4. University of Hawaiʻi System Overview

The University of Hawaiʻi System operates ten campuses and eight satellites or learning centers dispersed over five islands with a total enrollment of more than 50,000 students. Its extensive operations are consistent with its broadly stated primary mission: to transmit knowledge, wisdom, and values to ensure present and future generations with improvements in quality of life. As a state university, it also has a special responsibility (kuleana) to support the indigenous Hawaiian language and culture and to steward (mālama) the islands’ resources.

An assessment of the current and future role of the University of Hawaiʻi within the greater community requires an evaluation of the University, its environment, and those who have insights into developing opportunities and changing needs. The initial step is to review trends in key performance indicators for the university itself: enrollment, student success, program health, and innovation.

Campus Profiles

Board of Regents Policy (4.201) outlines the basic missions of the University’s operating units.

Campus Programs

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa offers bachelor’s degrees in 102 fields of study, master’s degrees in 89, research doctorates in 52, professional practice doctoral degrees in architecture, law, nursing, education, and medicine, and a total of 68 undergraduate and graduate certificates. UH Mānoa also offers 3 post-baccalaureate certificates.

UHM is characterized as a Carnegie ”Doctoral University: Highest Research Activity.” Several mergers and reorganizations are in progress, including the merger of the Shidler College of Business with the School of Travel Industry Management, and the merger of the College of Arts & Humanities, the College of Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics and the School of Pacific & Asian Studies.

Within the College of Natural Sciences, the departments of Biology, Botany, and Microbiology are in the process of merging into one unit. “Through these multiple mergers, the campus will increase opportunities for faculty to collaborate and teach across disciplines in ways that strengthen programs and maximize resources.“UHM has increased its focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs in response to growing interest and the needs of the State. As a result, new undergraduate degrees have been approved in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Construction Engineering, Dietetics, Engineering Science (Biomedical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering), Environmental Design, Molecular Cell Biology, Public Health and Second Language Studies.

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is categorized in the Carnegie Classification as a “Master’s College and University: Small Programs” with balanced arts & sciences/professional programs and selected graduate programs. The campus has six colleges offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, seven master’s degree programs, two research doctoral degree programs, two professional practice degree programs and 44 certificates.

UH-West Oʻahu focuses on programs that provide students with applied degrees that serve important community and workforce needs. UHWO offers four different degree possibilities – BA, BEd, BAS, and the BS. A total of 47 concentrations are offered within the bachelor’s degree portfolio. Four of the degree programs are offered online as well as in person. Several degree programs are designed to serve the needs of community college transfer students. The online degree offerings are attractive to non-traditional students including working adults and neighbor island residents.

Hawaiʻi Community College offers 19 certificate programs and 25 degree programs. Honolulu Community College offers 20 certificate programs and 26 degree programs. Kapiʻolani Community College offers 13 certificate programs and 20 degree programs. Kauaʻi Community College offers 13 certificate programs and 16 degree programs. Leeward Community College offers 12 certificate programs and 16 degree programs. UH Maui College offers 16 certificate programs and 21 degree programs. Windward Community College offers 2 certificate programs and 5 degree programs.

In addition to the Board-approved associate degree programs and Certificates of Achievement, UHCC campuses also award Certificates of Competence in Career and Technical Education areas. These Chancellor-approved Certificates “are awarded upon completion of courses that develop competencies needed for an employable set of skills recognized by business and industry; these certificates are between 4 and 24 credit hours or, through UHCCs’ continuing education programs, based on equivalent hours of instruction (not for credit toward a college degree or credit awarded through articulation agreements).” UHCC academic programs are reviewed and reported annually.

UHCCs also partner with industry and employers to offer training. These training programs address industry needs and include apprenticeship programs including: Boilermakers, Bricklayer- Masons, Carpenters, Cement Finishers, Drywall, Acoustic and Leather Installers, Electricians/Wirepersons, Glaziers, Iron Workers, HVAC, Plumbers, and Painters. Additionally, apprenticeship opportunities with Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard prepare apprentices for 27 trade occupations. Apprenticeship programs are also available in critical non-trade disciplines including Healthcare, Hospitality, Culinary, and Information Technology.

