University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel presented a coordinated effort to better align strategy and budgeting across the 10-campus system to the 糖心Vlog官方 Board of Regents on April 16.

Hensel framed alignment as a core governance issue, emphasizing that strategic priorities must be consistently reflected in how resources are allocated in the budget, how campuses are evaluated and how leaders are reviewed.

A structured approach

Hensel highlighted challenges that are common in multi-campus systems, where individual campuses tend to operate separately. When alignment is weak, she said, strategic plans often sit on the shelf.

The result can be a system that underperforms despite strong individual efforts. Leadership, she noted, must regularly navigate tensions between aligning the 10 campuses while still allowing for individual campus missions to be pursued.

“We want an aligned system where we鈥檙e all moving in the same direction, but there are differentiated missions on each campus and specific priorities on each campus,” Hensel said. “We, as a group of 10 [campuses], have agreed on the major objectives that have let us have significant impact over time.”

To address those issues, the university is implementing a coordinated process centered on key areas:

• Strategic action plans: annual plans tied directly to system and campus priorities, with defined outcomes, teams and resources.
• Budget transparency: a clearer, multi-year budgeting process aligned with strategic goals rather than historical funding patterns.
• Incentives: performance-based funding and stipends to encourage innovation, collaboration and student success.
• Accountability: a standardized set of performance metrics and regular campus reviews to track progress and inform leadership evaluations.

The system also plans to expand leadership evaluations for officers, chancellors and administrators, including potential 360-degree reviews, and increase transparency through regular performance reporting.

Continuous improvement

Hensel concluded by emphasizing that alignment is not a one-time effort but an ongoing cycle of planning, measurement and adjustment.

“In order to move from a very decentralized approach to strategy across the 10 [campuses]; by setting alignment as a goal up front, it really enables the entire strategic plan to be executed,” she said.

The goal, she noted, is a more cohesive system that better serves students and the state.

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel provided updates to the 糖心Vlog官方 Board of Regents on state legislative measures on tuition and fee reserves during her monthly report at the board鈥檚 April 16 meeting at Kapiʻolani Community College.

Hensel noted that the Legislature continues to consider proposals related to tuition and fee reserve balances and that the university is developing reinvestment plans to strengthen advising and student support services and expand statewide online learning opportunities. She added that the university is having productive conversations with legislators and recognizes the challenges they face in balancing many urgent needs for Hawaiʻi鈥檚 people this year.

Her report also highlighted record breaking systemwide participation in 糖心Vlog官方 Giving Day, which generated more than $1.3 million from more than 1,580 gifts across the 10 campuses.

Hensel concluded by congratulating the No. 6 ranked 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 women鈥檚 water polo team on advancing to its third consecutive NCAA national championship tournament appearance after .

• Legislative update: tuition and fee reserves ()
• 糖心Vlog官方 Giving Day breaks record ()
• Rainbow Wahine water polo ()

This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi system on March 24, 2026.

Aloha 糖心Vlog官方 ʻohana,

We know that the severe weather and flooding over the past two weeks impacted members of our 糖心Vlog官方 community in many different ways. Some of our students and employees are dealing with damage to homes, transportation challenges, lost belongings and other disruptions that make it difficult to focus on classes and work.

Please know that the university is committed to supporting members of our 糖心Vlog官方 ʻohana during this time.

Students experiencing challenges from these events are encouraged to reach out to their instructors and academic advisors as soon as possible to discuss their circumstances. Faculty and supervisors are asked to continue showing flexibility and understanding as students and employees manage recovery from storm-related impacts. Please monitor your hawaii.edu email account for campus specific information.

Employees experiencing storm-related hardship are encouraged to speak with their supervisors and their campus human resources office about available options and support resources.

Available Resources

Financial aid and basic needs support for students is available through campus-based emergency assistance programs and through the 糖心Vlog官方 Foundation, which works closely with the university to help provide support for students and employees facing unexpected hardship. Information about available assistance can be found here:

• Financial Aid
• Basic Needs Resources

Anyone experiencing stress or emotional strain related to the storm impacts is encouraged to reach out to available counseling and support resources:

• Student mental health resources
• 糖心Vlog官方 Employee Assistance Program

As recovery efforts continue across the state, please continue monitoring your hawaii.edu email and campus communications channels for updates and additional support opportunities.

Mahalo to everyone across our 10 campuses who continue to show care and flexibility for one another during this time.

With aloha,
Wendy Hensel
糖心Vlog官方 President

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel provided updates to the 糖心Vlog官方 Board of Regents (BOR) on the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 chancellor search and progress on the eBanner student information system transition in her monthly report during the board鈥檚 March 19 meeting.

