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RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE UHM ADMINISTRATION’S CONTINUING EFFORT TO ABOLISH THE PACIFIC BIOSCIENCES RESEARCH CENTER AND TO CLOSE THE KEWALO MARINE LABORATORY

Approved by the Mānoa Faculty Senate on January 18, 2012
53 in support; 4 against; 5 abstentions


Supporting Documents Index:

[Pdf] (Resolution of January 18, 2012)

RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE UHM ADMINISTRATION’S CONTINUING EFFORT TO ABOLISH THE PACIFIC BIOSCIENCES RESEARCH CENTER AND TO CLOSE THE KEWALO MARINE LABORATORY


WHEREAS:
the Manoa Faculty Senate is very concerned about the continuing refusal of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education (VCRGE) to comply with the Senate resolution passed overwhelmingly (37 for, 1 against, 10 abstentions) nearly two years ago (01/20/2010) “that the University of Hawaii at Manoa Faculty Senate opposes the plan to close the Kewalo Marine Laboratory and asks that the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education step down as Interim Director of the Pacific Biosciences Research Center”; AND

WHEREAS:
the VCRGE refused an overwhelming Senate vote (47 in favor, 2 opposed, 10/20/2010) on a motion “to not recommend approval of the abolishment of PBRC” (the Pacific Biosciences Research Center, of which the Kewalo Marine Laboratory is a part), and proceeded to bring his proposal to abolish PBRC to the Board of Regents; AND

WHEREAS:
despite the Board of Regents rejection of the VCRGE’s proposal to abolish PBRC (05/19/2011), the VCRGE has attempted to achieve the dissolution of this Organized Research Unit by refusing to allow the filling of recently vacated faculty and staff positions and refusing to sign off on grant proposals for research that will use the seawater facilities of the Kewalo Marine Laboratory after 07/31/2013. Such actions are negatively impacting the unit’s ability to undertake its research and training mission; AND

WHEREAS:
the VCRGE has failed to appoint a Director of PBRC, leaving it directorless since 2000, by rejecting three candidates put forward in December 2009 by PBRC at the request of the VCRGE without appropriate reason.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That the Mānoa Faculty Senate

1. once again insists, for the third time, that the VCRGE step down from the position of Interim Director of PBRC, and

2. insists that an interim PBRC director, acceptable to the PBRC faculty, be appointed from among the UH faculty within thirty days, and

3. expects that the vibrant research and training activities of PBRC be strongly supported by the UHM administration, and

4. asks that the numerous currently vacant faculty positions in PBRC be filled with new faculty that support PBRC’s goals of biodiversity research and training, as laid out in its 2011 Business Plan, and

5. requests that the Kewalo Marine Laboratory not be closed.