Sheila Estanique’s path to a college degree wasn’t smooth by any stretch of the imagination. Many experience potholes and bumps along the way, and Estanique’s rough years as a teen and young adult almost shut the door on her journey before it could even start.

She dropped out of high school in what would have been her sophomore year. She battled an affinity for drugs that began at age 15. She had the first of her six children at age 19. She ran away from home. She experienced domestic abuse with past boyfriends. The list goes on.

“It was a very horrifying and dark time for me,” notes Estanique, who is about to celebrate her 44th birthday. She doesn’t sugarcoat her past history, and her agonizing tale doesn’t obscure her story of redemption in the classroom.

On Saturday, May 4, Estanique will walk with other graduates, having earned a bachelor of arts in social sciences with a concentration in psychology. She plans to pursue a master’s degree and sees herself working in an educational setting in the future.

“There were times when I wanted to give up (on pursuing a degree) when life, marriage, parenting and college became overwhelming,” said Estanique, who has children ages 9, 12 and 16 at home. “I would remind myself that my kids are watching me, that I am setting an example of what hard work, determination, and perseverance looks like.”

Getting her start at Windward CC

At age 38, unsure of whether she could do the work, Estanique enrolled in two classes at .

“School is not easy for me,” said Estanique, explaining writing papers might take her a week, where other people might finish in a day. “I struggle to get my work done.”

Even so, it appears Estanique has found her groove in higher education, and there’s little in her demeanor to suggest her past. Despite self-doubts about her ability as a scholar, Estanique graduated magna cum laude from Windward CC as a member of , the largest and most prestigious honor society for two-year college students. “I really, really progressed there,” said Estanique, who also is the recipient of numerous scholarships.

Continuing her journey at ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu

At ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu she continued to do well. Konstantinos Zougris, a ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu assistant professor of sociology, said Estanique was an exemplary student, delivering challenging assignments in a timely manner, working well and adapting to others in groups, while demonstrating leadership skills.

“I was really impressed by her diligence and academic work,” Zougris said. “She was one of my top students.”

Estanique chose to attend ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu for a variety of reasons and speaks highly of the faculty. She is thankful for her husband, who she says was a partner in her education by helping out with their three children. She has three older children ages 21, 22 and 24 as well as two granddaughters.

Estanique’s already setting her sights on her next educational goal and plans to apply to the College of Education at ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa to enter the in the fall 2020 semester.

To read the full article, go to .

Keren Motonaga of Hawaiʻi Island endured a long journey to become the first person in her family to receive a four-year college degree. Ten years after she started attending the , the 28 year old graduated in December 2018 with a bachelor of arts in Japanese studies and a minor in linguistics.

Born and raised on Hawaiʻi Island, Motonaga graduated from Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi in 2008 and was initially on track to graduate from ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo in five years, while making the most of the opportunities available. She participated in a study abroad program, spending time in South Korea and a year in Japan. She took part in a national student exchange going to school for a semester at the University of Montana. Then came a series of life challenges that knocked her off track.

“The semester I was supposed to graduate, there was a car accident with me and my mom,” said Motonaga. “Also, there was a period of homelessness and unhealthy personal relationships that got in the way of my schooling.”

While out of school, Motonaga regretted not completing her college degree, knowing it was an unfinished part of her life.

“I felt like I wasn’t done, like I wouldn’t be happy with myself if I didn’t finish what I had started,” she said before making the decision to return and finish. “My family was my biggest motivation. No one has graduated in our family with a bachelor’s degree before, so it was a big milestone for me and for them.”

����Vlog�ٷ� is targeting returning adults

����Vlog�ٷ� is now actively targeting former students, like Motonaga, referred to as “returning adults” or “stopped out students,” to return and complete their post-secondary degree or certificate. According to the 2017 Hawaiʻi State Data Book, about 94,000, 25 year olds to 44 year olds in Hawaiʻi have some college credits but not a degree.

The Lumina Foundation awarded ����Vlog�ٷ� $400,000 in 2018 to support adults who want to earn college degrees, certificates and other professional credentials. The award has helped ����Vlog�ٷ� develop a system that supports adults returning to ����Vlog�ٷ� to finish degrees that includes personalized advising, credit for prior learning opportunities and expanded online learning options.

“For many ‘stopped out’ students, the top reasons for returning are personal—to achieve a goal that they set for themselves or to make their families proud. We also know that completing a certificate or degree increases earnings, job security and job opportunities,” said Tammi Chun, Office of the Vice President for Community Colleges. ”Studies show that a person with an associate degree earns about $500,000 more over their lifetime compared to a high school graduate and those lifetime earnings jump to $1 million more for someone with a bachelor’s degree. Re-engaging these former students is also critical in reaching the state’s educational goal of 55 percent of working age adults holding a two- or four-year college degree by the 2025.”

