Report Title:

UH; School of Social Work; Distance Learning Masters Program

Description:

Appropriates funding to establish a distance learning program for a masters degree in social work from the University of Hawaii. (SB2264 HD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2264

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

making an appropriation to the university of hawaii for a master's degree in social work by distance learning program.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there has been a long-standing shortage of professional social workers in the State -- particularly on the neighbor islands and the more remote, rural areas of the State. The cultivation of social workers who reside in underserved areas is a preferred model of professional development. Those workers tend to hold a deeper understanding, greater sensitivity, and stronger commitment to the community in which they live. There are very few opportunities for residents from remote areas of the State, especially the neighbor islands, to pursue graduate degrees. The national trend in academia to respond to this kind of situation has been the development of outreach programs such as distance learning that use technology as the primary means of conveying course material.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH-Manoa) school of social work has been the only unit to provide a continuous outreach graduate program to students residing on the neighbor islands over the past fifteen years, but it can no longer afford to do so without special funding. The UH-Manoa school of social work needs to continue to provide a graduate outreach program in a more efficient and equitable manner to state residents who would otherwise not be able to access the Manoa campus.

The purpose of this Act is to make an appropriation for a master of social work degree program that can be accessed by people who would otherwise be unable to pursue advanced degrees at the UH-Manoa campus because of logistical, financial, or other kinds of barriers.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005 for the school of social work at the University of Hawaii to operate a master of social work degree program through a distance education format.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2004.