The has been ranked 11th best in the nation among 41 statewide systems, according to a 2025 .

“Our high national ranking reflects what makes the ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Colleges so special—affordable tuition, dedicated faculty and staff, transfer opportunities to our 4-year campuses and programs that meet the needs of our Hawaiʻi communities,” said Interim Vice President for Community Colleges Della Teraoka. “From recent high school graduates to career changers and lifelong learners, we provide pathways for every student to reach their goals.”

Seven campuses—Hawaiʻi CC, Honolulu CC, Kapiʻolani CC, Kauaʻi CC, Leeward CC, ����Vlog�ٷ� Maui College and Windward CC—offer more than 100 programs in healthcare, technology, trades and the arts. Annual tuition is $3,144, and the and other financial aid make the ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Colleges even more accessible for Hawaiʻi residents.

Affordable option for a strong start

“Community colleges are an especially attractive option this year as many families deal with inflated prices. Students who initially planned on attending a private four-year college might want to consider spending two years at a community college and transferring those credits once they are in a better financial situation,” said Chip Lupo, Wallethub analyst.

The WalletHub study evaluated 653 colleges nationwide on 18 metrics, including tuition, graduation and transfer rates, and post-graduation earnings. Hawaiʻi’s strong showing highlights the role of the ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Colleges in providing quality, affordable education that prepares students for lifelong success.

Data used to create this ranking were collected as of July 15, 2025, from the National Center for Education Statistics, Campaign for Free College Tuition, U.S. Department of Education and Council for Community & Economic Research.

For the first time in decades—if not ever—the Hawaiʻi State Legislature convened a legislative hearing on the University of Hawaiʻi at ����ԴDz� campus on February 7. The House Committee on Higher Education hearing marked a historic step in fostering direct engagement between state lawmakers and the ����Vlog�ٷ� community, addressing key issues such as financial aid, university athletics, mental health resources and the ����Vlog�ٷ� Cancer Center.

“As a proud ����Vlog�ٷ� graduate, I believe it’s crucial to hear directly from the students impacted by our legislation,” said Rep. Andrew Takuya Garrett, chair of the House Higher Education Committee. “We tailored today’s agenda to focus on bills relevant to students, and I was excited to see so many take the time to testify and share their thoughts with us.”

The hearing drew 40 attendees, including students, university leadership and community stakeholders. Members of the ����Vlog�ٷ� Student Caucus provided testimony on many of the 12 bills that were heard, voicing student perspectives on key issues.

“This shows that the legislature truly wants to connect with students and bridge that gap,” and Ronald Sturges, the ����Vlog�ٷ� Student Caucus president who testified at the meeting. “I can’t speak for them, but as a student, I used to feel disconnected from policymakers. Many students aren’t engaged with the political sphere, and it’s time we change that.”

Among the measures discussed was HB542, which seeks to expand the Hawaiʻi Promise Program to include students at ����Vlog�ٷ�’s four-year universities, significantly increasing access to financial aid across the system.

Another bill, HB842, aims to strengthen campus mental health support, and would provide funding for three permanent mental health practitioner positions at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�’s Counseling and Student Development Center.

The committee also reviewed legislation related to resident tuition fees, relief funding and invasive species mitigation efforts. The bills continue through the legislative process and Garrett says he hopes his committee is able to return to campus for more hearings.

“I know it’s a lot of work for the staff to coordinate all this, but if we can come back in another month, I would love to consider it,” said Garrett.

Recent Lahainaluna High School graduate Christina Paragoso escaped the Lahaina wildfire with her mother on August 8, 2023, after grabbing just her laptop and her wallet.

“We lost pretty much everything that day. It kind of just felt like a fever dream,” Paragoso said, and described the days that followed as “fighting for survival.”

As she prepared to begin classes at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College in the following weeks, she asked her counselor about financial aid and was grateful to find she was eligible for a scholarship. The ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Colleges program provides money to cover the direct costs of education—including tuition, fees and books and supplies—not met by other forms of financial aid, and is only for students who have qualified for federal financial aid through the (FAFSA). She credits Hawaiʻi Promise with helping her get back on her feet financially.

“It’s been very beneficial for students like me, coming from an immigrant family with not too much financially,” Paragoso said, “I think that it is definitely something that would help if a lot of our students would get that.”

Expansion a priority

Because of its impact, including strong academic outcomes for recipients, ����Vlog�ٷ� has made expanding the Hawaiʻi Promise scholarship program from the community colleges to its three 4-year campuses a top priority. ����Vlog�ٷ� is seeking approximately $12.1 million in the upcoming biennium budget to provide aid to students with proven financial need at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo and ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu.

At the ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Colleges, in fiscal year 2024, the Hawaiʻi Promise scholarship program nearly doubled the number of students served. The program awarded $5.5 million in scholarships to 3,446 students across all seven ����Vlog�ٷ� community colleges in fiscal year 2024, compared to $3.8 million supporting 1,774 students in 2023. The average award per student was $1,600 in 2024.

“The expanded reach of Hawaiʻi Promise demonstrates our commitment to making higher education accessible to all qualified residents,” said Della Teraoka, ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Colleges interim vice president. “What’s particularly encouraging is that we’re seeing consistently strong academic performance among recipients.”

Hawaiʻi Promise scholars outperform peers

The 2024 data showed that Hawaiʻi Promise scholars continued to outperform their peers, earning an average of 16.1 credits compared to 11.1 credits for non-recipients. First-time scholars also showed higher persistence rates, with 73% continuing their enrollment compared to 62% of non-recipients.

Notably, the program made significant strides in supporting underserved populations, with 63% of scholarships awarded to students from historically underrepresented groups. Thirty-five percent of recipients were Native Hawaiian or part-Native Hawaiian students, while 46% were Filipino or part-Filipino students.

Paragoso, who plans to graduate in the spring with an associate’s degree in liberal arts, said, “Especially because we live in such like an expensive state, I feel that expanding Hawaiʻi Promise would help a lot of the younger people to pursue their education—because it starts with that—and then to pursue their dreams.”

• More Hawaiʻi Promise ����Vlog�ٷ� News stories:
  Record $5.5M for Hawaiʻi Promise scholarships at ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Colleges, June 18, 2024
  Hawaiʻi Promise, financial lifeline for ����Vlog�ٷ� students, a success, January 22, 2024

Higher education is now more accessible and affordable for all prospective and current University of Hawaiʻi Community College students.

����Vlog�ٷ� and the State of Hawaiʻi have committed $5.5 million this year for the , the most ever. Enrolled students who are Hawaiʻi residents are eligible for consideration.

