MEDIA ALERT: 'Go Forward! Agree to Degree' at UH Community Colleges

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Susan A Lee, (808) 956-5852
Dir of Mktg Communications, Vice President for Community Colleges
Posted: Aug 27, 2013

Go Forward! Agree to Degree
Go Forward! Agree to Degree
Hawai'i CC students sign their Agree-to-Degree pledge forms.
Hawai'i CC students sign their Agree-to-Degree pledge forms.

Thousands of community college students are heading back to the classroom and renewing their commitment to complete their degree or certificate through a pledge drive called "Go Forward! Agree to Degree." In an effort to raise the graduation rates, the University of Hawai'i community colleges are rolling out a pledge initiative to build awareness and encourage commitment to completion.

By signing the pledge, students affirm that they will attend classes, get good grades, check their UH email at least once a day, talk to instructors when having difficulty in the coursework, learn more about things that can help them be successful, meet with counselors when having academic or personal issues, and make education a priority in their life.

"Having students sign the pledge is only one half of what's going on at the campuses," said John Morton, UH vice president for community colleges. "Our goal is to raise awareness of all the student services and resources offered at the colleges to help them be successful in school." 

He added, "We wanted to make it easier for them to find the help they need and to utilize the free tutoring, careering counseling, academic advising, learning centers, computer labs and many other student support services."

Staff, faculty and administrators are also pledging their commitment to support students by encouraging, guiding and nurturing them toward college completion.

Pledge signing events are being held at various campuses on the following dates:

Hawai'i Community College, Manono campus - August 27-28, 8am-1pm, and August 29, 4pm-5pm; West Hawai'i campus - August 29, 8am-5pm

Honolulu Community College - September 4, 11am-2pm* (In front of the cafeteria)

Kapi'olani Community College - September 5, 10am-1pm*  (In front of the 'Ohia building)

Kaua'i Community College - September 4, 10am-2pm*

Leeward Community College - August 28, 10am-2pm* (Tuthill Courtyard)

UH Maui College - August 27, 8:30am-10:30am (In front of the bookstore)

Windward Community College, September 4, 11am-2pm* (Library Learning Commons breezeway and Hale Palanakila lobby)

(*Chancellors, vice chancellors and other key administrators along with student leaders and supporters will be signing a large pledge banner in a kick-off ceremony launching the "Go Forward! Agree to Degree" pledge drive.)

For more event details, you may contact the college's communications directors: Hawai'i CC—Thatcher Moats, (808) 934-2506, tmoats@hawaii.edu; Honolulu CC—Billie Lueder, (808) 295-2467 cell, bktakaki@hawaii.edu; Kapi'olani CC—Louise Yamamoto, (808) 734-9513, yamamotl@hawaii.edu; Kaua'i CC—Anna Kennedy, (808) 245-8343, annay@hawaii.edu; Leeward CC—Kathleen Cabral, (808) 455-0524, kcabral@hawaii.edu; UH Maui College—Nicole Beattie, (808) 984-3549, beattien@hawaii.edu; Windward CC—Bonnie Beatson, (808) 235-7374, beatson@hawaii.edu.