This semester 19 students from University of Hawaiʻi campuses across the state were selected as winners of free books as part of the . This program encourages incoming freshmen to take 15 credits per semester or 30 credits in a year to graduate on time.

糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 civil engineering sophomore Joshua Hooper saved more than $350 on his textbooks this semester. “Getting free textbooks was unexpected and I was surprised when I found out,” he said. “This really helped to save me money this semester, and I was able to get the hardcover textbooks that I wanted, which I find makes it easier for me to learn.”

When 糖心Vlog官方 Maui College student John Denver Maglaya stopped by the bookstore for his free books worth close to $300 he said, “I鈥檓 really appreciative as it is very helpful. This scholarship will help me pursue my degree and succeed through the semester and it will also help promote better studying.”

All freshmen who earned at least 30 credits last academic year and were in good standing (minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA) by May 31, 2019 were eligible for a drawing to win free textbooks for the fall 2019 semester. Winners were randomly selected from a pool of more than a thousand eligible students across the university system. Incoming freshmen completing 30 credits or more this 2019–20 academic year will be eligible for next year鈥檚 drawing for free textbooks.

“We appreciate the 糖心Vlog官方 Bookstores鈥� willingness to partner with us and promote the 15-to-Finish campaign,” said Donald O. Straney, 糖心Vlog官方 System vice president for academic planning and policy. ”The evidence shows that students who take 15 credits each semester, earning 30 credits per year are more likely to graduate, and they also will graduate on time (four years for a bachelor鈥檚 degree and two years for an associate degree). Additionally, they earn better grades, are more likely to continue on to the next semester, and to complete more of their courses,” he said.

“This is our sixth year in partnering with the 糖心Vlog官方 System鈥檚 15-to-Finish initiative and we are proud to be able to award free textbooks to these deserving students,” said Tricia Ejima-Zane, 糖心Vlog官方 bookstores director. “This important program is one of the ways that the bookstores give back to our university community.”

The is part of the , a systemwide initiative to increase the number of 糖心Vlog官方 graduates to meet the state鈥檚 55 by 鈥�25 goal, which strives to have 55 percent of working age adults hold a two- or four-year degree by the year 2025. For more information about the promotion, .

Eighteen students from University of Hawaiʻi campuses across the state will receive their textbooks for free this semester as part of the 糖心Vlog官方 Bookstores Promotion, which encourages incoming freshmen to take 15 credits per semester or 30 credits in a year to graduate on time.

The selected 18 winners from more than 1,300 eligible students and will continue this successful promotion. Incoming freshmen completing 30 credits or more this 2019–20 academic year will be eligible for next year鈥檚 drawing for free textbooks.

sophomore Madison Anzai, 19, saved more than $300 on her textbooks this semester.

“I felt a mixture of both happiness and relief that my books would be paid for,” Anzai said. This scholarship will help the kinesiology major be prepared to learn this semester. “There were some optional books for my class and because of this scholarship I was able to get them. I鈥檒l not only be classroom ready, but have the resources to gain so much more knowledge.”

When picking up his free books, Nemuel Palilio, 19, culinary arts sophomore said, “I was surprised and so appreciative.” He mentioned borrowing his books last year because of the cost, but thanks to the 15 to Finish scholarship, Palilio is able to start the semester with a savings of more than $400.

All freshmen who earned at least 30 credits last academic year and were in good standing (minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA) by May 30, 2018, were eligible for a drawing to win free textbooks for the fall 2018 semester. Winning students were randomly selected across the university鈥檚 10 campuses.

“We have found that students who earn 30 credits or more per year are more likely to graduate and graduate on time (four years for a bachelor degree and two years for an associate degree), earn better grades, continue to the next semester and complete more of their courses,” said Donald O. Straney, vice president for academic planning and policy. “We appreciate the 糖心Vlog官方 Bookstores鈥� willingness to partner with us and promote 15 to Finish.”