The funds will help to cover direct education costs not met by other forms of financial aid, including tuition, fees and an allowance for books and supplies.

“The Hawaiʻi Promise scholarship has allowed me to work towards completing my degree at a part-time status so I can still work full-time without the burden of extra tuition and book costs,” said student Alena Fontaine.

student Christina Faye said, “After losing my home along with my hometown in the Lahaina wildfire, the Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship has helped me get back on my feet by supporting me financially and not having me worry too much about spending my whole paychecks on my tuition.”

To be considered for Hawaiʻi Promise, students must complete the . For the upcoming fall semester, students should complete the FAFSA by July 1.

For free help in completing the FAFSA, email FAFSA@hawaii.edu or call the FAFSA Hotline at (808) 842-2540, and someone will respond within 24 hours.

“We are committed to making higher education accessible for all,” said Erika Lacro, vice president for the . “The Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship is our promise to Hawaiʻi residents that cost should not be a barrier to attend our seven amazing community college campuses. We hope this scholarship will open more doors to unlimited opportunities and empower individuals to achieve their academic and career goals.”

More on the Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship

The ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Colleges continue to be one of the most affordable higher education options in the nation. In 2023–24, the average tuition and fees for public two-year colleges was $3,990, according to the American Association of Community Colleges, compared to a $3,200 for a ����Vlog�ٷ� Community College.

Helping hundreds of Hawaiʻi students

In fiscal year 2023, $3.8 million in Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship funds were awarded to 1,774 eligible students across the seven ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Colleges. The average award per student was $2,142.

Since its inception in 2017, the Hawaiʻi Promise scholarship has served more than 8,600 ����Vlog�ٷ� students.

“Being an older student and starting the path to my dream endeavor, was ONLY made possible by the Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship,” said Desiree Fleming, a Kapiʻolani CC student. “Had I known I could have qualified or have this kind of financial support toward my dream, I most certainly would have entered college sooner. I can now say that I’m a college student even at my age. I am so very thankful and blessed to have received such a gift of support!”

“The Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship was incredibly helpful for me in continuing my college education and transferring from Kapiolani CC to ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�,” said Michael Amado, a former Kapiʻolani CC student. “The scholarship not only helped with living expenses but also allowed me not to have to work as many hours so I could devote more time to my studies. …the Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship is a shining light for students who want a better future for themselves and their families.”

For more information on eligibility and how to apply for the Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship, visit .

—By Lesli Yogi

Kalbert Young, ����Vlog�ٷ� vice president for budget and finance and chief financial officer, shares his analysis of the 2024 Legislative session.

Aloha ����Vlog�ٷ� students, faculty, staff and administrators,

The 2024 legislative regular session concluded on May 3. Throughout the 2024 session, there were a lot of issues and initiatives that were anticipated to dominate the focus of the Legislature, such as responding to the Maui wildfires, legalizing recreational marijuana, easing sunshine law requirements, reforming the state tax code, etc. For things related to the University of Hawaiʻi, an initial review may seem like 2024 was a repeat of previous years’ results. However, I would postulate that there are some signs that there are a number of decent outcomes for ����Vlog�ٷ�, all things considered. Perhaps, it could be the first year in a trend toward future improvement.

The first place to look is the state budget. The funding provided will support the current level of operations and capital improvement projects for the ����Vlog�ٷ� 10-campus system. HB 1800 CD1 is the state supplemental operating and capital improvement projects (CIP) budget bill to fund the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1.

Starting with the operating budget, below is a breakdown of the funding for ����Vlog�ٷ� for the upcoming fiscal year compared to the Board of Regents’ budget request approved before the start of the session. What was “special” about this past legislative session, is the progress of support— and, not—throughout the session via the different drafts of the budget. For example, I believe it is a “historical first“ that a legislative body would overwhelmingly support a department’s budget request to the extent that they would fund everything the governor proposed, plus more. The House did just that in the house draft (HD) of the operating budget. Of course, that level of funding was not ultimately sustained in the Senate or in legislative conference committees on the final budget.

The table below shows the progress of the budget proposal through the entirety of the session. This is barring any unlikely (line-item) veto of budget items by the governor. Items listed in red are “non-recurring” and will require the university to request continued funding at the next legislative session.

*Items in red are non-recurring.

Our top priority this session was the restoration of state general fund support to pre COVID-19 pandemic levels after being cut in 2020. Although this was a repeated request for the last two sessions, in 2024, the Legislature has restored pre-pandemic funding to the university’s base budget.

In addition to funding via the broad state budget, there were also individual appropriation measures to certain university units. Below are bills separate from the budget bill that appropriated funds to the University of Hawaiʻi for programs or initiatives.

Hawaiʻi Promise

A few important initiatives were not funded. Most notably, is the recurring failure to fund the expansion of the Hawaiʻi Promise Program for students at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo and ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu. Hawaiʻi Promise was implemented in 2017 at the seven community colleges and has been highly successful.

More on Hawaiʻi Promise Program

This year’s initiative would have provided funds for the unmet financial needs for qualified students at the four-year campuses. This is notable, because 2024 represents the first year in the past five years where the university’s proposal on Hawaiʻi Promise was not included in the governor’s budget proposal. Yet still notable, this was the singular additional item that the House included in its HD in addition to supporting all other parts of the governor’s operating budget proposal. In the end, the Hawaiʻi Promise expansion was not funded in the final version of the budget.

Tobacco tax

There was also a bill that would have increased the cigarette tax revenue by 2 cents with those additional funds going to the . Cigarette tax revenue is the primary and critical source of funds to pay for the debt service on Hawaiʻi’s Cancer Center. A portion of the cigarette tax revenues also pays for the operations and research of our state’s cancer center. Unfortunately, this bill did not pass and consequently, during the interim, there will need to be deeper discussions on this issue to determine the next steps for the state’s center.

Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) budget

Regarding the state CIP budget, these are the funds ����Vlog�ٷ� uses to address major facility improvements and address deferred maintenance. This has consistently been a major area of concern for the university over the past decade. The Legislature appropriated a total of $184.2 million in general obligation bonds for the following projects:

*Items in red were previously appropriated in part or in full by General Funds in last year’s budget

Some of the figures are noted in red to indicate that the Legislature changed the Means of Financing from General Funds (i.e., cash funding) to General Obligation bonds. Although the amount of CIP funding may sound impressive—$184.2 million—in reality, the amount of additional funding support is actually less, with the net effect being a gain of only $19.5 million, as $164.7 million of previously appropriated capital improvement projects for ����Vlog�ٷ� was purposely lapsed.

