The University of Hawaiʻi System is working to expand its online program offerings following the findings by two major strategic reviews: a comprehensive study by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems and program portfolio and opportunity mapping analyses by UPCEA. A phased expansion is intended to add to, not replace, existing in-person instruction as needed.
The urgency of this transition is underscored by declining numbers of high school graduates and online student out-migration. Approximately 11,000 Hawaiʻi residents enroll in online programs offered by out-of-state providers every year, a number equivalent to a midsize university. The goal is to retain these students, grow enrollment across UH campuses, and increase access for adult and part-time learners for whom traditional in-person degrees are not possible or desirable for a variety of reasons.
UH President Wendy Hensel said, “We are dedicated to making our programs relevant and accessible to every student in Hawaiʻi. These comprehensive analyses provide a data-driven strategy to align the University of Hawaiʻi System with the state’s critical workforce needs, offering flexible formats that work for everyone and speeding up the launch time for new offerings.”
Building pathways, stackable credentials
Kim Siegenthaler, senior advisor to Hensel, presented the findings to about 50 members of the Workforce Learning Community on November 21. High-demand fields include business/management, healthcare, education, STEM and social work/public sector.
UH is working to build strong online pathways and design stackable credentials that enable students to progress from credential to credential within major. UPCEA recommendations included adding online options to more than 100 existing in-person programs and introducing more than 30 new non-credit and for-credit offerings.
Conversations across the 10 UH campuses are being held to determine which of the recommended programs will be developed. The first wave of high-priority online programs is expected to launch in fall 2026 and spring 2027.