“We enjoy partnering with the 糖心Vlog官方 System鈥檚 15 to Finish initiative,鈥� said Tricia Ejima-Zane, 糖心Vlog官方 Bookstores director. “We take pride in the bookstores鈥� mission of providing students everything they need for college life. Awarding students free books is one way for us to give back to our university community.”

The 15 to Finish campaign is part of the , a systemwide initiative to increase the number of 糖心Vlog官方 graduates to meet the state鈥檚 55 by 鈥�25 goal, which strives to have 55 percent of working age adults hold a two- or four-year degree by the year 2025. For more information about the promotion, go to .

The University of Hawaiʻi, nationally recognized for its graduation initiatives, was one of six state entities that presented at the (CCA) 2017 Annual Convening, the preeminent gathering of nationally-renowned architects of college completion efforts. More than 700 higher education leaders and advocates from around the country attended the three-day November conference in New Orleans, the organization鈥檚 largest convening to date.

The 糖心Vlog官方 session—Hawaiʻi: Going All In On Game Changers in the Island State—focused on the Hawaiʻi Graduation Initiative, , , Math Pathways, Corequisite Remediation and Early College. CCA President Tom Sugar says 糖心Vlog官方 has shown a true commitment to student success.

“Everybody is doing pathways these days in higher education but Hawaiʻi is doing it the right way.”

“We consider Hawaiʻi to be one of the leading states, one of the first to implement, what we are calling now Momentum Pathways,” said Sugar during an interview between sessions at the conference.

“Everybody is doing pathways these days in higher education but Hawaiʻi is doing it the right way with built-in components that ensure that students have the momentum they need to succeed. And they are only one of handful states in this first group to do it, again, demonstrating their unique level of commitment,” said Sugar.

CCA challenged its members to commit to Momentum Pathways at the 2017 conference, citing research that shows that the best design for a pathway is one that ensures that first year students have momentum in multiple areas. 糖心Vlog官方 also was part of one of the featured panels on Momentum Pathways.

“Hawaiʻi鈥檚 been doing reform of the remediation system, Hawaiʻi鈥檚 been doing alignment of mathematics to programs of study, because not every student needs college algebra or should be in college algebra,” said Sugar.

“Momentum also depends on accomplishing nine credits in your program of study so that what you are experiencing in your first year feels relevant and connected to your dreams. It also contains completing 30 credits over the course of a calendar year and of course, Hawaiʻi was already there with 15 to Finish and so that surges students forward,” Sugar said.

Recognizing innovative contributions to national efforts

CCA honored 糖心Vlog官方 in 2016 with its President鈥檚 Award for 15 to Finish, a 糖心Vlog官方-created campaign that encourages students to take 15 credits per semester to ensure on-time graduation, and the STAR system, technology developed at 糖心Vlog官方 that provides students a clear pathway to graduation. The President鈥檚 Award recognizes innovation and outstanding contributions to national college completion efforts.

“The 15 to Finish campaign, that we took nationally, which is changing this country, originated in Hawaiʻi,” said Sugar. “You guys developed the highly respected STAR system, which allows students to, using technology, monitor their progress on their customized degree map, so they know where they are, they know what they have to accomplish, they know the courses they need will be there for them. That is truly remarkable as well, again proving that Hawaiʻi is a national exemplar.”

Established in 2009, CCA is a national nonprofit with a single mission: to work with states and consortia to significantly increase the number of Americans with quality career certificates or college degrees and to close attainment gaps for traditionally underrepresented populations. 糖心Vlog官方 has been a member since 2010.

The four-year graduation rate at the reached an all-time high after an 84 percent increase from 2010 to 2016. Thirty-two percent of first-time, full time students who started college in fall 2012 earned a bachelor’s degree in four years, increased from 17.5 percent just 6 years ago.

“For other universities, a one or two percent increase would be considered a big success鈥攁n 83-percent increase in seven years is unheard of,” said 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa Assistant Vice Chancellor Ronald Cambra.