Last year, the first year of the biennium, the Legislature appropriated $101.2 million in General Funds for capital improvement projects at ����Vlog�ٷ�. In order to free up cash to provide resources to respond to the devastation caused by the August wildfires, the Legislature force lapsed those General Funds and appropriated those amounts in General Obligation bonds. For the System/����ԴDz� Renew Improve Modernize (RIM) funds, an additional $70 million was appropriated to get to the $100 million total for FY25. In total, $164.7 million of previously appropriated capital improvement projects for ����Vlog�ٷ� was purposely lapsed, and a table with additional detail is provided below:

While the condition of student housing on the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� campus was a major topic of discussion this past legislative session, in the final conclusion of the budget no explicit funding was provided toward student housing or student housing facilities. The budget appropriation for RIM projects does include recognition of “student housing facilities.” RIM funds could already be used for those projects but would now compete with the needs of all other facilities such as those for instructional, research, student support and administrative purposes rather than having its own funding source. Still, it is positive that there is some nod to student housing included with RIM funding.

The University of Hawaiʻi is grateful and appreciative to the Legislature and the governor for the budget funding. Sustained funding may always be a major issue for ����Vlog�ٷ� programs and facilities, and despite a few shortcomings, I believe this budget represents decent support in a number of areas. The governor has until July 10, 2024, to sign, veto or allow bills to become law without his signature.

Mahalo for your time and attention,
Kalbert Young
Vice President for Budget and Finance/Chief Financial Officer

• The House draft of the budget, is favorable to ����Vlog�ٷ�’s request and to ����Vlog�ٷ�’s priorities.
• It includes restoring funding to pre-pandemic levels, expanding �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ�� Promise, and other requested items.
• The legislative session is still less than half way complete, and there is still a ways to go toward completing a state budget.

Kalbert Young, ����Vlog�ٷ� vice president for budget and finance and chief financial officer, shares his analysis of the 2024 Legislative session.

Aloha ����Vlog�ٷ� students, faculty, staff and administrators,

This is the second of four updates on the 2024 legislative session as we track ����Vlog�ٷ�ʻs budget requests and the hundreds of other bills that impact the 10-campus system. Right now, about 650 bills of the 2,670 introduced this session are still alive, and approximately 200 of them impact ����Vlog�ٷ� directly or indirectly.

The Legislature is deliberating a state budget for the second year of the biennium. The budget process for the second fiscal year is commonly referred to as the “supplemental budget” because it augments what was already appropriated last session for the biennium. As reported in the first update on December 19, the ����Vlog�ٷ� Board of Regents (BOR) approved a supplemental operating budget request in November for $56.3 million in additional general funds for Fiscal Year 2024–25 (FY25).

The top priorities included in the University’s budget request included restoring state funding to ����Vlog�ٷ�‘s three, 4-year institutions ($18.3 million). Hawaiʻi Promise provides funds for students with proven financial need, but currently, is only available to those attending community colleges.

The legislative session can be divided into three major parts. The first third, is all the activity up to first crossover, where measures “cross” from the originating body to the opposite chamber. For example, bills passed by the House of Representatives crossover to the State Senate and vice versa. The first crossover milestone for all bills and the budget completed over the past week. The supplemental budget bill (HB 1800 HD1) passed by the House on March 13 is now with the Senate for consideration. The analysis for what was included in the House draft of the budget, is generous to ����Vlog�ٷ�’s request and to ����Vlog�ٷ�’s priorities. The house draft of the budget includes restoring funding to pre-pandemic levels, expanding Hawaiʻi Promise, and other requested items.

The following table shows the comparison between the supplemental operating budgets proposed by the BOR, Office of the Governor and House:

For the capital improvement projects (CIP) supplemental budget, the BOR requested $331.5 million for FY25 in additional General Obligation Bonds to address capital renewal, progress on deferred maintenance and funding for projects to modernize each of the campuses. The House budget provides $223.45 million for FY25 for ����Vlog�ٷ� in General Obligation Bond funding for various projects.

The following table shows the CIP budget comparison between the BOR, governor and House:

Though the house budget bill is favorable towards ����Vlog�ٷ�, the legislative session is still less than half way complete, and that means there is still a ways to go toward completing a state budget. Now the Senate will have its turn at deliberating a supplemental budget and that includes what the Senate prefers for the ����Vlog�ٷ� budget.

The next milestone will conclude near mid-April when legislative measures (including, the budget) complete deliberations in the non-originating side of the Legislature. The third part of the legislative session begins after April 11, following the second crossover. Bills that are still alive will return to their originating legislative chamber to begin a very intense two week scramble at the end of the session when conference committees begin to meet and finalize the bills. The session is scheduled to adjourn on May 3, 2024.

Please know that the administration, alumni association, faculty and staff and other affinity groups will continue to be active at the state legislature until the session ends to advocate and ensure that public funding for university programs can continue.

I anticipate providing another legislative update after the second crossover in mid April. If you have any questions, please email news@hawaii.edu.

Mahalo for your time and attention,
Kalbert Young

Vice President for Budget and Finance/Chief Financial Officer

Hawaiʻi is among the nation’s best when it comes to community college students who transfer to a four-year university and earn their bachelor’s degrees, according to a by the . The 10-campus ����Vlog�ٷ� system is the sole provider of public higher education in the state.

The report found that 58% of students in 2015 who transferred to ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo or ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu earned a bachelorʻs degree within six years. Hawaiʻi is one of only eight states to have outperformed the national average, and also had a 57% completion rate for ����Vlog�ٷ� transfer students from low-income families, 5% above the national average for this population.

“The data is clear that we are succeeding with our community college transfer pathways and there is still more to be done,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� President David Lassner. “It is a priority because the community college pathway to a four year degree makes higher education highly affordable and accessible.”

The data is clear that we are succeeding with our community college transfer pathways and there is still more to be done.
—����Vlog�ٷ� President Lassner

Those with a four year ����Vlog�ٷ� degree earn $2.8 million more over their lifetime, according to a University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (����Vlog�ٷ�ERO) study released in January 2024. A national came to the same conclusion adding that four-year degrees continue to be associated with significant economic and non-economic benefits for individuals and communities.

“The University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges have worked hard to improve transfer rates to four-year institutions,” said Erika Lacro, ����Vlog�ٷ� vice president for community colleges. “A number of strategies around student support and better coordination with our four-year university partners have clearly helped improve the pathways to success for our students looking to pursue a four-year degree program.”

