Leeward Community College welcomed nearly 90 faculty and staff from across the University of Hawaiʻi’s 10 campuses for its inaugural UH System Grants Forum on February 18. Hosted by the Leeward CC Grants Office, the daylong event strengthened grantsmanship capacity and fostered collaboration among campuses seeking to expand extramural funding opportunities.
The forum featured multiple interactive sessions designed to support both new and experienced principal investigators. Workshops included “Grants 101: Finding Opportunities,” and “Grant Writing Fundamentals.” Attendees participated in two “Ask the Funders” panels, engaging directly with representatives from the National Science Foundation (via Zoom), Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency, Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corporation and Kaiser Permanente Foundation.
Grants office professionals from Hawaiʻi CC, Kapiʻolani CC, Leeward CC and Windward CC also convened at lunchtime to strengthen systemwide coordination and shared services practices.
“The Grants Forum inspired me to dream bigger for my students and the community we serve,” said Leeward CC Professor Jeffrey Acido. “Hearing from grant experts turned a seemingly daunting task of looking for resources to one of inspiration and joy. I am now more confident in dreaming big for our students.”
Increasing proposals, supporting students
Leeward CC Chancellor Carlos Peñaloza delivered opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of strengthening institutional capacity and advancing student success through strategic external funding partnerships. The keynote address, “Navigating in the Era of Uncertainty,” was presented by Melissa Unemori Hampe, a partner at SR Partners, who shared insights on federal policy trends, philanthropy and grant strategy in an evolving funding environment.
The forum was supported through a competitive Title III grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNH) program, “Creating an Ecology for Innovation: Transformative Funds Management Strategies through Shared Services Centers.” Plans are underway to continue systemwide grantsmanship convenings across the University of Hawaiʻi.