More than 30 undergraduate initiatives undertaken by the university from as far back as 2005 are credited with the significant graduation rate increase.

“This represents a remarkable achievement by the faculty and staff of 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa who have focused on offering the classes, structures and support services to help students succeed in a timely manner,” said 糖心Vlog官方 President and Interim Mānoa Chancellor . “Timely graduation lessens the financial burden on students and their families and helps make higher education more affordable.”

Steps and initiatives

The 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa was established in 2006 and tasked with raising the graduation rate. A team of administrators and faculty from multiple units began by identifying and addressing barriers to student success, such as inconsistent academic policies. The team developed initiatives focused on improving student engagement and the quality of the student experience.

These initiatives included:

• an online degree audit system to engage students on their academic track
• an academic policy of mandatory advising for all students
• creating four-year academic major plans to provide students with a clear path towards degrees
• establishing advising offices in the 糖心Vlog官方 Community Colleges to better assist students transferring to Mānoa

“The central theme of these initiatives was focused on active academic engagement, leading to a working partnership between students and the institution,” said Cambra. “The students develop a sense of stewardship with their school.”

Nationally recognized efforts

One key initiatives is nationally recognized. The STAR program, an online degree audit developed by 糖心Vlog官方, provides students with a clear pathway to graduation by allowing them to track their progress, review requirements and see how scheduling decisions impact when they can graduate. Administrators also utilize STAR to analyze course pressure points and re-direct resources to meet student demand.

The campaign, which followed 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa’s Pathway and “Do It In Four” campaigns, likely played a role as well. This 糖心Vlog官方-created, nationally recognized campaign encourages students to take 15 credits per semester to ensure on-time graduation. It was launched systemwide in fall 2012, when the 2016 graduating class started at 糖心Vlog官方 as freshmen.

More to be done

Despite the successes, administrators say there is more work to do.

“My real concern now is retention,” said Cambra. “While our four-year rate improves and our number of graduates grows, our retention rates—especially in the first two years—require more attention and a few basic strategies and initiatives.”

Five and six year graduation rates

The Mānoa five year graduation rate also increased, by just over two percent to 53 percent, in fall 2016 and the six year graduation rate is up just over one percent to 58 percent.

The was honored today for two of its graduation initiatives that are national models. Before an audience of 600 higher education leaders and advocates from around the country, announced that 糖心Vlog官方 is the inaugural recipient of two President’s Awards at the national nonprofit’s 2016 annual meeting in San Francisco, California.

Complete College America is dedicated to increasing the number of Americans with college degrees and established the President’s Award to recognize innovation and outstanding contributions to national college completion efforts, especially as it relates to the organization’s five Game Changer strategies. The honors come as the university increased its four-year graduation rate at its flagship campus, , by 83 percent, from 17.5 percent in 2010 to an all-time high of 32.1 percent in 2016.

“The University of Hawaiʻi System understands that for far too many students, college takes too long, costs too much and graduates too few,” said Stan Jones, president of Complete College America. “糖心Vlog官方 President and his team have charged forward to address these challenges head on, choosing to lead, not to follow.”

The university was recognized by Complete College America for its STAR program—technology developed at 糖心Vlog官方 that provides students a clear pathway to graduation by allowing them to track their progress, review requirements, and explore the impact of scheduling (and changes in major) on the time it will take them to graduate.

“This honor really recognizes the work of many people across 糖心Vlog官方 for more than 15 years,” said Lassner. “It has taken persistent vision and focus by administrators, IT specialists, advisors, faculty and students to put us in this national leadership position. Every day we are advancing our homegrown Graduation Pathway System, , in new ways to help more 糖心Vlog官方 students across our statewide system complete college in a timely manner, also saving money for them and their families.”

The university received a second President’s Award for the campaign that encourages students to take 15 credits per semester to ensure on-time graduation. The campaign was conceived and launched at 糖心Vlog官方 and has since been implemented by seven states and 120 institutions nationwide. An additional seven states have committed to launching campaigns in 2017.

