH Community Colleges on Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi island. Included with the letter will be a form, similar to the “Change of Home Institution” form, for the student to identify the UH community college where he or she wishes to enroll.
- The student will not be required to submit a separate UH Community College application. UH Mānoa will input the student’s demographic and other admission-type information into the Banner Student Information System.
- Per the Mānoa Promise, students who have demonstrated academic potential at one of the UH Community Colleges—upon completion of 24 transferable credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher—will work with the UH Mānoa Office of Admissions to request reactivation of their university application for admission. The customary $70 admission fee will be waived.
“UH Mānoa and its UH Community Colleges colleagues stand united in support of the state’s goal of increasing the college participation rate among residents,” said Yamaguchi. “We recognize that the economic vitality of the state is dependent on its people and commit to working in harmony to promote higher education.”
Added UH Mānoa Vice Chancellor for Students Francisco Hernandez, “The Mānoa Promise encourages students to study locally and fulfill their hopes and dreams. Through employing shared technology, we have the capacity to serve our students more efficiently and effectively.”
This new process will streamline our services to help students transition with ease between institutions within the UH System. Most importantly, students will feel supported and empowered to continue their studies and obtain college degrees without leaving home.”
