Posted on: Saturday, November 17, 2001

Dobelle solicits vision for UH-Kaua'i

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua‘i Bureau

PUHI, Kaua'i — University of Hawai'i President Evan Dobelle has a vision of Kaua'i Community College as a center to train nurses, farmers, social workers, teachers and filmmakers.

But whether that vision is realized is less his kuleana than that of the people of the island and the faculty at the college, which has a fall enrollment of 1,168, up about 10.5 percent from last year.

After a UH Board of Regents meeting on Kaua'i yesterday, Dobelle sat down with faculty members from across the university system who are working on ways to remake the their campuses.

Dobelle, 56, on the job since July 2, has plenty of ideas, but does not suggest his are the best.

"My plans are just to turn the green light on for people," he said. Different colleges have different needs that often match those of their communities, he said.

For Kaua'i, with one of the smallest colleges in the system, Dobelle said certain potential specialties emerged after talking with people in the community and college:

• Providing potential educators with an opportunity to get their fifth-year teaching certificates;

• Expanding the nursing program to eliminate its waiting list and perhaps bring in more students from abroad;

• Offering a four-year tropical agriculture program that can provide island farmers with the agricultural and business know-how to succeed;

• Offering a master's degree in social work;

• Including the community college in a systemwide film school.

Dobelle said he sees a big economic role for the island in attracting students by building dormitories, which he also has proposed for the Big Island and Maui. Nursing students from abroad are one possible area of growth.

Systemwide, the University of Hawai'i should look at expanding its distance education opportunities, Dobelle said.

But classes offered through distance learning require direct access to instructors and must not overtax the teaching staff, he said.

"They need to be online, real-time, interactive and limited" in student numbers, he said.

Dobelle said he expects to announce by Dec. 15 the structure of a systemwide strategic planning process.

Until then, he is continuing the process held yesterday on Kaua'i, familiarizing faculty members with the idea of strategic planning and how to make it work.