Issue Position: Education - University of Hawaii System

Issue Position

OUR MOST UNDERUTILIZED PUBLIC RESOURCE

The University of Hawaii campuses at Manoa, Hilo, and West Oahu, along with the seven community colleges and dozens of educational outreach centers on Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and Hawaii Island constitute a tremendous resource for the state of Hawaii.

The university system brings $450 million of additional funding to Hawaii for research and training--the equivalent of 9,000 additional jobs--and educates over 50,000 students every year.
And with all that it currently contributes, I still believe the University of Hawaii system is the single most underutilized public resource in Hawaii. My entire adult life has been associated with UH, and I know its potential as an economic driver, societal pacesetter, community resource, and educational foundation. With strong leadership now in place, ambitious strategic initiatives, and outstanding faculty, I know we are going to reach that full potential.

UH will contribute to and have a leadership role in every element of our comprehensive plan for Hawaii. UH will educate our young people; develop new technologies for commercial use; train health professionals, educators, and entrepreneurs; pilot innovative programs; be a focal point of statewide pride; simultaneously provide learning opportunities and valuable community services; attract the best minds from around the world; and much more.

Achieving this requires vision and the right kind of collaboration with UH leaders--empowerment and autonomy combined with clear objectives and measurable results. It will take a Governor who will listen to UH administration, faculty, and students, and who has a deep understanding of the challenges and possibilities of higher education.

We will also make sure that college is accessible and affordable. According to a recent study, 65 percent of jobs in Hawaii require a post-secondary education. In an Abercrombie Administration, we will continue to carry forth the vision of Governor John A. Burns to ensure that anyone in Hawaii with the ability, discipline, and desire to get a college education can get a world-class education right here in the islands.

The Abercrombie Plan
Support the Entrepreneurial Professor

University faculty members are among the most dedicated, resourceful, and creative people in the world. Hawaii's educators are leaders who can continually improve our communities. We need to set them loose, and their students too. We will establish a fund for faculty innovation and research to assist and encourage the pursuit of outside funds and resources for innovative and meaningful educational activity. We will also establish partnerships with other universities and the private sector to encourage joint learning opportunities and visiting professorships. In an Abercrombie Administration, faculty in the UH system will know they are supported and respected. And they will be continually challenged to contribute more to sustaining and improving the UH system, strengthening the overall economy, and weaving the social fabric that binds us together in Hawaii. Following their lead, Hawaii will become a nationally recognized research institution in many fields, and we will be the premier institution of higher learning in the Asia-Pacific region.

Facilitate Innovation and Technology Transfer

UH already brings in a tremendous amount of funding for research and training on its own. With a supportive Governor who has close ties to the White House and Congress, we can do even more. And we can ensure that those dollars circulate in the economy, create meaningful benefits for Hawaii communities, and result in commercial activity that diversifies our economy. UH has already begun the process with its President's Advisory Council on Hawaii Innovation and Technology Advancement. My plan for Technology and Innovation outlines the broader initiative to establish a thriving technology and innovation industry in Hawaii's economy.

Support Renovation Efforts

The University of Hawaii is an investment in human capital that will produce many returns for Hawaii. We will work closely with UH administration to fuel their plans for cost-effective renovation, repairs, and the construction of new facilities. This will generate construction jobs and attract the best minds--the fuel for all economic activity that flows from higher education. The movement toward world-class, energy-efficient, superbly designed facilities will be methodical, measurable, and continual. In an Abercrombie Administration, we will use the bonding authority of the state and get to where we need to be.

Maximize Accessibility for Students on All Islands

We will fully support and coordinate with the Hawaii Graduation Initiative which aims to remove barriers to college entry. The cost of education is a growing concern, and actively reaching out to federal opportunities will help increase financial aid and other assistance. We will also focus on making sure traditionally underrepresented groups have access to higher education. Providing professional degrees on all islands and expanding online learning opportunities will bring our islands closer together and ensure that we are maximizing our human potential. We will continue to support the partnership between the Department of Education and UH to enhance the pipeline to higher education. Finally, we will promote seamless articulation of curricula to improve the intra-system transition from Community Colleges to four-year programs.

Support for Premier Education and Research Projects

The Thirty Meter Telescope on Hawaii Island, the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, and the Cancer Research Center in Honolulu are projects that can offer unparalleled educational and economic opportunities for the people of Hawaii and the world. Projects such as these give Hawaii a preeminence that attracts researchers, students, and funding, all of which benefit our local residents. With strong leadership that listens to all sides, we can move on these and other projects in a manner that is financially and ecologically sound, respectful of community needs, and maximizes benefits to Hawaii.

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