Planned Programs

The UH System’s 2020-2026 Academic Master Plan summarizes proposed new programs which have an Authorization to Plan (ATP) or for which an ATP is under discussion.

Programs Authorization to Plan
Campus New ATPs to Officers
AY 19-20
Possible ATPs Under Discussion
AY 20/21 AY 21/22
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa BA Public Policy
BEd Special Education
Doctor of Phys. Therapy
MA Women’s Studies
BS/PM Data Science
Bach. of Architecture (BArch)
BA/MA Criminology/Criminal Justice
BFA in Acting
BFA in Creative Media
Med in School Counseling
MFA in Indigenous Filmmaking
MS/PhD in Biochemistry
University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo BS Data Science
BA Asian Studies/Languages (program consolidation)
BS Fisheries and Wildlife
University of Hawaiʻi - West Oʻahu BS CybersecurityMS School Counseling & Guidance
UH Community Colleges AS/CA Entrepreneurship (Kapiʻolani CC) AS Substance Abuse Counseling (Hawaiʻi CC)
CA in Residential Electrical Installation & Maintenance (Hawaiʻi CC)
CA in Commercial & Industrial Electrical Installation & Maintenance (Hawaiʻi CC)
Data Analytics (Honolulu CC) Sustainability (Honolulu CC)
CA Restaurant Management (Kapiʻolani CC)
Community Paramedicine (Kapiʻolani CC)
CA Pastry Arts (Kauaʻi CC)
AS Public Health (Kauaʻi CC)
AA Administration of Justice (Kauaʻi CC)
Overall Enrollment Trends
System. 3

System enrollment for 2019 totaled 49,977, a 17.2% drop since 2011. The decline in enrollment was across the board but was most significant for community colleges, which declined 23.6% while four-year institution enrollment dropped 8.8% for the same period. Enrollment for the system is projected to grow only modestly to about 50,300 by 2025, a 0.2% annual rate of growth.

Key characteristics of system enrollment are detailed in the tables and figures in the appendices 1 - 4 and include these highlights:

3 Note: Data in this section is from the UH IRAPO website
4 Note that the University of Hawaiʻi uses a “trumping” rule when counting students of Hawaiian ethnicity. Unlike the U.S. Census or other enumerations, UH will count a student as “Hawaiian” if Hawaiian is any part of their ancestry. This results in higher counts for Hawaiians than other data sources.

Enrollment in Four Year Universities

Enrollment in the system’s four-year universities (Mānoa, Hilo, and West Oʻahu) totaled 23,911 in 2019. Enrollment has declined nearly nine percent (-8.8%) since 2011. Key characteristics for the four-year colleges are aggregated in the figures and tables in the appendices 1 through 4), and include the following highlights:

Community Colleges Enrollment

In 2019, enrollment in the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges (CCs) totaled 26,066, a 15.8% decline from 2014. The decline in CC enrollment has been consistent over the last five years.

University of Hawaii Community Colleges — Enrollment and Growth Rate
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Community College Enrollment 30,960 30,370 28,757 27,441 26,819 26,066
% Difference na -19% -5.3% -4.6% -2.3% -2.8%

UH Maui College had the steepest percentage decline in enrollment (-21.4%) while Kapiʻolani Community College lost the greatest number of students (1,506).

