WASC Accrediting Group Evaluates UH System and University Campuses

UH Manoa, UH Hilo and UH West O‘ahu all recently underwent review by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The commission found at Manoa “a university community dramatically changed” from the last review in 1999, overwhelmingly for the better. Read the press release.

The WASC evaluators similarly commended Hilo for making “substantial progress” in a number of areas and noted their "great strides" towards organizational goals. Read the press release.

The WASC report for UH West O‘ahu praised several areas of improvement, but also expressed concerns regarding the university’s commitment to function with the institutional integrity, fiscal stability and organizational structures necessary to fulfill its purpose. Read the press release.

A final report evaluating the effectiveness of system-wide changes was made at the request of President Dobelle. The WASC team found promise in the reorganization model and recognized the strategic planning efforts of the university system as an effective and particularly inclusive effort. Read the press release.

Maui CC Receives $10 Million in Grants for Rural Development and Job Training Programs

Maui CC announced that it has received $10 million in grants for rural development and job training programs on Maui, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i, Kaua‘i and the Big Island through the U.S. Department of Labor. This is the largest award to date to a community college in the state of Hawai‘i.

The programs funded by the grant concentrate on enhancing the emplyment potential of individuals in rural communities, with an emphasis on high-demand professions such as education and health care. Read the press release.

2003 Frances Davis Award for Undergraduate Teaching

A memorial to the late Frances Davis, who taught mathematics at Leeward CC and UH Manoa for 19 years, this award recognizes UH faculty members for dedication and demonstrated excellence as teachers of undergraduate students.

• David Cleveland
Professor of sociology at Honolulu CC
• Barbara Hotta
Professor of information and computer science at
Leeward CC
• Brandon Ledward
Doctoral candidate in anthropology at UH Manoa
• Linda Middleton
Assistant professor of English at UH Manoa.
• Brian Yamamoto
Associate professor of biological science at Kaua‘i CC

Read more about this year's honorees.

Two New Chairs Endowed at UH Manoa

New endowed chairs have been established in marine biology and native Hawaiian health at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.

Announced by the UH Foundation, they are:
• The Sidney and Erica Hsiao Endowed Chair in the College of Natural Sciences, funded through a $1.4 million bequest from stained-glass artist Erica Karawina Hsiao and zoology professor Sidney Hsiao.
• The Myron "Pinky" Thompson Endowed Chair of Research in the John A. Burns School of Medicine's Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence. A three-year grant from the National Institutes of Health totaling more than $4.6 million will be used for the position.

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An alien invader
(Honolulu Star Bulletin photo)