Evaluators suggest regents need training
By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer
The University of Hawai'i Board of Regents is still failing to address "matters of its own effectiveness in institutional governance," according to an action letter released yesterday by one of two accrediting bodies for the UH system.
After a tough-minded April report that criticized the regents for micromanaging decisions at the operational rather than policy level, and for allowing "excessive politics" to creep into meetings, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges has suggested the board undergo training that will better enable it to carry out its functions.
In response, regents chairwoman Patricia Lee said the board has been in discussions with acting UH President David McClain "regarding its strong desire to return a significant number of management responsibilities to the UH administration."
As part of its stormy relationship with former UH President Evan Dobelle, the board had removed power from the administration to hire managers and let contracts more than $25,000.
McClain has announced that such proposals, particularly regarding returning control of hiring, are being drafted for consideration and action at the July board meeting coming up soon.
The accrediting group, one of two agencies that oversee appropriate operations at UH, also noted that it "remains concerned about the ability of the Board of Regents to provide adequate time and attention" to the function of the community colleges.
The ACCJC oversees governance of the state's seven community colleges, while its sister agency, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities accredits four-year institutions.
In expressing its concern, the ACCJC urged the Board of Regents "to include in its own annual self-assessment a review of how effectively the board is able to get through its extensive agenda materials."
The report found that UH had made progress in support for the community colleges as part of the reorganization of the entire system under Dobelle, giving community colleges greater control over their resources and decision-making and elevating their provosts to chancellors with positions equal to those at the four-year campuses.
But it said the system had not yet developed a complete staffing plan or a description of the total costs of the restructuring, although those two pieces were expected to be complete sometime this fall.
Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8013.