Balancing “real life” with academics

While completing her degree, Motonaga worked at two restaurants in Hilo while balancing her academics. She credits encouragement from her family, friends and church for her success and says her professors really played a big part in helping her graduate.

“They were very understanding that I was a returning adult and they want their students to succeed,” said Motonaga. “I felt that this semester and appreciate them a lot.”

Motonaga is now searching for a job where she can utilize her degree. “It’s been very competitive trying to find a job without one, but now having job experience and education will help change my living situation.”

The four-year graduation rates for Native Hawaiian and Filipino students at the have reached record highs. From 2010 to 2018, the four-year graduation rates for first-time freshmen increased from 10.3 percent to 32.3 percent for Native Hawaiian students, and from 13.8 percent to 37.7 percent for Filipino students.

The overall four-year graduation rate at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� is now at an all-time high of 35.2 percent in 2018, a 1.2 percent increase from the record set in 2017 and 17.4 percent increase from 2010. ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� was nationally recognized by the Association of Public Land Grant Universities in 2017 for its dramatic improvement in graduating students on time.

“We are, of course, very proud of the steady climb of our overall four-year graduation rate and are confident that it will continue,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� President and ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Interim Chancellor David Lassner. “We are most proud of the graduation rate increase among Native Hawaiians and Filipinos. These two ethnic groups were long ago identified as underserved when it comes to higher education and we have worked hard to increase their enrollment and college success.”

Programs geared toward Native Hawaiians key to success

A number of support programs for Hawaiian students at ����ԴDz� have contributed to the improved graduation rate. (NHSS) offers about 20 programs designed to improve student success, research and leadership, along with student-faculty engagement. One example is the that provides paid research opportunities for Hawaiian undergraduate students from all disciplines and majors.

“The students in the program are mentored by Hawaiian faculty members so, not only do they have these important role models and tremendous sources of information, they also develop research and critical thinking skills,” said NHSS Director Willy Kauai. “Developing student scholars is critical to our mission of preparing students to build upon the legacy of excellence from our ancestors.”

Filipinos flourishing thanks to focus on students

Student Equity, Excellence & Diversity (SEED) programs and initiatives also work to engage and support Filipino and Native Hawaiian students, and others from communities that are traditionally underrepresented at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�. The (HUI) is a summer leadership program providing a free 3-credit summer college course for a select group of incoming ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� freshmen. HUI also offers skill building workshops on using university resources, exploring academics and careers, and developing critical writing and math skills.

“Over half of the participants in HUI identify as Filipina or Filipino,” said Christine Quemuel, ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� interim vice chancellor for diversity and SEED director. “All HUI participants are paired with a peer mentor who supports them during their transition from high school to college. Engaging with students from when they first arrive on campus, educating them on the resources available and providing them a support structure are all critical to their academic success, all the way up to graduation.”

Efforts to improve graduation rates started years ago

The steady improvement of the overall four-year graduation rate can be traced back to 2006, when the was established. A team of administrators and faculty identified barriers to student success and developed the Student Engagement, Retention and Graduation plan, which consisted of more than 30 initiatives focused on improving student engagement and the quality of the student experience. These initiatives included:

• Developing an online degree audit system to engage students on their academic track.
• Establishing an academic policy of mandatory advising for all students.
• Creating four-year academic major plans to provide students with a clear path toward degrees.
• Establishing advising offices in the ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Colleges to better assist students transferring to ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�.

“Our success reflects a concerted effort on the part of faculty, staff, students and administration focusing their efforts on meaningful inclusive strategic change that impacts student graduation and retention rates,” said Ronald Cambra, ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� assistant vice chancellor for undergraduate education. “We are always actively seeking to improve our support of students on our campus, reflecting our themes of engagement, partnership and a stronger sense of stewardship of the campus. These are exciting times with real change, and we know we can do even better!”

Retention rates also reach record highs

����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� also reached a historic high in its one-year retention rate, the rate of freshmen returning for their sophomore year. The retention rate hit 79.1 percent in fall 2018, up from 76.6 percent in 2015. A commitment by the university to improve student recruitment, retention and graduation continues to pay dividends. Along with the graduation and retention rate increases, ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� welcomed 2,209 first-time freshmen in fall 2018, the largest freshman class in the university’s 111-year history.

The University of Hawaiʻi 10-campus system is participating in a new effort in which 130 public universities and systems have begun work together in clusters of four to 12 institutions to increase college access, close achievement gaps and award hundreds of thousands more degrees by 2025.

The (APLU) is organizing the collaborative effort, known as Powered by Publics: Scaling Student Success. APLU had recognized ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa last year with the national Project Degree Completion Award for Mānoa’s work improving graduation outcomes at the institutional level.