UH Community Colleges Enrollment, 2014 to 2019
Campus 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Hawaiʻi CC 3,186 3,087 2,956 2,819 2,632 2,615
Honolulu CC 4,144 4,328 3,903 3,563 3,541 3,510
Kapiʻolani CC 7,994 7,816 7,382 7,095 6,899 6,488
Kauaʻi CC 1,424 1,401 1,401 1,346 1,486 1,373
Leeward CC 7,742 7,535 7,262 6,805 6,709 6,568
UH Maui College 3,809 3,593 3,342 3,302 3,092 2,992
Windward CC 2,661 2,610 2,511 2,511 2,460 2,520

UH Community Colleges Enrollment Growth, 2015 to 2019
Campus 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Hawaiʻi CC -3.1% -4.2% -4.6% -6.6% -0.6%
Honolulu CC 4.4% -9.8% -8.7% -0.6% -0.9%
Kapiʻolani CC -2.2% -5.6% -3.9% -2.8% -6.0%
Kauaʻi CC -1.6% 0.0% -3.9% 10.4% -7.6%
Leeward CC -2.7% -3.6% -6.3% -1.4% -2.1%
UH Maui College -5.7% -7.0% -1.2% -6.4% -3.2%
Windward CC -1.9% -3.8% 0.0% -2.0% 2.4%
Non-Traditional Student Enrollment

Older students (age 35+) account for 12.9% of system enrollment and are potentially students completing credentials and degrees or retraining for a career change. As the Hawaiʻi population ages, older students will be an increasingly important target for enrollment growth. Part time students, who may also be working adults or lack the means to attend full time, represent 48.2% of system enrollment. The Community Colleges, with roughly two thirds of enrollments part time, attract these non-traditional students. The Community Colleges and UH West Oʻahu are particularly strong in attracting first generation college students, accounting for about a quarter of their enrollment.

UH Non-Traditional Student Enrollment
Age group UH Mānoa Enrolled
(%)
UH Hilo Enrolled
(%)
UH West Oʻahu Enrolled
(%)
UHCCs Enrolled
(%)
UH System Enrolled
(%)
Age 35+ 1,954
(11.7%)
369
(10.9%)
468
(15.3%)
3,538
(13.6%)
6,329
(12.9%)
Part Time 4,330
(26.0%)
774
(23.0%)
1,366
(44.8%)
17,239
(66.1%)
23,709
(48.2%)
First Generation 2,887
(17.3%)
630
(18.7%)
776
(25.5%)
6,371
(24.4%)
10,664
(21.7%)
Total Enrollment 17,490 3,372 3,049 26,066 49,977
First-Year Student Intake for University of Hawaiʻi System

More than two-thirds of first-time students for the University of Hawaiʻi System in Fall 2019 are from Hawaiʻi; only about 3.5% are international. xlvii

UH System First-Year Students
Total Number 4 Year
(%)
UH Mānoa
(%)
UH Hilo
(%)
UH West Oʻahu
(%)
UHCCs
(%)
Total 7,515 2,686 2,020 449 217 4,829
Hawaiʻi 5,161
(68.7%)
1,643
(61.2%)
1,145
(56.7%)
294
(65.5%)
204
(94.0%)
3,518
(72.9%
Mainland 1,522
(20.3%)
952
(35.4%)
809
(40.0%)
133
(29.6%)
10
(4.6%)
570
(11.8%
Foreign 263
(3.5%)
36
(1.3%)
25
(1.2%)
11
(2.4%)
0
(0.0%)
227
(4.7%)
Other 569
(7.6%)
55
(2.0%)
41
(2.0%)
11
(2.4%)
3
(1.4%)
514
(10.6%)

For first time students entering the University System from Hawaiʻi, a large majority are from public schools.

UH First time Students
Total UH Mānoa UH Hilo UH West Oʻahu UHCCs
Public 84.8% 73.2% 71.1% 72.1% 86.8% 90.3%
Private 15.2% 26.8% 28.9% 27.9% 13.2% 9.7%
International Enrollment

International enrollment for the system and for UHM has declined modestly since 2014.

International Enrollment — UH System and UH Mānoa
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
UH System 2,661 2,617 2,510 2,465 2,427 2,391
UH Mānoa 1,284 1,255 1,168 1,122 1,162 1,195

In Fall 2019, there were 2,391 international students enrolled in the University of Hawaiʻi system, 4.8% of total enrollment. Most were enrolled at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (1,195), making up 6.8% of UHM enrollment. Most (59.0%) of the international students at UHM were enrolled in graduate programs. International students comprised 7.7% of University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo enrollment. The only Community College with significant international enrollment is Kapiʻolani Community College at 9.3%.