����Vlog�ٷ� is requesting additional funding to expand the Hawaiʻi Promise scholarship program to ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu and ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo, which will lead to more community college students being able to afford transfer to a four-year school to complete their bachelorʻs degree and attain the many associated economic and social benefits. Hawaiʻi Promise launched in 2017 for students at ����Vlog�ٷ�’s seven community colleges and only provides financial aid to those who qualify for federal financial assistance (Read more about the request).

Nationally, 16% of community college students transferred to a four-year school and earned a bachelor degree in six years. Hawaiʻi is 23rd in the nation at 13%. One reason Hawaiʻi is below the national average is that not all community colleges across the country offer career and technical education (CTE) (carpentry, automotive, culinary, welding, etc), which are two-year degree or certification programs. About 44% of ����Vlog�ٷ� community college students in 2023 were enrolled in CTE programs offered at the seven ����Vlog�ٷ� community colleges.

The was released in collaboration with the Aspen Institute and the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center and looked at transfer outcomes of students transferring from a community college in the 2015–16 academic year. The findings are part of the , which offer a state-by-state breakdown of transfer outcomes, focusing on race/ethnicity, neighborhood income and age.

“This scholarship has been helping continue my education goals without the burden of student loans. I’ve recently had a baby and lost my hometown due to wildfires, but not having to worry about paying for school has been uplifting.” — Hawaiʻi Promise scholarship recipient

One of many powerful testimonies that are part of the 2023 annual report to the Hawaii State Legislature on the University of Hawaiʻi . The report documents the significant, positive impact the program is having on ����Vlog�ٷ� students with proven financial need. Hawaiʻi Promise is only for students who qualified for federal financial aid after completing the (FAFSA).

The report found that Hawaiʻi Promise recipients earn more credits (reducing time to degree and increasing likelihood of degree completion), have higher passing rates (3.0 grade point average or better) and are more likely to stay enrolled (69% vs. 65%) compared to non-Hawaiʻi Promise ����Vlog�ٷ� students.

More on Hawaiʻi Promise

Eighty-four percent of the scholarship recipients would have been unable to enroll if not for Hawaiʻi Promise, and 60% are Native Hawaiians, Filipinos or from other ethnic groups underrepresented in higher education. Students do not apply for the scholarships, which are awarded as part of their financial aid package after all other means of aid are exhausted.

����Vlog�ٷ� is asking the 2024 state legislature to add $19 million a year to its budget to expand the program to ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa, ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo and ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu. According to the annual report, almost $3.8 million was awarded to 1,774 eligible students across the seven ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Colleges in fiscal year 2023. The average award per student was $2,142, covering direct education costs such as tuition, books and fees. Since its inception in 2017, Hawaiʻi Promise has served 8,643 ����Vlog�ٷ� students.

• Related ����Vlog�ٷ� News story: Expansion of Hawaiʻi Promise would support ‘Hawaiʻi’s future’, March 20, 2023

More testimonials from Hawaiʻi Promise students

“We are a family of 5 with one income. Everyone knows that Hawaii is one of the most expensive states to live in. The Hawaii Promise Scholarship helped cover all my expenses for my AST degree. Thank you so much for helping mama’s like me who put college on hold to raise their family, go back and get a degree. God bless you folks!”— Hawaiʻi Promise scholarship recipient

“Being an older student and starting the path to my dream endeavor, was ONLY made possible by the Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship. Had I known I could have qualified or have this kind of financial support toward my dream, I most certainly would have entered college sooner.”—Hawaiʻi Promise scholarship recipient

“For a single parent who has put a halt in pursuing my college education because I needed to prioritize providing for my family and due to lack of financial resources. Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship made my long time dream come true by helping me pursue my first college degree.”—Hawaiʻi Promise scholarship recipient

More on Hawaiʻi Promise

Kalbert Young, ����Vlog�ٷ� vice president for budget and finance and chief financial officer, shares his analysis of the legislative session through the First Crossover deadline.

Here is an update on the 2023 legislative session through the First Crossover deadline, including a highlight on the progress through the Legislature for the University of Hawaiʻi’s budget request.

March 9 was the First Crossover deadline where bills had to move into the non-originating chamber (Senate bills crossover to the House of Representatives, and House bills crossover to the Senate) to continue on in the legislative process. More than 3,132 bills were introduced this session, with close to 799 of those either directly affecting or indirectly impacting ����Vlog�ٷ�.

The biennial budget bill (HB 300 HD1) completed its deliberation in the House on March 8, 2023 and has since crossed over to the Senate for their deliberation and amendments. Next, it will be shortly revised by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. In November 2022, the ����Vlog�ٷ� Board of Regents (BOR) approved a biennial budget request that was submitted to the governor and separately to the Legislature, parts of which were included in the House version of the budget.

The BOR-approved request totaled $52.3 million in additional general funds for Fiscal Year 2023–24 (FY24) and $59.4 million in additional general funds for Fiscal Year 2024–25 (FY25). Of these amounts, more than $17.5 million is for restoration of general funds that were reduced in 2021, and $3.6 million for the return of support for athletics and other campus operations. The House works on the budget before the Senate and has approved virtually the entire request by the governor and added approximately $53.0 million for FY24 and $50.5 million for FY25 to ����Vlog�ٷ�.

We are extremely thankful for the support we received from the House in the restoration of the budget cuts along with funding for other programs such as expanding the Hawaiʻi Promise Program, health industry initiatives, including expanding graduate medical education for JABSOM workforce development, to name a few.

The following table shows the biennial operating budget comparison between the board, governor and House:

*Items were added to the Executive Request by Gov. Green after the December submission to the Legislature.

On the ����Vlog�ٷ� capital improvement projects (CIP) budget, the ����Vlog�ٷ� request was for $262.5 million for FY24 and $296 million in FY25 in additional General Obligation Bonds to address capital renewal, progress on deferred maintenance and funding for projects to modernize each of the campuses within the ����Vlog�ٷ� System. HB 300 HD1 includes $101.3 million for FY24 and $112.5 million for FY25 in General Obligation Bond funding for various projects, in addition to $79 million for FY24 and $75 million for FY25 in General Funds

The following table shows the CIP budget comparison between the board, governor and House:

*Items were added to the Executive Request by Gov. Green after the December submission to the Legislature.

Legislation

There are a number of bills that propose to change the organizational and operating structure of ����Vlog�ٷ�. For example, there are a few Senate Bills (SB) that would change the ����Vlog�ٷ� president’s role as the head of the ����Vlog�ٷ� System. removes the president as the chief procurement officer (CPO) and designates the vice president for budget and finance/chief financial officer as CPO. ����Vlog�ٷ� has pointed out that the current designation is consistent with the standard practice of designating other state department leaders as CPOs for their respective agencies, such as the president of the Senate; the speaker of the House of Representatives; the superintendent of the Department of Education; and the CEO of Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corporation.