The new Powered by Publics initiative represents the largest ever national-scale collaborative effort to move the completion agenda forward. Collectively, Powered By Publics participants enroll 3 million students, including 1 million economically challenged students who receive Pell Grants. In addition to committing to common student success goals, participating institutions have pledged to share aggregate data demonstrating their progress to help spur lasting change across the higher education sector.

“The University of Hawaiʻi looks forward to working collaboratively with other institutions to increase college access, equity and completion,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� President David Lassner, who attended the Powered By Publics kickoff meeting at the APLU Annual Meeting last weekend. “Our faculty and staff have made a tremendous difference already, and when we partner with like-minded institutions we can learn not only from our own experiences but from those of others.”

����Vlog�ٷ� is part of the Western Region cluster which intends to focus on strategies to: increase success in the first two years of college; identify and remove barriers to student progress; and help individual faculty to be even more effective partners in student success efforts.

“Over the past few years, we’ve witnessed a real and growing enthusiasm among public university leaders to advance college completion nationally,” said APLU President Peter McPherson. “We have to seize the moment and mobilize institutions to improve not just college access, but also equity in student outcomes and the number of students who earn degrees.”

Eighteen students from University of Hawaiʻi campuses across the state will receive their textbooks for free this semester as part of the ����Vlog�ٷ� 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’s 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’ll 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’s 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 ����Vlog�ٷ� Bookstores’ willingness to partner with us and promote 15 to Finish.”

“We enjoy partnering with the ����Vlog�ٷ� System’s 15 to Finish initiative,” said Tricia Ejima-Zane, ����Vlog�ٷ� Bookstores director. “We take pride in the bookstores’ 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 ����Vlog�ٷ� graduates to meet the state’s 55 by ’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 has received a $3 million grant from national education non-profit to continue the advancement of career pathways in Hawaiʻi. In addition, the provided a $300,000 grant to amplify the work across the state.

The goals of the combined philanthropic investments are to:

• Sustain the industry-led sector partnerships to advance economic development and develop workforce solutions, while establishing a governance structure to provide oversight to statewide strategic planning.
• Enhance Hawaiʻi’s Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) career pipeline by:
  • Aligning the Department of Education’s Career and Technical Education pathways with ����Vlog�ٷ� and advancing initiatives to improve ����Vlog�ٷ� students’ math and English scores to better position them for successful careers as they transition from high school to postsecondary education.
  • Developing ����Vlog�ٷ� STEM academic pathways in Engineering, Information Communications Technology, Biological Sciences, and Environmental and Physical Sciences for the transition from community college to 4-year campuses.
  • Bridging the success gap in STEM for students from underrepresented groups.
• Provide integrated student support to help students face fewer barriers to achieving their academic and career plans.
• Enhance and promote the Hawaiʻi Industry Sectors website to be more user-friendly for students and policymakers. This includes linking to ����Vlog�ٷ�’s nationally award-winning online graduation pathway system, STAR.

In 2016, ����Vlog�ٷ� received a to launch the Building Hawaiʻi’s Innovation Economy and Workforce initiative. The initiative builds on and advances two of ����Vlog�ٷ�’s key strategic directions—the and . The overarching goal is to expand the state’s economy beyond tourism and military spending to create high-quality, living-wage career opportunities for residents, while working to ensure graduates have the skills that employers want and need.

“Our goal is to prepare Hawaiʻi’s students and our workforce for the jobs of today and tomorrow in a manner that is highly informed by employers and supported by educational pathways from K–12 to college to career,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� President . “Strada’s remarkable investments are paving the way for others like the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation to join us and take the positive momentum even further. It is gratifying and energizing to partner with national and local funders who recognize and believe in our groundbreaking work that is increasingly becoming a model for other states.”

Impact highlights to date

• Eight industry-led sector partnerships in banking/finance, IT, engineering, food manufacturing, healthcare (Oʻahu and Maui), and agriculture (Hawaiʻi Island and Kauaʻi) launched in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi. The sector partnership convenings provide a venue for industry to collectively address opportunities for growth as well as challenges; and partner with economic and workforce development, education, and other stakeholders to build solutions.
• 237 state, county, and nonprofit employees received STEM training/certification through the STEM Workforce Fund.
• 16.2 percent increase in enrollment and completion rates for minority students under-represented in STEM fields across the ����Vlog�ٷ� System between fall 2014 (2,432 students) and fall 2017 (2,825 students). Degree completion increased 18.3 percent from 415 students in FY 2015 to 491 students in FY 2017.
• Developed and aligned STEM academic pathways to increase student enrollment, persistence and transfer. For example, the engineering pathway was aligned so that all associates degree coursework counts towards a Bachelor of Science in Engineering at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�.
• The launch of the award-winning website which uses data visualization to align Hawaiʻi’s economic and workforce needs with degree offerings at ����Vlog�ٷ�.
• Enhanced statewide data and reporting tools have allowed ����Vlog�ٷ� to create dashboards and develop a culture of data use to inform policy decisions. For example, the STEM dashboard allows faculty/staff to track progress on STEM enrollment, transfer, retention and graduation.