East Asia is the largest source of foreign students for the UH system, with 53.8% of the international enrollment. Japan with 27.8% of international enrollment, South Korea (11.5%), and China (10.7%) are the three largest contributing countries.

A study conducted by the Hawaiʻi Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism estimated the annual economic contribution of international students (including the University of Hawaiʻi and other institutions) in 2019 to be in excess of $200 million. xlviii From the standpoint of economic development for the State, international education is an “export” and is a sector that may contribute to economic diversification more easily than other options.

Hawaiʻi Spending by International Students
Number Tuition/Fees Living Expenses Total
Degree-seeking undergraduate 2,933 $37,163,869 $51,385,752 $88,549,621
Degree-seeking graduate 669 $15,810,211 $12,007,263 $27,817,272
Short-term students 10,155 $32,964,989 $54,528,727 $87,493,716
Non-degree seeking undergrad 2,010 $12,431,248 $17,583,831 $30,015,079
Non-degree seeking graduate 85 $1,769,012 $887,400 $2,656,412
Short-term training programs 6,279 $16,956,399 $28,763,303 $45,719,702
Student camps 1,252 $1,808,330 $1,675,510 $3,483,840
Visiting Scholars/Teachers 529 $0 $5,618,683 $5,618,683
Total 13,757 $85,939,069 $117,921,742 $203,860,811

Source: Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism

Western Undergraduate Exchange

The University of Hawaiʻi has a tuition reciprocity agreement with institutions in sixteen Western states in which students can qualify for tuition rates no more than 150% of resident rates. For Hawaiʻi, the number of incoming students in the WUE program (2,683) is roughly equal to the number of Hawaiʻi students who study on the U.S. mainland (2,467). xlix

Western Undergraduate Exchange, Number of Incoming and Outgoing Students
Alaska Arizona California Colorado Idaho Montana Nevada New Mexico North Dakota Oregon South Dakota Utah Washington Wyoming Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Guam
outgoing students1742316137628365061959452993279900
incoming students541011,7022143610511769710263016052
Tuition

Undergraduate. In 2019-20, undergraduate resident tuition and fees at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa totals $12,186, 56.4% higher than UH Hilo ($7,792) and 60.7% higher than University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu ($7,584). Resident tuition for the Community College system is $3,228. For the four-year colleges, undergraduate tuition for non-residents ranged from 2.3 to 2.8 times resident tuition.

Graduate. Graduate tuition at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is $16,814, 38.0% higher than UH Hilo ($12,184). The following table summarizes general levels of tuition for the 2019-20 Academic Year (though individual schools and programs have tuition levels that vary from this).

Levels of tuition for AY 2019-20
UH Mānoa Tuition $ % Change vs, 2018-19 % Change vs, 2015-16 Non-resident/resident Index
Undergraduate Resident$12,186 3.7% 9.2% na
Undergraduate Non-resident$34,218 1.3% 8.6% 281
Graduate Resident$16,814 3.9% 11.6% na
Graduate Non-resident$38,294 1.7% 8.9% 228
Levels of tuition for AY 2019-20
UH Hilo Tuition $ % Change vs, 2018-19 % Change vs, 2015-16 Non-resident/resident Index
Undergraduate Resident$7,792 1.9% 6.3% na
Undergraduate Non-resident$20,752 0.7% 4.9% 266
Graduate Resident$12,184 2.0% 9.3% na
Graduate Non-resident$27,016 0.9% 8.1% 222
Levels of tuition for AY 2019-20
UH West Oʻahu Tuition $ % Change vs, 2018-19 % Change vs, 2015-16 Non-resident/resident Index
Undergraduate Resident$7,584 1.9% 6.0% na
Undergraduate Non-resident$20,544 0.7% 4.8% 271
Levels of tuition for AY 2019-20
UH Community Colleges (Average) Tuition $ % Change vs, 2018-19 % Change vs, 2015-16 Non-resident/resident Index
Undergraduate Resident$3,228 4.3% 9.5% na
Undergraduate Non-resident$8,364 1.6% 5.3% 259

