A Manoa Promise to local high school students seeking bachelor degrees

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Ryan Yamaguchi, (808) 956-8975
Assistant Director of Admissions, Office of Admissions
Posted: Sep 12, 2014

UH Manoa students on the steps to Hamilton Library.
UH Manoa students on the steps to Hamilton Library.

At a workshop today at Campus Center attended by more than 130 high school counselors from throughout the state, UH Mānoa announced its Mānoa Promise program, which will go into effect with its Fall 2015 entering class.  The program is founded on the principle that access to higher education should be available to all Hawai‘i residents.

The Mānoa Promise will facilitate local high school seniors finding their unique pathways into the UH System, said Ryan Yamaguchi, UHM Assistant Director of Admissions.

The Mānoa Promise begins when a Hawai‘i 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 O‘ahu, Maui, Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i 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 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 applications for admission.  The customary $70 admission fee will be waived.

“UH Mānoa and its 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 UHM 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.”