“Improving outcomes and opportunity for the students of Hawaiʻi has always been a critical part of our mission as we work to strengthen pathways between education and employment for all Americans,” said Bill Hansen, president and CEO of Strada Education Network. “The University of Hawaiʻi System has become a leading innovator in higher education, working alongside local and government leaders to improve student success and build the state’s talent pipeline. We’re honored to support this work and to be joined by collaborative partners like the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation to sustain and scale these innovative programs in Hawaiʻi.”

Terry George, Harold K.L. Castle Foundation president and CEO added, “For Hawaiʻi to truly thrive, K–12 and higher educational opportunities must reflect labor market needs and lead to family sustaining wages. We are pleased to partner alongside Strada Education in helping the University of Hawaiʻi enroll far more students in career pathways that prepare them for in-demand jobs and obtain a degree that employers actually value. Working together, we can help Hawaiʻi’s youth to fulfil their most ambitious dreams.”

Kalaheo Macadangdang is finishing something he started in 2011, the year he graduated from Baldwin High School on Maui. He is pursuing an associate degree in liberal arts at .

“I decided to take a break from school, which was supposed to be a semester, ended up being a year and a half,” said Macadangdang. He was only three credits shy of earning his degree but life happened. Macadangdang began working at Hawaiian Airlines in 2013 where he is now a flight attendant. One day in December 2017, he got a postcard from ����Vlog�ٷ� Maui College.

“I got this awesome offer to come back to school and they offered the first class for free,” said Macadangdang.

That offer is part of a pilot project targeting “stopped out” students—former students who have earned some college credit but no degree. Macadangdang was one of 969 stopped out students identified from ����Vlog�ٷ�’s seven community colleges. They had been out of school for two years or less and had already earned at least one semester’s worth of credits.

“We emailed, we sent out postcards, we did phone calls,” said Kyla Wayas, a ����Vlog�ٷ� Maui academic counselor. Macadangdang was one of 150 stopped out students who decided to return and who received their first three-credit class for free.

• Read more about the program in ����Vlog�ٷ� News: , January 18, 2018

“There was no hesitation,” said Macadangdang. “I was looking forward to trying to get back to school. I did not know exactly when, but this was a big pusher.”

“They just needed that little nudge, okay, I have this opportunity, I should take advantage of it and come back to college,” added Wayas.

There are a lot of stopped out students in Hawaiʻi—about 95,000 between the ages 25 and 44, according to state statistics from 2016. ����Vlog�ٷ� is planning a campaign to target about 34,000 of its stopped out students in a multi-year effort to get them to come back and complete their degrees. A community college graduate is estimated to make a half million dollars more over their lifetime compared to high school graduate. That increases to a million more over a lifetime, for a graduate with a four year degree.

As for Macadangdang, he’s only just getting started.

“I have about a year and a half to finish my bachelor’s degree in business administration through and I eventually plan to be a pilot for Hawaiian Airlines,” he said.

Leaders representing all 10 campuses of the kicked off a two-day planning session to craft a strategy to encourage thousands of former ����Vlog�ٷ� students to return to school to earn their degree.

According to the 2016 Hawaiʻi State Data Book, about 95,000 25–44 year olds in Hawaiʻi have some college credits but not a degree. ����Vlog�ٷ� is planning a statewide campaign to help more of those former students complete their post-secondary degree or certificate.

“From national and Hawaiʻi data, we know that higher education matters in providing choices, more secure employment, higher wages, better health and more civic engagement,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� President . “We have the responsibility and opportunity to provide higher educational opportunity and develop the workforce and community solutions for Hawaiʻi.”

The Lumina Foundation reported that today’s students are less likely to get a job that pays livable wages or reach their full potential. The report estimated that high school graduates would miss out on $500,000 in earnings by not getting an associate’s degree and $1 million over a lifetime by not earning a bachelor’s degree.

Ensuring economic competitiveness

Lassner opened the January 18 session acknowledging existing campus efforts and the workforce needs of the community in the not-so-distant future. He said planning was key to encouraging adults who already have college credits to return to school. First target is students who attended ����Vlog�ٷ� for an undergraduate degree within the last five years but left school, or stopped out, without a degree or a certificate. ����Vlog�ٷ� is initially targeting 34,031 of these former students, in a multi-year, multifaceted effort to return and complete their degrees.

