Report Title:

UH Student Diversity; Students With Disabilities

Description:

Increases diversity and student success on all University of Hawaii (UH) campuses, and supports UH's policy on non-discrimination and affirmative action, by appropriating funds for additional support services for students with disabilities, students from underrepresented groups, single parents on welfare, and other non-traditional students. (HB1012 HD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1012

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOR STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS.

 

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

SECTION 1. The University of Hawaii (UH) board of regents policy on non-discrimination and affirmative action states, "[T]he University is committed to a policy on non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, court records, sexual orientation, or veteran status." Programs at both the system and campus levels need to be strengthened and expanded to increase the number of underrepresented ethnic groups and to support other groups that contribute to campus diversity.

The groups underrepresented in the system and at UH-Manoa include native Hawaiians, Filipinos, Pacific Islanders, African Americans, and Native Americans. Native Hawaiians compose only fourteen per cent of UH system enrollment, compared to twenty-seven per cent of enrollment in public schools. For Filipinos, the statistics are thirteen per cent compared to nineteen per cent; for Pacific Islanders, two per cent compared to three per cent; and for African-Americans, one per cent compared to three per cent. Progress has been made as the population of these groups at UH have increased, but additional support is needed to fulfill UH's goal for greater access.

Although these groups are adequately represented at UH-West Oahu and the various community colleges, and, for native Hawaiians, at UH-Hilo, they are severely underrepresented among UH-Manoa undergraduates and graduate students. At UH-Manoa, native Hawaiians compose only nine per cent of undergraduates; Filipinos, ten per cent; and African-Americans, only 0.8 per cent. At the graduate level, native Hawaiians form only seven per cent; Filipinos, only four per cent; and African-Americans, 0.9 per cent, of students at UH-Manoa.

Graduation and retention rates for these groups at Manoa are also very low. Funds are needed to support mentoring and other programs to increase the number and success of freshmen and graduate students from these groups. Additional funds are required to increase transfer rates for students from the community colleges to the four-year campuses.

Women form the majority at all UH campuses and college campuses across the nation. However, significant problems exist with respect to women who are single parents or who select academic majors such as science, technology, math, and engineering. Other groups who contribute to campus diversity also require support services, particularly at the smaller campuses.

Although it is difficult to obtain an accurate count of students with disabilities, a survey of freshmen at UH-Manoa and other campuses show that ten per cent of them have at least one disability. With increases in enrollment at all campuses, there is a corresponding rise in the number of students with disabilities. At the system-wide level, a need exists to coordinate and assist the campuses in providing direct, specialized student services (e.g., learning disability specialist), training for faculty and staff who work with students with disabilities, and funds for assistive technology. UH is committed to providing appropriate services to increase access and comply with applicable laws.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $            or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 for all campuses of the University of Hawaii to increase diversity and student success by providing additional student support services for students with disabilities, underrepresented groups, single parents on welfare, and other non-traditional students.

The sums 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, 2020.