UH-Hilo wins glowing marks
By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer
The University of Hawai'i-Hilo has come in for high praise from the school's accrediting agency, and received a full 10-year extension of its accreditation, which is the longest period granted. That takes the Big Island campus's accreditation through 2014.
The most recent report from the California-based Western Association of Schools and Colleges commended the school for "its bold vision of service to the Hawaiian community" and for its progress "to transform itself from a liberal arts college to a comprehensive university that serves the workforce needs of Hawai'i."
McClain
In particular, the latest report praised UH-Hilo for the steps it has taken to respond to its diverse student body, including "the creation of cross-disciplinary courses and programs sensitive to Hawaiian students." It noted that the program of study in Hawaiian language and literature is recognized worldwide and is "a model for the study of the culture of indigenous people."
WASC encouraged the UH Board of Regents to support expansion in Hilo and "to consider ways in which to expand the university's funding base." But it noted that increased state support is not the only solution, and encouraged the Hilo campus to continue efforts to attract external support, donations, grants and other contracts to support its growing enrollment.
Acting UH President David McClain praised Hilo Chancellor Rose Tseng, who has overseen the growth in excellence of the Hilo campus since her arrival in 1998.
"Chancellor Tseng and the entire 'ohana at UH-Hilo are to be congratulated," said McClain, who also noted that the progress made by UH-Hilo is a "model" for the entire university system.
In citing specific successes, the WASC report praised the school's attention to detail, such as the "40 little things" to improve the student experience.
"Those were 40 simple little things that the office of student affairs identified that they could do to make life pleasanter and easier for students in general," said April Komenaka-Scazzola, assistant dean of arts and sciences at UH-Hilo.
"There are always little things that don't cost much money but can really make a difference, like responding to requests for information more quickly, and getting rid of bureucratic red tape in the application forms for financial aid. It was our wonderful vice chancellor for student affairs Keith Miser who revolutionized things."
In also pointing out directions for continuing improvement, the WASC report asked for:
• The school to continue to evaluate the effectiveness of its two-tiered faculty governance structure. The school has both a Faculty Congress with representatives from each college as well as a facutly senate in each college. The college senates were continued after a faculty referendum, but WASC questions whether this structure is redundant and whether faculty voices are heard "equally and fairly" within the confines of both structures.
• Continued diversification of faculty and staff, with the need to develop and implement a plan to do so.
• Continued work on establishing assessment initiatives to evaluate student learning, including finding a solution for students who are ill-prepared in mathematics.
Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8013.