“So we want to invite these students back to pursue their dreams. Obviously it helps us but more importantly it helps them, it helps their families and it helps their communities,” Lassner said.

Helping working age adults earn degrees will help the state to meet its that 55 percent of working-age adults should have a two-or-four-year degree by 2025 to ensure international economic competitiveness. The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce projected that by 2020, 70 percent of the job openings in Hawaiʻi will require a postsecondary credential.

Re-engaging returning adults

During the last decade, significant efforts and progress have been made in improving Hawaiʻi’s educational pipeline. ����Vlog�ٷ�’s has increased on-time completion and focused on achieving equitable outcomes for underrepresented students. In 2017, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature funded Hawaiʻi Promise to support college affordability at community colleges, and ����Vlog�ٷ� has actively participated in national networks to improve educational outcomes, such as Achieving the Dream and Complete College America.

“Re-engaging “stopped out” students, who previously invested time and resources into earning a degree, is critical to reach the state’s educational goal,” said Tammi Chun, .

The session included a presentation by Sean Tierney, Indiana associate commissioner for higher education, about Indiana’s “You Can. Go Back” campaign, which targeted 750,000 former students who have some college credits but no degree. Indiana’s program reached out directly to prospective returning adults with a variety of programs and incentives including $1,000 state-funded scholarships, flexible class schedules, online courses, debt-forgiveness programs and other support for working adults. Indiana credits its campaign for 9,000 students returning to complete their degrees in the last two years. Similar efforts have been launched by universities and states nationwide.

Another presentation focused on how to improve the college experience for returning adults. A training team from the Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa, where day one of the workshop was held, provided details on the resort’s intentional design and customer service for a world class guest experience.

Lassner said it is important to understand how to reach the former students, their goals and the support they need to finish school. “What mode of classes, what programs will be most effective for them and how do we make the experience inviting.”

����Vlog�ٷ� is using the lessons learned from the workshop as well as the prior campus efforts to develop programs and a statewide campaign to re-engage and support stopped out students.

The session was sponsored by the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, Lumina Foundation, Hawaiʻi Business Roundtable, ����Vlog�ٷ� Office of the President and the ����Vlog�ٷ� Office of the Vice President for Community Colleges.

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’s largest convening to date.

The ����Vlog�ٷ� 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 ����Vlog�ٷ� 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. ����Vlog�ٷ� also was part of one of the featured panels on Momentum Pathways.

“Hawaiʻi’s been doing reform of the remediation system, Hawaiʻi’s 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 ����Vlog�ٷ� in 2016 with its President’s Award for 15 to Finish, a ����Vlog�ٷ�-created campaign that encourages students to take 15 credits per semester to ensure on-time graduation, and the STAR system, technology developed at ����Vlog�ٷ� that provides students a clear pathway to graduation. The President’s 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. ����Vlog�ٷ� has been a member since 2010.

President made his report to the at their meeting on November 16, 2017.

Highlights include:

• ()
• Congressional visits ()
• Tax reform and higher education ()
• Programs serving Native Hawaiian and underrepresented students ()
• Defense-related programs ()
• ()
• ()
• Green-tariff initiative with HECO ()
• ����Vlog�ٷ� places third in cybersecurity competition ()
• Leeward CC‘s Waiʻanae Moku ()
• ()
• Agriculture grants ()
• ()
• ����Vlog�ٷ� Strategic Directions ()
• Hawaiʻi Graduation Initiative ()
• Hawaiʻi Innovation Initiative ()
• 21st Century Facilities ()
• High Performance Mission-Driven System ()
• Strengthen relationship with ����Vlog�ٷ� Foundation ()
• Indigenous-serving institution ()
• Sustainability initiatives ()
• ����Vlog�ٷ� Strategic Directions ()
• William “Billy” Richardson ()

View previous reports to the board.

The received national recognition for its successful efforts in increasing its four year graduation rate. The (APLU) presented ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� with the 2017 Project Degree Completion Award on November 12 at a Washington, D.C. meeting.

The award honors institutions using innovative strategies or programs to increase retention and graduation. An initiative launched in 2007 by ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� led to an 84 percent increase in the four-year graduation rate from 2010 to 2016. During that period, the graduation rate for first-time, full-time students went from 17.5 percent to a record high 32 percent.

“Public universities are working hard to substantially increase the number of students who don’t just enroll in college, but actually make it across the finish line and earn all the benefits a college education provides,” said APLU President Peter McPherson. “The University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� has made significant strides in student retention and graduation over the last decade. We’re thrilled to highlight their efforts so other institutions can draw lessons from their success.”

McPherson is planning on visiting the ����ԴDz� campus to meet with university leaders, students and external stakeholders to celebrate the school’s role as a national leader in developing innovative programs to increase retention and graduation.