“Complete College America has recognized 15 to Finish as one of their five game changers,” said Lassner. “Another one of their game changes is our STAR initiatives, and once again, we are being recognized as a national model. Pretty good for one university in a small state.”

“The 15 to Finish and STAR initiatives are a powerful combination, providing students not only with the information, but also the structure necessary to graduate on time,” said Jones. “We are grateful for the leadership Hawaiʻi has shown and look forward to the work we will continue to do together.”

Jones says the Complete College America President’s Award honors “those who demonstrate uncommon leadership and courage—the innovators who have been unwilling to tolerate the shortcomings of the current higher education system and instead endeavor every day to ensure many more students are able to graduate.”

Editor’s note: Story updated Oct. 13, 2016 to include photo.

University of Hawaiʻi System will be recognized by the (WICHE) (WCET) for its advanced application of data and digital advising tools to help improve student retention in the state.

The WCET Outstanding Work (WOW) awards program is designed to recognize colleges, universities and organizations that are implementing exceptionally creative, technology-based solutions to address challenges in higher education. The 糖心Vlog官方 System will be recognized as one of the three winners of the 2016 WOW awards during the annual WCET October meeting in Minneapolis.

“We are honored to be recognized by WCET, and believe this is a testament to our campuses and technology partners who have helped us make a significant impact on the academic outcomes and lives of 糖心Vlog官方 students,” said Director of Academic Technologies Hae Okimoto.

Over the past four years, 糖心Vlog官方 has transformed its institutional decision-making process by using data to surface timely insights to improve policies and direct student services. The system’s sophisticated use of data has informed system-wide initiatives that have already demonstrated a significant effect on student success.

Institutional partnerships

As a founding institutional partner of the , a division of , the system has leveraged its PAR membership to benchmark existing efforts, identify factors that have the biggest impact on student retention, and surface new effective practices to drive student success.

In 2011, 糖心Vlog官方 launched a campaign as part of the to improve four-year graduation rates across 糖心Vlog官方 campuses. Students were encouraged to take 15 credits per semester to graduate on time. Today, the percentage of first-time freshmen at the system’s four-year campuses taking 15 credits or more has increased from 36.1 to 59.2 percent, and the 15 to Finish campaign has been adopted by 20 other states.

“We are thrilled that an innovative organization like WCET is recognizing one of the PAR founding members for significant accomplishments in improving student success. The team at the University of Hawaiʻi has repeatedly demonstrated its leadership through the practical application of analytics and effective use of technology to help students achieve their goals,” said Beth Davis, general manager of PAR Framework at Hobsons. “We’re learning alongside the University of Hawaiʻi System, as they have pushed our own thinking in the ways that thoughtful data analysis and proactive advising can make a real difference for students.”

Most recently, is piloting a program that integrates disparate data sources into Hobsons’ Starfish Early Alert in order to better retain under-represented students in STEM fields.

Eighteen students from across the won free textbooks for fall 2015 in the worth approximately $10,000.

糖心Vlog官方 partnered with the to provide freshmen an opportunity to win free textbooks for the following fall semester if they completed 30 or more credits in their first year. The promotion reduces the cost associated with obtaining a post secondary degree, while bringing awareness to the fact that taking at least 15 credits per semester helps students be on track to graduate on time.

