Report Title:

UH Student Diversity; Students With Disabilities

Description:

Appropriates funds and positions for systemwide and campus programs to promote diversity, including programs for underrepresented groups, students with disabilities, and other under-served student groups to support UH's policy on non-discrimination and affirmative action. (SD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1160

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

S.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 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 the system and campuses need to be strengthened and expanded to increase the number of underrepresented ethnic groups and to support other groups that contribute to campus diversity.

Among the groups underrepresented in the system and at Manoa in comparison to their numbers in the public schools are Native Hawaiians, Filipinos, Pacific Islanders, African Americans, Native Americans, and others. Progress has occurred and the numbers of these groups has increased at the University of Hawaii but additional support is necessary to fulfill the University of Hawaii's goal for access. Public school enrollment is twenty-seven per cent Native Hawaiians, nineteen per cent Filipinos, three per cent African Americans, and three per cent Pacific Islanders, but the University of Hawaii system enrollment is only fourteen per cent Native Hawaiian, thirteen per cent Filipino, two per cent Pacific Islanders, and one per cent African Americans. These groups are adequately represented at University of Hawaii West Oahu, the various community colleges, and the University of Hawaii at Hilo for Native Hawaiians. These groups are severely underrepresented among Manoa undergraduates and Manoa graduate students. Manoa undergraduates are nine per cent Native Hawaiian, ten per cent Filipino, and 0.8 per cent African American. Manoa graduate students are seven per cent Native Hawaiian, four per cent Filipino, and 0.9 per cent African American.

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

Women are the majority at all University of Hawaii campuses and campuses across the nation, but significant problems exist with respect to women who are single parents or who select non-traditional 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 get an accurate count of students with disabilities, a survey of Manoa freshmen and other campuses show that ten per cent identified having at least one disability. With increases in enrollment at all campuses, there is a corresponding increase in the number of students and the complexity of their disability. At the systemwide level there is a need 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. The University of Hawaii is committed to providing appropriate services to increase access and comply with applicable laws.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general 0revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $2,500,000, 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 seventeen positions 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.

SECTION 3. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.