President Wendy Hensel visits Windward Community College
VIDEO NEWS RELEASE
Windward Community College
Windward Community College
Windward Community College
Windward Community College
Windward Community College
UH President Wendy Hensel with members of Ke Kumu Pali at Windward CC
Link to video and sound (details below): https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/dZo07fLTKn
WHAT: University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel visited Windward Community College, completing her commitment to visit all 10 UH campuses within her first 90 days in office.
WHO: Hensel met with Windward CC students, faculty, staff, leadership alumni and community members and toured the campus and its facilities
WHERE: Windward CC, the sole provider of higher education on the Windward side of Oʻahu
WHEN: Monday, March 24, 2025
OTHER FACTS:
- Hensel schedule
- The visit started with a traditional Hawaiian protocol welcoming ceremony,
- Hensel then held a series of meeting with every stakeholder group on campus including student government representatives, student groups, the faculty senate, the staff senate, the campus leadership team and community partners
- An open campus forum was attended by 40 people
- Enrollment at Windward CC has increased 20% over five years, with 2,765 students enrolled at Windward for the 2024-2025 academic year.
- Since implementing its strategic plan in 2020, Windward CC has seen success in boosting both access and completion rates.
- Windward CC received a national award: 2025 ACE/Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation, which honors institutions that have successfully implemented transformative changes to meet the evolving needs of students and their communities.
- When Hensel started serving as UH President on January 1, she said she would visit every campus and six of seven education centers in first 90 days
- Hensel had to reschedule her visit to the last UH facility, the UH Maui Molokai Education Center, from early March to April 8.
VIDEO:
BROLL: (1:51)
0:00-1:51 - President Hensel visiting Windward CC
SOUND:
Wendy Hensel, UH President (;18)
“Absolutely beautiful place and the people are beautiful too. Their commitment to the community, to their students is deep. Many of these folks were students here and now are mentors for the next generation. It's just a really exciting place that clearly feels the mission and acts on it.”
Hensel (on Windward receiving the 2025 ACE/Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation) (:09)
“It's no surprise to me that they won a national award. The commitment to students shows in everything they do and very innovative programs. Really proud of these folks.”
Minakshi Kutty, Windward CC student (:09)
“I think it's amazing that she's coming here, being willing to hear us out, and willing to understand what can be better. I'm just so happy to see that.”
Hio Pelesasa, Windward CC student (:08)
“I feel good. There's a president here who cares about us and comes to our school to answer questions for our students.”
Ardis Eschenberg, Windward CC Chancellor (:08)
“We're just really thankful for her leadership at this time, and we're really thankful to have everyone on our campus. It's a beautiful campus, and it's great to be able to showcase it.”