Another bill of concern is which makes the vice president for community colleges responsible to the Board of Regents rather than the university president. The responsibility for managing this distinctive and effective structure of public higher education in Hawaiʻi currently rests with a single executive officer, which is the president.

Next steps

There are still almost two months left before the adjournment of the State Legislature, and we are just about at the halfway point for the session. The ����Vlog�ٷ� administration, alumni association, faculty and staff and other affinity groups have been active on the measures highlighted here and a number of others. All of our engagements with the legislators help to advocate and ensure that public funding for ����Vlog�ٷ� programs can continue.

The next major deadline is Second Crossover on April 13 when bills that are still alive are returned to their originating chamber, which is then followed by conference committees during the last two weeks of the legislative session. The Hawaiʻi State Legislature is scheduled to adjourn on May 4, 2023.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa senior Miranda Schreier, who also works as a paralegal, earned her associate’s degree from Kapiʻolani Community College in 2021. She said the scholarship helped her to focus on her educational goals in the community college’s paralegal program, since she did not have to worry about money.

“That scholarship was a complete blessing for me,” Schreier said. “I was able to focus more on my studies and I just had a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders.”

����Vlog�ٷ� is asking state lawmakers this legislative session to consider expanding Hawaiʻi Promise to the four-year institutions—����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa, ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo and ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu by increasing annual funding by $19 million. House Bill 390 HD1, which expands the law to include the three campuses, was passed by the House of Representatives and crossed over to the Senate. The measure has to be scheduled for a hearing the week of March 20 or it will be considered dead in the 2023 legislative session.

Often referred to as a last-dollar scholarship, Hawaiʻi Promise is currently only available to qualified ����Vlog�ٷ� Community College students, covering their direct costs of education that are not covered by federal grants and other scholarships. The program started in fall 2017 and has helped 8,852 ����Vlog�ٷ� Community College students with financial need since, including 2,139 students during the 2021–22 academic year alone. ����Vlog�ٷ� awarded more than $4.88 million, supporting those students with tuition, books, supplies and transportation costs. Students must qualify for federal aid to qualify for the Hawaiʻi Promise scholarships.

Read more about the Hawaiʻi Promise Program

Almost two-thirds (60%) of Hawaiʻi Promise scholarships were awarded to underrepresented students, such as Native Hawaiians, Filipinos and Pacific Islanders—a higher share than the 52% of underrepresented students enrolled at the ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Colleges that year.

Improved performance

The fourth year of the state-funded Hawaiʻi Promise program also yielded impressive results:

• Hawaiʻi Promise recipients attempted and earned more credits than non-awardees. Hawaiʻi Promise recipients earned 15.8 credits on average compared to 11.7 credits on average for all degree-seeking students in academic year 2021–22.
• Hawaiʻi Promise recipients had higher passing rates than their peers and earned higher grades with Hawaiʻi Promise recipients earning an average 3.0 cumulative GPA compared to an average 2.8 cumulative GPA for non-Promise students in fall 2021.
• Full-time Hawaiʻi Promise recipients were more likely to continue to be enrolled at ����Vlog�ٷ� than non-awardees. In fall 2022, 69% of recipients were still enrolled, compared to 61% of non-awardees.
• Part-time Hawaiʻi Promise recipients returned at a higher rate than their peers—56% compared to 47%.

Based on these outcomes and the testimonies of scholarship recipients, ����Vlog�ٷ� is requesting an additional $3.7 million for the program this legislative session to help fund the increased demand for aid for students attending the seven ����Vlog�ٷ� community colleges across the state.

Investing in the future

It’s an initiative that Hawaiʻi Promise recipients fervently support.

“It is just a life saver,” Schreier said. “It’s a wonderful program that I really hope to see expanded.”

After graduating in the spring with a bachelor’s degree in English, Schreier plans to continue on to earn an MBA or law degree, or both.

“Even though I’m in my last semester at Mānoa, and my tuition is already paid for, this program can impact generations of students to come,” she said.

“I worried about whether or not I was going to have food for the night or food for month, and if I was going to be able to afford my rent, if I was going to be able to pay for my textbooks, what other things I would have to go ahead and pay for,” said Shane Shimabukuro, who received the scholarship while at Honolulu CC, and is now studying pre-business at ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa. “It has helped me, and I can only imagine the extent of the help that it could do for many other students—helping relieve the fear of economic insecurity.”

Lindsey Millerd is a junior majoring in Hawaiian and Indigenous health and healing at ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu. She received the Hawaiʻi Promise scholarship at Leeward CC, where she earned an associate’s degree in 2022.

“It was really helpful in just allowing me to focus on school, doing well in my classes, and not having to stress too much about paying or working to pay off my tuition at that time,” she said.

Millerd was recently appointed to the Honolulu Youth Commission and plans to go into a career related to community health.

In her view, “Hawaiʻi Promise is supporting �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s future.”

Kalbert Young, ����Vlog�ٷ� vice president for budget and finance and chief financial officer, shares his analysis of ����Vlog�ٷ�‘s biennial operating budget request.

Operating budget

On Thursday, November 17, 2022, the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents (BOR) approved a biennial operating budget request that was submitted to Gov. Josh Green and the state Legislature. On December 19, the governor submitted the executive branch (including ����Vlog�ٷ�) biennial operating budget request to the Legislature. This update will provide additional information regarding the BOR request and the changes made by the governor.

With the beginning of a new gubernatorial administration, two budget submittals to the Legislature by the administration are anticipated. The first will be a “Steady State” budget, which will primarily focus on maintaining status quo operations while also meeting constitutional and statutory requirements. The second submittal may be later in February or March 2023. This submittal will allow the new administration time to better align specific budget requests and policies around its priorities. The governor’s budget, which is included in this report, is the “Steady State” budget.

Part of the university’s budget request seeks to restore general fund support from the state to pre-pandemic levels by requesting $17.5 million in both fiscal year (FY) 2024 and FY25. ����Vlog�ٷ� is also asking for continued funding support for the athletics programs at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� and ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo in the amount of $3.6 million for each fiscal year; $85,000 for the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology for the additional six months of salary that was not included in the 2022 budget due to hiring delays to fund positions that maintain the island; $1.67 million for the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) residency expansion, which is also for the additional six months of salary due to hiring delays to fund positions; and $2 million for the continuation of the JABSOM Neighbor Island MD program.