A review of tuition conducted for the Board of Regents in 2019 noted that tuition had increased steadily over ten years with levels that exceeded WICHE (Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education) peer institutions. Tuition rates for graduate students at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in particular were found to be significantly higher than peer institutions. In response to these findings, the Board of Regents approved tuition levels through Academic Year 2022-23:

Graduation, Transfers, and Persistence

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has shown consistent increases in the rate of students who graduate in four or five years. The fall 2014 cohort of first-time full-time freshmen has graduated 35.2% of its students in four years and 57.4% in five. For the University of Hawaiʻi Hilo, the four-year rate is significantly lower and more sporadic, with 15.0% of the 2014 cohort graduating in four years and 33.0% in five. For UH West Oʻahu, the percentages are 15.9% and 34.9%, respectively.

Graduation and transfer rate trends for each of the 10 campuses are included in appendix 8.

Community College Graduation and Transfers

Since 2015, the number of degrees and Certificates of Achievement awarded has averaged between 4,800 and 5,200 but has not met the CC System’s current performance goals set in 2016.

UH Community Colleges - Degrees and CAs Awarded
Degrees & Certificates of Achievement 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Awarded 4,837 5,209 5,118 4,9355,210
Goal -4,941 5,187 5,446 5,719

A key performance indicator for the Community Colleges is the rate of transfer from the CCs to four-year institutions. The number of transfers from the Community Colleges has declined significantly along with the decline in overall enrollment. l

Transfers into the UH Four-Year Campuses by Previous College Type
Previous institution AY 2016 AY 2017 AY 2018 AY 2019 AY 2020
Total 4,316 4,159 3,990 3,796 3,797
UH 4-Year 194 159 176 164 132
UHCC 2,150 2,135 2,076 1,981 1,828
Hawaiʻi Private 92 91 87 67 86
U.S. Mainland 1,287 1,403 1,341 1,341 1,324
U.S. Related 99 57 58 69 85
Foreign 273 190 88 59 77
Foreign 221 124 164 115 265

DAPR

Overall, transfers (from any source) account for more than half of new entrants to UH four-year programs. Transfers from the Community College System accounted for 25% of new entrants for UH Mānoa; 22% for UH Hilo and 80% for UH West Oʻahu. UHWO has actively developed articulation agreements encouraging transfers from the community colleges. As noted in the table above, the number of transfers from the community colleges has declined from 2,150 in Academic Year 2016 to 1,828 in Academic Year 2020 (-15.0%).

Those UHCC students who transferred to a non-UH institution selected these schools in the 2017-18 to 2019-20 period: li

UHCC Transfers to Non-UH Institution
Institution State Total
Hawaiʻi Pacific UniversityHawaiʻi450
Chaminade University HawaiʻiHawaiʻi350
University of Nevada Las VegasNevada283
Pacific UniversityOregon129
Washington State UniversityWashington108
Oregon State UniversityOregon104
Institutions primarily online (total)Online/Various 5950

5 Arizona State University, Grand Canyon University, University of Phoenix, American University Public University System, Western Governors University, College of Southern Nevada, Northern Arizona University

Analysis suggests that reasons for picking a non-UH option for transfer are the lack of a desired major or course of study and/or a desire to pursue further studies online.

Assessments and Program Reviews

Assessments provided through its accreditation with WASC (the Western Association of Schools and Colleges), as well as through accrediting bodies for various schools and programs, along with the University’s own program reviews, and myriad reports of external evaluators provide the system with a wealth of recommendations and evaluations.