The following students will receive free textbooks for the fall 2015 semester:

• Kulaiapahia Aluli, Kapiʻolani CC
• Piper Axtell, Windward CC
• Jessie Caberto, 糖心Vlog官方 Maui College
• Micah Carter, 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo
• Allison Jean Comlat, Leeward CC
• Evan Hataishi, 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa
• Mikiala Holley, 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa
• Gunnar Hudson, Leeward CC
• Samantha Manipon, 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu
• Charles Matsuda, Kauaʻi CC
• Kara Meske, 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa
• Mari Ogino, Leeward CC
• Hinako Suyama, Kapiʻolani CC
• Sean Takehara, Honolulu CC
• Robert Valdez, 糖心Vlog官方 Maui College
• Edward Wang, Kapiʻolani CC
• Mieko Yajima, Hawaiʻi CC
• Kelli Ann Zane, 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa

“Our goal is to continue to build awareness of the fact that a student must take at least 15 credits a semester or 30 credits in a year to complete their degree on time,” said Risa Dickson, 糖心Vlog官方 System vice president for academic affairs. “In the past, taking 12 credits per semester was most common, but we want students to change that mindset. Research has also shown that students taking 15 credits or more do better academically. Completing a degree on time is the best way to reduce educational costs and start earning an income.”

糖心Vlog官方 Bookstores Director Tricia Ejima added, “We’re happy to support the 糖心Vlog官方 System with its by rewarding students with free textbooks. We take pride in providing our students with everything they need for college and this was just one more way for us to give back.”

• Related:

The 糖心Vlog官方 Bookstores randomly selected 18 students from more than 1,400 eligible students, and will generously offer this promotion again to incoming freshmen. First-time freshmen who enter a 糖心Vlog官方 campus in the fall semester and earn at least 30 credits by the end of May the following year will be eligible for the promotion. Last year, 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa architecture student Mitchell Moses received $720 worth of textbooks.

糖心Vlog官方’s Hawaiʻi Graduation Initiative

The 15 to Finish 糖心Vlog官方 Bookstores Promotion is part of 糖心Vlog官方’s and one of the many system and campus programs focused on improving on-time completion (two years for an associate degree and four years for a bachelor’s degree). 糖心Vlog官方 created the 15 to Finish campaign in 2012 and at least 22 other states have adopted similar 15 to Finish initiatives.

The University of Hawaiʻi announced that more than 55 percent of first-time freshmen entering , and enrolled in 15 or more credits in the fall 2014 semester, which will help more students graduate on time and enter the workforce sooner. The increase is attributed to the campaign launched by 糖心Vlog官方’s in 2011 and the many campus initiatives focused on improving on-time graduate rates (2 years for an associate degree and 4 years for a bachelor’s degree). As a result of the campaign’s success, universities in 20 states have adopted similar initiatives.

“We are pleased to hear that an idea we created and implemented to help our students is being adopted across the country,” said Joanne Itano, 糖心Vlog官方 interim executive vice president for academic affairs. “Our long-term goal is to increase the number of citizens with a college degree to prepare a highly skilled workforce and promote the economic vitality of our state.”

In Hawaiʻi and across the country, the norm has been to take 12 credits per semester, which results in an additional one to three years to complete a degree. The University of Hawaiʻi was the first university system in the nation to put together a comprehensive strategy to encourage students to take 15 credits each semester in order to graduate on time. The strategy was developed based on research that showed students who took 15 credits or more perform better academically than students taking fewer than 15 credits. The campaign to communicate with students supports individual campus procedures to improve on-time graduation.

In addition to the increases at the four-year campuses, the almost doubled the number of first-time freshmen taking 15 or more credits. The overall strategy has been endorsed by , a national non-profit group that works with states to significantly increase the number of Americans with quality career certificates or college degrees.

“It’s nice to know that I’m on track to graduate on time and what I’m trying to do is not unusual,” said Micah Gowen, a social sciences student at 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu.

糖心Vlog官方 Maui College student Kelcie Rapoza said, “I was taking 12 credits already, so three more credits isn’t too bad. Plus, I’m the first in my family to go to college, and I just wanted to graduate on time to make my family proud.”

More on 15 to Finish on 糖心Vlog官方 News

• Video: “” – April 29, 2014
• Story: “” – April 29, 2014
• Story: “” – April 11, 2013
• Video: “” – March 6, 2013
• Story: “” – October 10, 2012
• Video: “” – July 31, 2012
• Story: “” – July 13, 2012

Gino Paulino emigrated from the Philippines with his family when he was two years old. He is a Navy veteran who always dreamed of going to college.