“Being recognized as the best in the country is a fantastic affirmation of the effectiveness of the work of our faculty and leadership team to focus on student success,” said Interim ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Chancellor . “Increasing degree completion is essential for Hawaiʻi’s future and advances the hopes and dreams of our students and their families across the islands.”

• Related ����Vlog�ٷ� News stories:
  , October 3, 2017
  , December 10, 2016

����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s efforts to increase retention and graduation began more than a decade ago. The Office of Undergraduate Education was established in 2006 and a team of administrators and faculty from multiple units began by identifying and addressing barriers to student success. The team developed the Student Engagement, Retention and Graduation plan, more than 30 initiatives that focused on improving student engagement and the quality of the student experience.

These initiatives included:

• developing an online degree audit system to engage students on their academic track
• establishing 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 ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Colleges to better assist students transferring to ����ԴDz�

APLU cited the Student Engagement, Retention and Graduation plan as the main reason for awarding ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� the Project Degree Completion Award. The association has 237 members from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, four U.S. territories, Canada and Mexico and includes 24 university systems and 208 universities, of which 74 are U.S. land-grant institutions.

As part of its ongoing efforts to increase degree completion, the (APLU) named the as one of five finalists for its 2017 Project Degree Completion Award. The annual prize works to identify, recognize and reward public universities across the country that employ innovative approaches to improve retention and degree completion.

The four-year graduation rate at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� 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, a huge increase from 17.5 percent just 6 years earlier.

“This represents a remarkable achievement by our faculty and staff and is due to intentional actions and implementation of a range of strategies, including offering classes, structures and support services, to help students succeed in a timely manner,” said Interim ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Chancellor . “Itʻs also important to note that graduating on time lessens the financial burden on students and their families.”

The annual Project Degree Completion Award is open to all APLU members. A panel of seven judges reviewed the applications and determined the finalists. The award winner will be announced and all finalists will be recognized at the APLU Annual Meeting, November 12–14, in Washington, D.C. APLU will promote the winning institution’s degree completion efforts among its membership and with external audiences. Additionally, APLU President Peter McPherson will visit the winning campus to meet with university leaders, students and external stakeholders to celebrate the school’s role as a national leader in developing innovation programs to increase retention and graduation.

The other finalists for the 2017 Project Degree Completion are Boise State University, Colorado State University, the University of Texas at Austin and Western Michigan University.

“Entering college and pursuing a degree is more important than ever before,” said McPherson. “But the critical importance of completing a degree is too often overlooked. Raising degree completion rates remains key to achieving our national goal of 60 percent of adult Americans holding a bachelor’s degree by 2025. Meeting that goal will require increasing not only the number of students entering college, but just as important, the number graduating. The University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� and the other four 2016 Project Degree Completion Award finalists have made great strides in improving student retention and degree completion—and we’re thrilled to share their experiences so other institutions can replicate their approaches and results.”

is providing enrichment opportunities to train the youngest generation of cybersecurity professionals and teachers through its summer camps. This year, 147 students and 195 teachers participated in GenCyber �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� high school and middle school camps on ��ʻ�����, Maui County, �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� Island and �����ܲ�ʻ�� that began on June 5 at .

Participants learned about cyber hygiene, networking, basic forensics and classical and modern cryptographic systems. They also learned about and implemented the stages of a cyber attack and how to control a robotic car using computer code.

This year the ��ʻ����� camp incorporated the similarities between voyaging and cybersecurity such as planning, charting a course into the unknown, observing the environment (e.g., wind, birds, sky), looking for anomalies, contingency planning and anticipating things that cannot be seen.

These skills were put to the test in a grand challenge scavenger hunt that incorporated coded clues that participants had to solve using cybersecurity concepts, tools and skills learned during the week with a wayfinding focus in honor of the homecoming of the ��ō��ū����ʻ�� from her World Wide Voyage.

During the closing ceremony, participants and their families heard from National Security Agency Vice Commander Anastasia Borichevsky, and University of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� Vice President for Information Technology/CIO on the strategic importance on cultivating cybersecurity professionals in �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��. There was also a mini career fair where parents and students learned more about career opportunities in the cybersecurity industry.

See more images from the GenCyber �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� camp at Honolulu CC’s Flickr site.

Growing the next generation

The primary purpose of the GenCyber program is to grow the next generation of cybersecurity experts in the state and nation. The goals of GenCyber are to increase interest in cybersecurity careers and diversity in the cybersecurity workforce and to help all students understand correct and safe on-line behavior and improve teaching methods for delivering cybersecurity content for K–12 curricula.

This is GenCyber �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s third year in existence and is on track to complete 18 teacher camps representing 549 teachers trained and 11 student camps representing 390 students trained across the state. Some GenCyber student completers have gone on to college to pursue computer science and cybersecurity programs, and secured internships in cybersecurity.