Two key categories that ����Vlog�ٷ� is requesting funding for include the expansion of the to the four-year campuses and addressing the need to expand the healthcare workforce across the state. The Hawaiʻi Promise Program is a “last dollar” scholarship that provides free in-state tuition for qualified ����Vlog�ٷ� Community College students with unmet direct costs of education. Students are first awarded Pell grants, ����Vlog�ٷ� scholarships and private scholarships before being awarded a Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship for unmet direct costs such as tuition, fees, books, supplies and local transportation.

Learn more about the Hawaiʻi Promise Program

The program has been very successful in helping thousands of students afford tuition at the community colleges. ����Vlog�ٷ� is requesting an additional $3.7 million to the current base budget for the program to help fund the increased demand for aid for students attending ����Vlog�ٷ� community colleges. ����Vlog�ٷ� is also requesting $19 million to expand the Hawaiʻi Promise Program to the four-year institutions—����ԴDz�, Hilo and West Oʻahu. Outside of the continued funds to operate ����Vlog�ٷ� as mentioned above, the continuation and expansion of the Hawaiʻi Promise Program is our top priority.

Hawaiʻi’s healthcare workforce is in high demand in order to meet critical staffing shortages in the healthcare industry. Therefore, ����Vlog�ٷ� is requesting funding for the expansion of a number of health-related instructor positions across the ����Vlog�ٷ� System in the amount of $4.3 million in FY24 and $4.6 million in FY25. ����Vlog�ٷ� is also requesting funding for campus facilities and core services; supporting student success, addressing areas of state need; and early college expansion.

The governor considered ����Vlog�ٷ�’s requests and included portions of it as part of the executive branch’s budget proposal to the Legislature, which was transmitted to the Legislature on December 19, 2022. The differences between the BOR request and what ultimately made it into this “Steady State” budget are listed below.

Capital improvement program (CIP) budget

The capital improvement program (CIP) budget request was also approved at the November 17, 2022, BOR meeting. The bulk of the CIP plan is intended to allow ����Vlog�ٷ� to continue to address health and safety measures, increase efficiency and utilization of existing spaces, and support current and funded research activities.

����Vlog�ٷ� is requesting $262 million for FY24 and $247 million for FY25 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 included $117.5 million in FY24 and $125 million in FY25 in his budget request. Notably, some of the funding is provided by state general funds, which are essentially cash, rather than general obligation bonds, which are debt financing. The following table lists the projects from the BOR-approved budget and the amounts that were included in the governor’s request:

The governor’s executive branch budget request, along with all the other measures, will be deliberated by the Legislature during the 2023 legislative session, which convenes on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. This biennium budget will be for the upcoming fiscal years that run from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 and July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.

As in previous years, I hope to provide readers with updates throughout the legislative session to show the progression of the budget for ����Vlog�ٷ� as it moves through the process.

Let’s see what 2023 has in store.

The is ranked as the by WalletHub. The ����Vlog�ٷ� community college system consists of seven community colleges statewide—Hawaiʻi CC, Honolulu CC, Kapiʻolani CC, Kauaʻi CC, Leeward CC, ����Vlog�ٷ� Maui College and Windward CC.

The personal finance website said the ranking was based on an analysis of the , a sample of 677 institutions and 19 key metrics including tuition cost, transfer rates, student loan defaults and the presence of free community college education.

Connecticut, Maryland, New Mexico and Washington ranked No. 1–4, respectively out of the 41 states ranked. Nine state do not have community college systems.

Four-year schools cost three times as much as community colleges, according to WalletHub, which stated, “ Community colleges are an especially attractive option this year as many families deal with financial struggles caused by rising inflation and the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

����Vlog�ٷ� offers the , which provides free in-state tuition for qualified ����Vlog�ٷ� Community College students with financial needs. Hawaiʻi Promise provides the “ last dollar” to cover direct education costs—such as tuition, fees and books—that are not met by other forms of financial aid.

• Read more about the Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship in ����Vlog�ٷ�News.

For the 2020–21 academic year, 1,800 students from seven ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Colleges statewide benefitted from almost $3 million in Hawaiʻi Promise scholarships.

The continues to support University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges students’ educational and career goals. The Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship provides free in-state tuition for qualified students who need financial help to pay for college.

For eligible students, Hawaiʻi Promise provides money from ����Vlog�ٷ� and the State of Hawaiʻi to cover education costs—such as tuition, fees and books—that are not met by other forms of financial aid. Close to $5 million was awarded last year (school year 2021–22) to more than 2,220 students.

“This scholarship has helped me lessen the stress on getting a degree,” said Angela-Marie Gandule, a current student at Leeward CC. “The majority of problems of people deciding to go to college is financial. The Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship helps students, including me, achieve that goal of attending college, and possibly attaining a degree in a major I love.”

In order to be considered for the Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship this fall, students need to be a Hawaiʻi resident and qualify for in-state tuition. Students must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. They will then be notified by their campus if they are eligible for the scholarship.

For more information go to .

—By Lesli Yogi

More ����Vlog�ٷ� News stories on the Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship.

Carpentry student Rayvan Kebekol is building towards his future at Honolulu Community College with the help of a . Hawaiʻi Promise provides free in-state tuition for qualified students with financial needs. For eligible students, Hawaiʻi Promise provides the “last dollar” to cover direct education costs—such as tuition, fees and books—that are not met by other forms of financial aid.

“The Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship has been of great help to me over the years,” said Kebekol, who is on track to earn an associate’s degree in May. “Because of the scholarship I was able to afford books and supplies for my classes, as well as a bus pass for transportation before COVID. It has allowed me to pay for my essentials for school and thus helped me progress towards my career.”

Kebekol was one of 1,800 students from seven ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Colleges statewide who benefitted from almost $3 million in Hawaiʻi Promise scholarships disbursed for the 2020–21 academic year. The average award was $1,629, as detailed in a report to the 2022 Hawaiʻi Legislature (PDF).

More than half (59%) of the Hawaiʻi Promise scholarships were awarded to students who identified as underrepresented, including Native Hawaiians, Filipinos, Pacific Islanders, American Indian or Alaskan Native, African American or Black, and Hispanic. These underrepresented groups comprised 52% of overall ����Vlog�ٷ� Community College enrollment in 2020–21.

Less debt, more progress toward degrees

The Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship had a measurable impact on the lives of hundreds of recipients.

