1,400 help UH plan for ideal campus
By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer
It was standing room only at the University of Hawai'i Campus Center Ballroom yesterday as 1,400 people gathered to have a say in what their campus should be like — finally grouping into 68 committees to wrestle with as many issues.
It was the first massive strategic planning session that the university has hosted, with the doors thrown open to everyone with an idea, a passion or a need to share a cause.
At the end of the all-day session that will provide much of the input for creation of the Manoa campus strategic plan, UH President Evan Dobelle called it the most enthusiastic response he's ever seen.
"I've seen interest before, but I haven't seen these kinds of numbers," he said.
"And they weren't coming to complain, but to say 'This is how we can be better.' Often at these things people come to vent, but this was something where people had a sense of the possibilities. And that's a terrific compliment to the belief that we can make changes here."
The process was led by Interim Manoa Chancellor Deane Neubauer, who is heading the strategic planning process, and Karl Kim, interim vice chancellor.
Gathering in circles to talk about the more than five dozen topic areas, students and faculty and planners and even farmers came together to discuss everything from gender equity in faculty salaries to improving the instructional environment; supporting the arts and the UH-Manoa children's center; providing outreach by the university for K-12; the food service by Marriott; learning about and from the Pacific Islands; and enhancing the work of the peace center.
The topics were as broad as "educating the whole student" and as narrow as making the campus "smoke-free." They included ensuring access for the disabled and returning students, to creating community partnerships to exploring campus life.
"Can we get one?" asked Mamo Kim, who offered the topic of campus life.
Stephen Meder, assistant professor of architecture, grew impassioned on the topic of energy, water and waste materials and asked for a discussion of how the university could take the lead in solving the social and environmental issues of waste.
Bruce Miller, director of the Sea Grant extension service, asked if UH could become self-sustaining in terms of waste, and water.
"We want to come up with ways for the voices of the students to be heard in plans for the future," said an intense young man, leading a discussion group on student concerns.
Dobelle listened in on many discussions, but didn't express his thoughts, preferring that ideas come from the participants.
"I keep telling people we can reform this institution, but we have to reach out," he said.
The comments have been coalesced and are already on the UH Web site devoted to strategic planning. Look for them at hawaii.edu. Go to the Manoa campus, and then follow the links to the strategic planning process.