The GenCyber program is a vital component of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development Strategic plan which directly supports the �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� of the Strategic Directions of the University of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��.

The Cybersecurity Education Workforce Development Strategic plan is focused on:

• Promoting a deeper awareness and understanding of cyber threats specific to �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� and ensuring that students are job ready upon graduation and successful in securing cybersecurity jobs in �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��.
• Developing a clear education and workforce pathway to cyber and cybersecurity professions and the state’s vision of expanding computer science for all in our Department of Education school system for elementary, middle and high school students.
• Increasing the number of high school students who earn college credit in computer science and cybersecurity.
• Increasing professional development opportunities for teachers in computer science and cybersecurity.

—By Billie Lueder

President made his report to the at their meeting on April 20, 2017.

Highlights include:

• Nationally recognized STAR GPS app now available systemwide ()
• S is for Sustainability ()
• Sustainability opportunities on ����Vlog�ٷ� lands ()
• Maunakea stewardship recognized by Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation ()
• Building a Hawaiian spoken language repository ()
• March for Science ()
• Update on major projects ()
  • 1st phase of Culinary Institute of Pacific complete ()
  • College of Pharmacy, Legal Outreach Center and Allied Health ()
  • ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu Creative Media Building ()
  • ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa Life Sciences Building on schedule ()

, a new registration application designed and created at the University of Hawaiʻi, is now available to all ����Vlog�ٷ� students in the 10-campus system. The STAR GPS app was designed to assist students similar to how the GPS in a car assists drivers, by laying out the optimal pathway to their destination: graduation.

“If you wander off course, or if you choose to explore a new direction, the GPS registration simply recalculates and advises you how to get back on track,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� President in an email to the ����Vlog�ٷ� ʻohana announcing the systemwide launch. “If you change your major, the GPS registration creates a new path for you based on where you are and where you have decided to go.”

STAR GPS knows every student’s academic history and every academic program offered at ����Vlog�ٷ�.

“You put those two together and you’ve got a pathway that’s easy to follow,” said Gary Rodwell, a ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa academic technology specialist who led the development of STAR GPS. “Ultimately, it remains the choice of the student but now they are able to make informed decisions every time they register for classes.”

During the app’s trial run, students lowered the average number of credits taken that didn’t count toward their degrees from 22 percent, about the national average, to just 4 percent.

“This represents a remarkable savings to students and their families,” said Lassner. “We thank the many students who have been pilot-testing the app to help our hardworking STAR and Banner teams bring this project to fruition.”

Students not only tested the app, but were also significantly involved in its design and development.

Updating and upgrading an already stellar system

STAR GPS is the latest version of the nationally recognized STAR system. STAR is one of the ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa initiatives credited with a recent 80 percent increase in school’s four-year graduation rate over a six-year period. Now STAR GPS also guides the university by identifying courses in high demand as students register, so the school has the time to meet those needs.

“We can see registration traffic jams before they even happen now,” said Rodwell. “And, guess what, when you can see something before it happens, you can now solve it.”

STAR GPS-registration will be in full use across the ����Vlog�ٷ� System for summer and fall 2017. Start planning for fall or call the STAR office at (808) 956-4036.

, ����Vlog�ٷ� vice president for budget and finance and chief financial officer, shares his analysis of the 2017 legislative session to date.

The is now entering its final month for 2017, and in the next few weeks both the and the will be meeting in joint conference committee to deliberate their disagreements with each other’s draft of the state budget and to eventually settle on appropriation decisions for every state department and agency.

The deliberations will be watched by all state agencies including the . Prior to the beginning of the legislative session, ����Vlog�ٷ� submitted a very lean request for additional general fund support of $28,700,000 in FY18 and $29,600,000 in FY19. All requests aligned with the four strategic directions which include: , , and .

The Governor’s Executive Budget, which was submitted in December 2016, included a total of $21,900,372 for FY18 and $21,834,372 for FY19 for ����Vlog�ٷ�. However in early February, the governor sent down a message significantly reducing his December budget request due to the Council of Revenue’s downward forecast, and the only item which remained was $5,000,000 in each year for the .

In March of 2017, the House draft of the state budget only provided six school psychologists for a total of $600,000 appropriation, but transferred four extension agents from ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa to the State Department of Agriculture for a total of $330,000, which provided ����Vlog�ٷ� with a net gain of $270,000.

At the beginning of April, the Senate passed its version of the budget, which provided $3,000,000 in each year for the ����Vlog�ٷ� Cancer Center; $350,000 for concussion awareness; $240,800 for Heʻeia Reserve; $1,290,000 for Title IX compliance; $400,000 for positions to help with the management of ����Vlog�ٷ�’s capital projects; and $1,829,000 for the Hawaiʻi Promise Program.