• Less student loan debt: Hawaiʻi Promise awardees took out student loans for non-direct educational costs (such as rent, food and living expenses) at a lower rate than non-awardees (11% vs. 13%).
• More credits earned: In 2020–21, Hawaiʻi Promise recipients attempted and earned more credits than non-Hawaiʻi Promise awardees. More credits earned has academic and financial benefits, including reducing time to degree.
• Higher persistence and completion rates for full-time students: Among students who received scholarships as new students in fall 2018, 56% who initially enrolled full-time have graduated or continue to be enrolled, compared with 48% of those who did not receive financial assistance.
• Higher persistence and completion rates for part-time students: For part-time students, Hawaiʻi Promise scholarship recipients returned at higher rates than their peers: 60% vs. 48%. Part-time Hawaiʻi Promise scholarship recipients graduate or continue to be enrolled at higher rates than their peers, by more than 10 percentage points.

Legislative support

In 2017, the legislature appropriated $1.8 million for the creation of the Hawaiʻi Promise Program for qualified students attending a community college. Each year from 2018 to 2021, the legislature appropriated one-time increases annually for Hawaiʻi Promise. In 2018, Gov. David Ige signed Act 14, which provided $700,000 for fiscal year 2019 to provide additional financial assistance for unmet direct educational costs to qualified students enrolled at any ����Vlog�ٷ� community college campus. In 2019, Act 61 appropriated an additional $700,000 for fiscal years 2020 and 2021.

In the most recent report to the legislature, students expressed how much their Hawaiʻi Promise scholarships helped them.

“When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, classes were moved to all remote access. My utility and internet bills became much higher because we were all mandated to stay home and quarantine,” said Taira Teves-Balaan, a Kauaʻi CC student. “With the extra money the Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship provided me, I was able to pay my bills in order to keep attending my classes via Zoom.”

Leeward CC student Relene Kaaa said, “I am a grateful recipient of the Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship. The scholarship funds allowed me to pay for my tuition and purchase books for school. We have two children, one under the age of two, and have relied upon a single income throughout the pandemic. This scholarship directly impacted my ability to continue my education. I am interested in becoming an early childhood educator in my community of Waiʻanae. Mahalo Nui Loa!”

Read more about the Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship on ����Vlog�ٷ� News.

A new free, short and easy application to the , called the , is now available exclusively for graduating seniors in Hawaiʻi’s class of 2022. The Kamaʻāina App should take students fewer than 15 minutes to complete and there is no application fee, saving valuable time and money. This application is open to all class of 2022 seniors attending a public, private or charter school in Hawaiʻi.

Students can apply now for the upcoming summer and fall 2022 semesters at: .

“We welcome the Class of 2022 to the University of Hawaiʻi’s seven community colleges for education and training in a wide range of programs that prepares them for success in careers and contributing to the community,” said ����Vlog�ٷ� Vice President of Community Colleges Erika Lacro. “The Kamaʻāina App streamlines the process for admission for our graduating high school seniors to take the next steps for their future.”

In addition to a new application, ����Vlog�ٷ� Community Colleges offer to help make a postsecondary education affordable. Every Hawaiʻi student who is eligible is considered for the , which provides free in-state tuition for qualified students with financial need. Last year, about 2,500 ����Vlog�ٷ� Community College students were offered more than $5 million of these scholarships.

For Hawaiʻi public high school seniors needing assistance in completing their Kamaʻāina App, Hawaiʻi P–20 Partnerships for Education is hosting a series of college application workshops. To register for an upcoming event, go to .

Kalbert Young, ����Vlog�ٷ� vice president for budget and finance and chief financial officer, shares his analysis of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature 2021 session.

The 2021 Legislature adjourned on April 29, after passing more than 260 bills, which the governor will now consider for enactment. Some of these bills will impact the University of Hawaiʻi either directly or indirectly.

This was the first year of the Legislature’s biennium (two-year cycle). Since lingering tax revenue impacts from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic are still a major factor on the state budget, and federal stimulus aid has recently been enacted to help the state, the budget bill was arguably the most significant measure of the session. The following will highlight components of the budget as it relates to ����Vlog�ٷ� and identify some possible funding impacts to our campuses. In addition to the budget overview, I will also highlight a few other significant measures that passed the Legislature this session.

Operating budget

HB 200 CD1, the biennium budget bill, passed the Legislature and has been transmitted to the governor for his consideration. The table below compares the ����Vlog�ٷ� items funded by the legislature and what was requested by the Board of Regents.

American Rescue Plan Act Add-ons

It is important to note that the Board of Regents budget request for $4.7 million per year was not for new funding, but to continue funding for currently operating programs at the university—notably support for athletics programs at ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� and ����Vlog�ٷ� Hilo and funding for the Hawaiʻi Promise Program at the community colleges.

Instead of providing general fund additions, the Legislature reduced ����Vlog�ٷ�’s general fund budget by $47.9 million in the first year of the biennium and $42.3 million in the second year. (It should be noted that the Hawaiʻi Promise Program did receive support from federal funds appropriated to the state.) To put this reduction in perspective, these cuts are nearly 10% of ����Vlog�ٷ�’s general fund appropriations of approximately $500 million annually. At the start of 2021, all state departments were anticipating that funding was going to be a challenge. Some of that sentiment eased during the legislative session with the emergence of significant federal stimulus aid to the state. However, the end product of the budget passed by the Legislature does not reflect a balanced or thoughtful approach to the overall ����Vlog�ٷ� budget.

As is clearly evident, the budget passed by the Legislature demonstrates an approach that disproportionately reduces funding to the university. ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz�, by far, is the most severely impacted in the budget since it will have the largest amount of general funding reduction (-$35.6 million in FY22), as well as the largest percentage reduction than any other campus—approximately -13.8% of their current budget. A relative comparison of all campuses within the ����Vlog�ٷ� system shows that the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� general fund appropriation is approximately $210 million, or 42% of the total ����Vlog�ٷ� general fund budget, while their $35 million reduction represents 74% of the total cut to ����Vlog�ٷ�.

The Legislature provided federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to three specific areas for a total of $3.5 million in FY22 and $1.3 million in FY23. However, $1.3 million in ARPA funding is to replace reductions of general funds for the Hawaiʻi Promise Program. Not included in the legislatively-appropriated budget are Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) included as part of the three federal coronavirus response packages, and granted as federal assistance to campuses and student aid. Some HEERF monies may have to be reallocated to supplant general fund reductions.

Capital improvement projects

HB 200 CD1 provided a moderate funding level for the ����Vlog�ٷ� System to address capital improvement projects and deferred maintenance, which has been consistently a major historical area of concern for the university. The Legislature appropriated $230.4 million in FY22 and $102.6 million in FY23 in general obligation bonds for the following projects:

Additional projects—either not General Obligation Bonds or not in ����Vlog�ٷ�

Overall, the amount of capital funding support in the budget is decent and appreciation can be extended to the Legislature for its level of support. The funding should help to address some of the capital needs across the ����Vlog�ٷ� System. The amount of work left is still substantial, and the level of funding is still short of addressing immediate reduction of ����Vlog�ٷ�’s deferred maintenance backlog.