“For me, going to college was a way to kind of put my foot in the door in terms of what I wanted to do as a career,” said Paulino.

He went to school under the GI Bill, studying at and the , where he earned a bachelor’s degree in social sciences in the spring of 2013. He wants to be naval aviator.

Paulino’s hard earned degree was one of 11,278 degrees and certificates awarded by the 糖心Vlog官方 System in the 2013–14 academic year, a 13 percent increase over the previous year. It is also the highest number of diplomas and certificates ever awarded by 糖心Vlog官方 in an academic year. awarded nearly 5,000 degrees and certificates, while the awarded 5,200. 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu and awarded nearly 1,200 degrees total.

• 糖心Vlog官方 news release:

糖心Vlog官方 President David Lassner credits the dedication of the university’s 10 campuses. “It’s the result of their hard work across the state,” said Lassner. “We have a variety of techniques that we’ve used, such as . We’ve created pathways for all of our degree programs, we’ve focused on advising services and altogether, what that’s done is helped all of our campuses focus on helping more students succeed and helping them succeed faster.”

“Universities and colleges, we were very much focused on access. Everyone should have the opportunity to get into college,” added , 糖心Vlog官方 System interim executive vice president for academic affairs. “The focus now has changed to completion. We need to get them out of college.”

The university’s aims to grow Hawaiʻi’s highly skilled workforce to maintain the economic vitality of the state and the nation. The initiative’s program is working to increase to 55 percent, the number of working age adults who have two- or four-year degrees by 2025.

“As we graduate more students, we also have to make sure that we’re increasing our enrollment on the front end by paying attention to recruitment and bringing in new students and reaching out to the communities that have been underserved for many years,” said Lassner.

“Coming from Hawaiʻi, especially on the west side of the island, having a college degree here means everything,” said Paulino. “Kids on this side of the island are growing up with this campus in their backyard and the idea that an education is not only accessible to them now, but realistic. It kind of plants the seed in the heads of the people that are over here, to kind of show them that it’s possible to have a dream.”

Heads up incoming fall 2014 freshmen enrolled at the 10 campuses. You can get all of your textbooks for the fall 2015 semester for free!

All you have to do is think . That’s 15 credits a semester.

Complete 30 credits by the end of your freshman year, maintain a minimum 2.0 grade point average and you could be one of the randomly selected winners, like 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa sophomore Mitchell Moses. He was one of 19 糖心Vlog官方 students, one of four from Mānoa, to score free textbooks.

• 糖心Vlog官方 News video: “” – April 27, 2013

“I was stoked,” said Moses. “I was excited. I knew my books was going to cost a lot so I knew I was going to save a lot of money. ”

Moses, an architecture major, saved $720. Fellow winner, Rachel Blaire is majoring in civil engineering and 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa saved more than $500 on her textbooks.

“It was pretty exciting,” said Blaire. “I was really happy to find out my textbooks were paid for because this semester is supposed to be pretty hard with calculus and the start of all of my engineering classes. ”

Both will save even more money because they are on track to finish in four years.

“It’s tough but it is worth it because you’re graduating in four years,” said Moses. “You don’t have to go to summer school, you’re just in-and-out. Four years.”

“The first semester, I took 15 credits and I was comfortable with that,” added Blaire. “I actually enjoyed all of my classes.”

Research has found that students who take at least 15 credits a semester are more likely to do better in school.

“Do it, because it saves you a lot of money,” said Moses.

For the free textbook promotion and for tips on how you can graduate on time go to .

More on 15 to Finish on 糖心Vlog官方 News

• Story: “” – April 29, 2014
• Story: “” – April 11, 2013
• Video: “” – March 6, 2013
• Story: “” – October 10, 2012
• Video: “” – July 31, 2012
• Story: “” – July 13, 2012