With uncertainty in the trajectory of state tax revenues and pressure from on-going collective bargaining negotiations, it is likely that very few additional requests will be funded by the Legislature.

Since the conference committee meetings on the budget will begin shortly, below is a synopsis of how ����Vlog�ٷ� has fared this session.

Much of the university’s request is not included in either the House or Senate version of the budget—although, it appears the Senate was marginally more supportive of the university’s overall request than the House.

For the capital improvement projects budget, the initial ����Vlog�ٷ� request was for $452.6 million over the two-year biennium. That amount was reduced by the governor to $150 million in his request submitted to the Legislature in December 2016. The House draft of the budget provided $150.5 million, although that was separated into 50+ individual line itemed projects. The Senate draft provided only $62.8 million for capital projects.

The following table shows the four main categories:

• Major projects: Whole building renovations or new structures
• Minor projects: A only category that focuses on smaller improvements
• Renew, improve and modernize (RIM): Projects that prioritize classrooms, laboratories and student spaces centered around improving the learning environment; and
• Planning: Initiatives that support or deliver long-term development plans that strategically align with the core mission of the campus.

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Once the conference committee meetings start, much will need to be discussed, and we will need to wait for the end of session to see how the university fared. The Hawaiʻi State Legislature is scheduled to adjourn on May 4, 2017.

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—an 83-percent increase in seven years is unheard of,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� 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 ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa who have focused on offering the classes, structures and support services to help students succeed in a timely manner,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� 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 ����Vlog�ٷ� 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 ����Vlog�ٷ� 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 ����Vlog�ٷ�, 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 ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa’s Pathway and “Do It In Four” campaigns, likely played a role as well. This ����Vlog�ٷ�-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 ����Vlog�ٷ� 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.

Na Pua Noʻeau–The Center for Gifted and Talented Native Hawaiian Children at  has received funding from the (OHA) ʻAhahui Grants to strengthen its impact on the state. The center will work in partnership with other ����Vlog�ٷ� campuses to deliver programs and events to promote higher education opportunities for high school student.

����Vlog�ٷ� Maui College event

On February 23, 2017, Na Pua Noʻeau will present E Hoʻokamaʻaina at to inspire students to enter into higher education and further their career aspirations. High school juniors and seniors will learn about the various degree programs at ����Vlog�ٷ� Maui College from faculty and program coordinators. OHA awarded a total of $5,300 for this event.

����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa event

Ma Uka a i Kai Akamai Engineers will be held on April 3, 2017 at the . K–12 students and their ʻohana will explore hands-on how engineering practices (mechanical, electric, civil, etc.) were applied during the days of their kupuna. The is a partner in the event and OHA awarded $1,950 to this program.

ʻAhahui Grants support community events that meet at least one primary strategic result. The events will address OHA’s Exceed Education Standards and ����Vlog�ٷ�’s Hawaiʻi Graduation Initiative.

—By Alyson Kakugawa-Leong

President made his report to the at their meeting on November 17, 2016.

Highlights include:

• Building bridges with Japan’s Tsuzuki Education Group () ()
• First responders to lab explosion honored for courage by Honolulu Fire Department ()
• National honors for ����Vlog�ٷ� graduation initiatives () ()
• Engaging adults without college credentials ()
• Future second language studies teachers have smoother path from Kapiʻolani to Mānoa ()
• President’s Emerging Leaders Program ()
• Engaging GenZ learners ()
• ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa counselor in residence program recognized ()
• ����Vlog�ٷ� West span aria-label=”Oahu”>Oʻahu and ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa chancellor search updates ()
• Remembering our core values after recent election () ()

Editor’s note, November 30, 2016: This message has been updated to include Board of Regents approval.

, University of Hawaiʻi vice president for and chief financial officer, shares the University of Hawaiʻi biennium budget request approved by the Board of Regents at its November 17 meeting.

The ����Vlog�ٷ� biennium budget submitted to the governor and the legislature requests $28,700,000 in the next fiscal year (FY2018) and $29,600,000 in FY2019 in additional general funds. The University of Hawaiʻi currently receives about $432.9 million in state general funds as part of its over $1.2 billion operating budget.

The budget requests are organized to fund initiatives in a number of themes that will advance the university’s four strategic directions: , , and . The (PDF).

The capital budget will request $216.6 million for FY2018 and $236.1 million for FY2019 to address capital renewal, progress on deferred maintenance and funding for projects to modernize each of the campuses within the ����Vlog�ٷ� System.

The governor considers requests from all state departments as part of the executive branch proposed budget submittal for the upcoming biennium to the legislature which convenes in mid-January. The biennium budget will be for the fiscal year July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018 and for the fiscal year July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019.