UH Mānoa regularly reviews its offerings “to ensure that programs remain innovative, consistent with changes in the discipline, and responsive to workforce needs.” Toward this end, the campus stopped-out admission to the following programs in preparation for program termination: PhD in Biomedical Sciences, BS in Ethnobotany, Master of Geosciences for Professionals, BS in Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), the MS in Biological Engineering, and the BA/BS in Zoology.

In an effort to address programs with low enrollment, the campus recently consolidated the six graduate degrees in East Asian Languages and Literature into a single Master’s degree and PhD program, and merged the undergraduate programs in Tropical Plant & Soil Sciences and Plant & Environmental Protection Sciences into a single BS in Tropical Agriculture and the Environment.

In light of concerns about university budgets that are already tight and that are not likely to experience significant growth, it does not appear that the process for sunsetting low-enrolled programs will yield results that are sufficient to free up adequate revenues for new or expanded programs. In 2017-18 UHM had 45 programs in which one or more of its degree offerings were deemed to have “small numbers of graduates;” all but one were approved for continuation, most with a promise of a forthcoming review.

While program reviews are written to provide specific program guidance, examining them reveals recurring themes for the University system, some of which are well known and some which can be generally surmised from looking across program evaluations. Just a few of these general findings include:

An extensive summary of program review findings is included as a separate addendum to this report.

Financial Aid and Hawaiʻi Promise

In Academic Year 2017-18, 15,785 undergraduate students in the UH System received state and institutional grants and scholarships totaling $58.4M. broken out in the following categories:

Grants and Scholarships by Type

State Grants/Scholarships (Need Based)2,850
Institution Opportunity Grants (Need Based)11,537
Institution Achievement Scholarships4,505
UH Foundation2,395
Other183

Grants and Scholarships Dollars

State Grants/Scholarships (Need Based)$4,734,275
Institution Opportunity Grants (Need Based)$27,393,789
Institution Achievement Scholarships$21,100,831
UH Foundation$4,856,132
Other$283,162

Source: UH IRAPO

Considering the two largest sources of financial aid (Pell Grants and State & Institutional Grants and Scholarships):

For Academic Year 2017-18, the University of Hawaiʻi System had 16,101 students with unmet financial needs. The average unmet financial need for the system was $9,788: $10,285 for UH Mānoa; $11,721 for UH Hilo; $10,587 for UH West Oʻahu; and $8,733 for the Community Colleges.

Instructional Faculty Characteristics

The demographic profile of the University’s instructional faculty has become more diverse since 2012-13, but the diversity varies across campuses. In terms of the representation of women in the UH faculty, UH Mānoa has proportionately less (index = 96) and the community colleges proportionately more (index = 105) than the system average (48%).

Demographic profile of UH instructional faculty
UH System Instructional Faculty Number 2019-20 Percentage % pt. Change vs. 2012-13
Hispanic/Latino 522.4%+0.4
American Indian/Alaska Native80.4%-0.1
Asian66731.3%+1.4
Black/African American281.3%+0.2
Native Hawaiian./Pacific Islander1627.6%-0.2
White1,02748.2%-5.3
Two or More Races1075.0%+3.6
Female1,02248.0%+2.4

Source: IPEDS

Characteristics of Full Time Instructional Staff
Hispanic/Latino American Indian/
Alaska Native
Asian Black/
African American
Native Hawaiian/
Pacific Islander
White 2+ Races Women
UH System 2.4% 0.4% 31.3% 1.3% 7.6% 48.2% 5.0% 48.0%
UH Mānoa 1.9% 0.1% 29.7% 1.2% 6.9% 51.2% 3.7% 46.2%
UH Hilo 2.0% 0.5% 27.1% 1.0% 7.9% 54.7% 3.9% 48.3%
UH West Oʻahu 5.9% 2.4% 23.5% 8.2% 8.2% 40.0% 7.1% 49.4%
UH CC 3.0% 0.6% 36.2% 0.7% 8.7% 42.3% 7.2% 50.6%

Source: IPEDS

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