While we can be appreciative of the level of funding provided, there were also a few projects that were not requested by ����Vlog�ٷ�, yet they were put into the university’s budget. For example, $42.5 million has been provided to construct a Resource and Education Center, which was not requested by the Board, and it is unclear what this project entails. Additionally, $28.0 million was appropriated by the Legislature to the Department of Agriculture, but ����Vlog�ٷ� is the “expending agency” for these funds. Again, it is unclear what the purpose of this project is or how it relates to ����Vlog�ٷ�. It is unclear as to the extent that these funding choices of the Legislature came at the expense of funding other actually needed ����Vlog�ٷ� priorities.

����Vlog�ٷ� legislative package

As mentioned in my last update, ����Vlog�ٷ� submitted a number of bills for consideration this session. Others arose within the Legislature itself. Several consequential measures did pass the Legislature, although in a rather complicated and convoluted form.

SB589 CD1 went through many variations before the final product was passed by the Legislature. In the end, there are five parts to this bill:

• Part I establishes the ����Vlog�ٷ� Cancer Center in statute and requires the ����Vlog�ٷ� Cancer Center to be administratively affiliated with the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM). It also treats the ����Vlog�ٷ� Cancer Center and JABSOM differently than every other unit at ����Vlog�ٷ� by restricting their use of Tuition and Fees Special Funds to educational purposes only.
• Part II requires ����Vlog�ٷ� to develop a plan for JABSOM and the ����Vlog�ٷ� Cancer Center to achieve greater operational efficiencies.
• Part III extends the sunset for the technology transfer and commercialization of university intellectual properties.
• Part IV extends the sunset for ����Vlog�ٷ�’s innovation and commercialization initiative program.
• Part V extends the sunset date for ����Vlog�ٷ�’s president to act as ����Vlog�ٷ�’s chief procurement officer in lieu of the State Procurement Office.

While Parts III, IV and V help the university with its missions of growing the state’s economy through innovation and reducing ����Vlog�ٷ�’s backlog of deferred maintenance, Parts I and II do nothing to assist the university and the restrictions on the use of ����Vlog�ٷ�’s funds may also be problematic. Although these initiatives were in separate bills at the beginning of the legislative session, they are now in one “omnibus” measure.

Another section of SB589 CD1 adds provisions imposing new and quite burdensome requirements on the university’s innovation efforts to partner with employees to commercialize intellectual property and research activities, as is commonly done at peer R1 institutions throughout the country. These provisions were not heard in either chamber of the Legislature and only appeared at the last minute during the conference phase of the Legislative Session when no public testimony is taken. These provisions also do not account for existing contracts already entered into. As the university tries to create additional sources of revenue to reduce its need for general funds, this type of disruption seems at best, counterproductive.

There are similar components in other bills that will have some impact on our university. While many are innocuous, some are impactful, and a few will have significant ramifications if they take effect as written. The ����Vlog�ٷ� administration is now reviewing all bills from multiple perspectives and assessing the go-forward options and impacts on the university. The governor has until July 6, 2021, to either sign, veto or allow bills to become law without his signature.

Hawaiʻi recognized for low student debt thanks to ����Vlog�ٷ� System

The State of Hawaiʻi ranked No. 2 in the nation for , thanks to the affordability of the University of Hawaiʻi 10 campus system and programs that keep costs down, such as the . That’s according to the rankings by data analysis company Stacker that are based on 2020 WalletHub data on student loan indebtedness and grant and student work options.

Hawaiʻi comes in second behind Utah. The state with the highest student debt is South Dakota followed by Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

• Read more ����Vlog�ٷ� News stories about Hawaiʻi Promise.

����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� financial aid recognition

was nationally recognized as one of the in 2020 by . ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� placed No. 133 out of 312 eligible four-year universities and colleges that submitted their 2018–19 financial aid data. There are a total of 2,700 four-year universities and colleges in the U.S.

LendEDU ranked eligible institutions based on three areas: need-based financial aid, non-need-based financial aid and financial aid for international students.

Need-based financial aid is the likelihood of students with financial need receiving need-based scholarships and grants and the percentage of need met for students with financial need who received need-based aid. Non-need-based financial aid is measured by the average amount of non-need-based scholarships and grants given to each student normalized by the cost of attendance. Financial aid for international students is the average amount of financial aid given to each international student normalized by the cost of attendance.

LendEDU is a private company, which provides information on private student loans and loan refinancing.

More about Financial Aid Services

launched a new tool in February 2020, which helps to verify student information, preventing delays in receiving financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). offers 24-hour support and collects tax data directly from the Internal Revenue Service with 100% accuracy. In 2018–19, ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� Financial Aid Services received more than 27,940 FAFSA applications and disbursed $161,273,169 in aid.

The 2021–22 FAFSA application opened on October 1 and the priority deadline is February 1, 2021.

For more information, visit the .

The challenges looming for graduating high school and college students may be at an all-time high due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comparisons made to the Polio Epidemic of 1916 and the Great Recession of 2007–2009 by Sumner La Croix and James Mak, (����Vlog�ٷ�ERO) research fellows and professor emeriti of economics in the ����Vlog�ٷ� ����ԴDz� , show the effects from COVID-19 are “on track to generate much more damaging and pervasive scarring of Hawaiʻi’s young adults.”

Until COVID-19, 55 percent of Hawaiʻi’s graduating public high school seniors planned to go to college. Now, with the state’s unemployment rate about 30 percent, the highest in the nation, families may face difficulties paying for post-secondary education. Likewise, students graduating from college will face hurdles in finding employment.

La Croix and Mak propose expanding the existing , which provides last-dollar tuition assistance for students with needs not met by other forms of financial aid such as federal grants and scholarships. The proposal calls for emergency financial assistance for class of 2020 high school and college graduates for two years to lessen the potential economic scarring caused by COVID-19.

The researchers said a way to fund this program is by using some of the $862 million in CARES Act money dedicated to the state. This may help to increase the income for these students for the next 40 years, increase future state tax revenues which could pay back the cost of the program and serve as an experiment on how ����Vlog�ٷ� can best develop a skilled and highly educated workforce.

One vehicle to establish this emergency funding, La Croix and Mak suggested, is through the existing HB2250, which was halted as COVID-19 forced the suspension of the legislative session.

.