Hensel delivered her report virtually from Portland, Oregon, where the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 Rainbow Warriors men鈥檚 basketball team prepared to compete in the first round of the NCAA Division I Tournament.

Hensel also recognized a $1.2-million NASA-funded research project led by 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo focused on coastal resilience, as well as 糖心Vlog官方 Maui College鈥檚 Hale 笔腻辫补ʻ颈 (small structures) program, which is supporting wildfire recovery efforts while providing hands-on workforce training opportunities.

• 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 chancellor search ()
• eBanner update ()
• 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 basketball, Go 驶Bows! ()
• 糖心Vlog官方 ROTC victory ()
• 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo NASA research project ()
• 糖心Vlog官方 Maui Hale 笔腻辫补ʻ颈 (small structures) program ()

The University of Hawaiʻi has officially launched a national search to select the next chancellor of 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补, re-establishing the position to ensure dedicated executive leadership for the flagship campus of the 糖心Vlog官方 10-campus system, the state鈥檚 only public higher education system.

Currently, the 糖心Vlog官方 president also holds 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 chancellor responsibilities, while academic affairs, research, enrollment management and student affairs are led by the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 provost. Splitting the roles was discussed by the Board of Regents during the 2024 presidential search. 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 is the only 糖心Vlog官方 campus without a dedicated chancellor. While this hybrid structure has provided continuity, it does not offer 惭腻苍辞补 the same level of focused executive representation and advocacy as the other 糖心Vlog官方 campuses.

In August 2025, the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) released a report evaluating the 糖心Vlog官方 System Structure that recommended separating the two positions. The Board of Regents subsequently formed a permitted interaction group to study the issue and, in December, voted to accept the recommendation and re-establish the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 chancellor position.

“We initially anticipated launching a fall 2026 search. However, it has become clear that moving forward now is in the best interests of both 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 and the 10-campus system—a decision unanimously supported by the 惭腻苍辞补 Faculty Senate,” said 糖心Vlog官方 President Wendy Hensel in a February 25, 2026 email to the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 campus (below). “Not only is this a critically important leadership position, but the challenging federal landscape, reorganization conversations and changes in AI and other technology make clear this is an inflection moment for the campus and the system.”

Hensel said the search will be inclusive, transparent and engaged and announced that David Karl, 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 director of the Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education, and former 糖心Vlog官方 regent Jan Sullivan, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Oceanit, have agreed to serve as co-chairs of the search committee.

Next steps

Each step in the search will be communicated widely as they occur and include:

• Formation of a representative search advisory committee
• Open nomination and application period (approximately one month)
• Campus visits by finalists, including open forums and stakeholder meetings, before the end of the spring semester
• Committee recommendation of finalists to the 糖心Vlog官方 president
• 糖心Vlog官方 president recommendation of the selected candidate to the Board of Regents for consideration and approval
• Anticipated start date: fall 2026

Chancellor responsibilities

The chancellor will serve as the chief executive officer of 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补, reporting to the 糖心Vlog官方 president and serving on the president鈥檚 senior leadership team. The chancellor will oversee a budget exceeding $800 million and more than 5,000 employees and will provide strategic leadership across academic affairs, research, student success, enrollment and administrative operations in collaboration with the provost and executive team.

The chancellor is also expected to advance 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 mission as Hawaiʻi鈥檚 flagship research university while upholding its responsibility to the Native Hawaiian community, language and culture, and strengthening its connections across Hawaiʻi, the Pacific and Asia.

For more information, .

糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补

Founded in 1907, 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 is a globally recognized center of learning and research with a kuleana to serve the people and places of Hawaiʻi and its neighbors across the Pacific and Asia. The university cultivates creative and innovative leaders who m膩lama people, places and ways of knowing to sustain and transform Hawaiʻi and the world. As a Land-, Sea-, Space- and Sun-Grant university, 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 serves more than 20,000 students across 14 colleges and schools, offering 97 bachelor鈥檚, 86 master鈥檚 and 56 doctoral degree programs.

糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 is a Carnegie R1 (very high research activity) institution and is internationally recognized as one of the nation鈥檚 top research universities, with research and development awards totaling $570 million in fiscal year 2024–25. The campus maintains particular strengths in ocean and earth sciences, astronomy and Asia-Pacific studies and plays a central role in Hawaiʻi鈥檚 economic development, civic engagement and community outreach through its commitment to teaching, scholarship and service.

糖心Vlog官方 President Hensel’s message to 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补

This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 on February 25, 2026.

Aloha 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 students, faculty, staff and administrators.

I am pleased to announce that we have started an immediate search to select the next Chancellor of 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补, with the goal of naming a new leader by summer 2026.

