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UH Community College graduates

Hawaiʻi Promise, a scholarship program to provide free in-state tuition for qualified University of Hawaiʻi Community College students with financial needs, received a legislative appropriation of $1.8 million for each year of the fiscal biennium 2018 and 2019 through HB 100 CD1 (state budget).

Hawaiʻi Promise is a “last dollar” scholarship that would provide any financial needs not met by other forms of financial aid, such as federal grants and benefits and scholarships from UH, employers and other private sources. The program would cover tuition, fees, books, supplies and transportation.

“The university would like to thank the state legislature and governor for their support of this initial program to improve access to public higher education for local students with financial need,” said UH President David Lassner.

“The legislature recognized the importance of this program, and I’m pleased that we were able to work together to help families fill the gap between what they can afford and what it actually takes for students to go to college,” said Govenor David Ige. “When armed with knowledge and training, our students will have the skills they need to solve the challenges we face in communities across the state.”

HB 1594 was originally introduced by Representative Justin H. Woodson who worked with Lassner, Vice President for Community Colleges John Morton and Vice President for Budget and Finance and CFO Kalbert Young to draft the bill establishing this program. Although HB 1594 did not pass the legislature, the funding for Hawaiʻi Promise was included in HB 100 CD1.

Eligible students will have to qualify for Hawaiʻi resident tuition and be enrolled in a degree or certificate program at a UH community college for at least six credits per semester. Students will also need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to determine their unmet need and maintain standards of academic progress as defined by the Federal Title IV programs.

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