Currently, I have responsibilities both as the System President and the 惭腻苍辞补 Chancellor. During the search for my position in 2024, the Board of Regents raised the possibility of splitting these roles. 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 is currently the only 糖心Vlog官方 campus without an exclusive chancellor. While the current hybrid structure has helped maintain continuity, it does not provide 惭腻苍辞补 with the same level of focused executive representation and advocacy.

In August 2025, the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) released a report evaluating the University of Hawaiʻi System structure. It recommended that 糖心Vlog官方 split the two positions, and the Board of Regents formed a permitted interaction group to study the issue. This past December, the Board of Regents voted to accept the recommendation and re-establish the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 Chancellor position.

We initially anticipated launching a fall 2026 search. However, it has become clear that moving forward now is in the best interests of both 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 and the 10-campus system — a decision unanimously supported by the 惭腻苍辞补 Faculty Senate. Not only is this a critically important leadership position, but the challenging federal landscape, reorganization conversations, and changes in AI and other technology make clear this is an inflection moment for the campus and the system. Moreover, because the new chancellor should be involved in several leadership searches now pending across 惭腻苍辞补, further delay creates a ripple effect on stability.

Search approach and timeline

A national search is now underway that will be inclusive, transparent and engaged. I am very pleased to announce that David Karl, 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 director of the Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education, and former 糖心Vlog官方 regent Jan Sullivan, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Oceanit, have agreed to serve as co-chairs of the search committee.

Each step in the search will be communicated widely as they occur and include:

Next steps:

• Formation of a representative search advisory committee that includes shared governance groups
• Open nomination and application period (one month)
• Campus visits by finalists, including open forums and stakeholder meetings, before the end of the spring semester
• Committee recommendation of finalists to the 糖心Vlog官方 president
• 糖心Vlog官方 president recommendation of the selected candidate to the Board of Regents for consideration and approval

The goal is to identify and appoint the next 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 Chancellor with a start date as early as July 2026.

I am excited about these next steps and look forward to engaging with you throughout the process. Mahalo for your continued commitment to 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 and the University of Hawaiʻi.

With aloha,

Wendy Hensel
糖心Vlog官方 President

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel provided updates to the 糖心Vlog官方 Board of Regents (BOR) on the transition to the upgraded eBanner student information system for 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 10 campuses and the latest Direct2糖心Vlog官方 enrollment numbers during her monthly BOR report at the board鈥檚 February 19 meeting at the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy.

Hensel also highlighted the start of an exploratory effort to strengthen coordination between the John A. Burns School of Medicine and the 糖心Vlog官方 Cancer Center and the launch of an artificial intelligence (AI) certificate at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo.

• eBanner update ()
• Direct2糖心Vlog官方 update ()
• JABSOM/Cancer Center initiative ()
• School of Travel Industry Management鈥檚 60th anniversary ()
• 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo AI certificate ()
• 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo athletics, Go Vulcans! ()
• 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 athletics, Go 驶Bows! ()

University of Hawaiʻi alumni and friends braved the winter weather to gather in New York City to meet 糖心Vlog官方 President Wendy Hensel and celebrate Hawaiʻi ties in January at the first (糖心Vlog官方FAR) Pau Hana of 2026.

The gathering of about 50 was part of 糖心Vlog官方FAR鈥檚 ongoing effort to strengthen bonds between 糖心Vlog官方 alumni and the university. Hensel spoke about the challenges facing the 糖心Vlog官方 system, achievements across campuses, and the powerful role alumni play in supporting students.

“The accomplishments of our alumni demonstrate the power of a 糖心Vlog官方 education,” Hensel said. “When alumni share their stories, support our students, and champion the value of higher education, they amplify our mission in ways no one else can.”

Her message struck a chord with those in the room, inspiring attendees to reflect on how their 糖心Vlog官方 experiences continue to impact their lives.

“Staying connected to the 糖心Vlog官方 ʻohana in New York means carrying Hawaiʻi with me鈥攊ts values, its community and its spirit鈥攏o matter how far I roam,” said 2006 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 graduate Colonel Rance Lee. “President Hensel鈥檚 speech reminded me that our shared roots aren鈥檛 just memories; they鈥檙e a living bond that continues to guide and unite us.”

Staying connected

The event took place at Arader Galleries, a renowned art and rare book gallery on Madison Avenue. The evening was lively and warm, with alumni from a wide range of industries filling the gallery with conversation and photo-worthy moments.

“As a proud 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 alumni, connecting with fellow alumni in New York always feels grounding. It brings us back to our time in Hawaiʻi, reminds us to slow down, stay present and appreciate the people around us, while living in NYC,” said 2011 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 graduate Travont茅 Taylor.

Stay connected with President Wendy Hensel by following her on , , and .

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel provided updates to the 糖心Vlog官方 Board of Regents (BOR) on the Inaugural President鈥檚 10-Campus Address, the start of the 2026 Legislative session and the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 chancellor search during her President鈥檚 Report at the board鈥檚 first meeting of 2026 held at Windward Community College on Thursday, January 15.

Hensel also highlighted the launch of a strategic exploration of a unified vision for 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu and Leeward Community College; the success of the AI chatbots, now available across all 糖心Vlog官方 campuses; and increase in applications attributed to the Direct2糖心Vlog官方 initiative, which aims to give Hawaiʻi public high school students a more seamless transition from high school to higher education.

• Inaugural 10-campus Address ()
• 2026 Legislative season underway ()
• Federal update ()
• New student information system ()
• 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 chancellor search ()
• Leeward CC/糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu exploration ()
• AI chatbots success ()
• Direct2糖心Vlog官方 update ()
• 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 recognition ()

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel delivered her inaugural systemwide address on January 14, outlining key accomplishments from 2025, addressing challenges facing higher education and setting priorities for the year ahead across 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 10-campus system.

The livestreamed address marked the beginning of a new annual tradition intended to promote transparency, accountability and engagement with the 糖心Vlog官方 community. Hensel, who began her tenure on January 1, 2025, framed the address as an opportunity to reflect on progress while charting a clear path forward for the university.

“Today is really a down payment on our commitment to transparency,” Hensel said. “We’ve been trying to do a lot of town halls and conversations about what’s going on in a very difficult time when it’s not so easy to talk about what’s happening. This is our attempt to make sure you know what we’re doing鈥攖hat we’re delivering the value that the state expects鈥攁nd also to identify where you can get involved to help us reach where we all want to go together.”

In her remarks, Hensel highlighted major developments from the past year and priorities going into 2026, including enrollment across the 10 campuses topping 51,000 in fall 2025, the highest in eight years; the launch of Direct2糖心Vlog官方, an initiative that streamlines admission to 糖心Vlog官方 for Hawaiʻi public high school seniors; advancing artificial intelligence across the 糖心Vlog官方 System; building an integrated workforce ecosystem; improving student success, including graduation and retention rates; record extramural funding in FY2025 amid increased uncertainty in 2026; capital improvement project requests; current landscape of collegiate athletics, including the impact of NIL; and 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 financial outlook, including state appropriations, tuition and fees, grants and reserves.

She also acknowledged ongoing challenges facing the university, such as swiftly changing federal policies, and cuts to federal research grants and awards, as well as underscored the need for continued dialogue and systemwide alignment as 糖心Vlog官方 navigates a rapidly changing higher education landscape in Hawaiʻi and across the nation.

The address was livestreamed to ensure broad access for faculty, staff, students and community members across the state.

This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi system on January 12, 2026.

Aloha 糖心Vlog官方 ʻohana,

As a new semester and new years begins, our 10 campuses are once again filled with energy, purpose and possibility. This moment, when classrooms reopen, projects restart and goals come into focus, offers a chance to reset and remember why our work matters to our students, our communities and these islands.

For me, it always starts and ends with our students. Your wellbeing, your experience at 糖心Vlog官方 and your success beyond graduation guide our decisions and priorities. The world you are entering is changing rapidly, and our responsibility is to prepare you not just to navigate it, but to shape it.

None of this would be possible without our faculty, staff and administrators, those who teach, advise, mentor and support our students every day, and who make our 10-campus system work. The past year has brought a lot of change, some beyond our control and some of our own making, and I am deeply grateful for your openness, candor and commitment to continuous improvement. Your feedback, especially constructive feedback, ensures we stay on the right path.

Inaugural 10-campus system address

As I complete my first year as president, it is time for me to report back to all of you. I invite you to tune in Wednesday, January 14 at 5 p.m. to a livestream of my inaugural 10-Campus System Address, an annual event moving forward. I will share a recap of 2025, highlight successes and challenges and outline where we are headed in 2026. This is part of my commitment to transparency and accountability with my most important stakeholders: all of you. The livestream information will be sent out later this week.

Looking ahead

As this semester unfolds, I encourage each of us to step outside our comfort zones. For students, that may mean joining a club, attending a campus event for the first time or trying something new. For faculty and staff, it may mean exploring new approaches, building partnerships or participating in initiatives that move our system forward. Progress is built on curiosity, connection and shared purpose.

Here鈥檚 to a semester grounded in curiosity, care and collective progress.

With aloha,
Wendy F. Hensel
President, University of Hawaiʻi

Stay connected with President Wendy Hensel by following her on , , and .