THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

123

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A STUDY OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM TO DETERMINE IF IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO ESTABLISH A SEPARATE STATEWIDE SYSTEM FOR THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

 

 


     WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii System consists of three baccalaureate universities and seven community colleges; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Community Colleges of the University of Hawaii System have a unique social responsibility reflected in their mission, to put postsecondary education within the reach of every resident who wants and can benefit from it; and

 

     WHEREAS, as open-door, low-tuition institutions, the Community Colleges of the University of Hawaii System offer state residents access through seven degree-granting campuses, affiliated outreach centers, and a flexible, short-term, workforce training center; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is not uncommon for fifty to ninety per cent of incoming freshmen to place in remedial or developmental courses in reading, writing, mathematics, or any combination of these three subjects, which in turn requires different kinds of staffing ratios and staff support than in baccalaureate campuses; and

 

     WHEREAS, the National Center for Higher Education Management System reports that the Community Colleges of the University of Hawaii System should be receiving higher levels of state funding relative to the baccalaureate campuses; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Community Colleges of the University of Hawaii System would benefit from a system with institutions of like mission and a commitment to affordability, a mission that differs from that of the baccalaureate campuses, and a system that is not in competition with baccalaureate campuses for resources and administrative attention; and

 

     WHEREAS, establishing a governance system just for community colleges in Hawaii might enhance, rather than constrict, the opportunities for students to move freely between community colleges and baccalaureate campuses because the community colleges' governing board would be on an equal footing with the governing board of the baccalaureate campuses; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Auditor is requested to conduct a study of the Community Colleges of the University of Hawaii System to determine if it would be beneficial to establish a separate statewide system for the Community Colleges; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to review other states, such as California and Oregon, which have separate systems for state community colleges and state baccalaureate and graduate program colleges and universities; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report include, but not be limited to:

 

     (1)  An overview of the Community Colleges of the University of Hawaii System and the current administrative, financial, and academic relationships between the Community Colleges and the University of Hawaii System;

 

     (2)  A comparison of the Community Colleges of the University of Hawaii System and selected states that have established separate systems;

 

     (3)  The administrative, financial, and academic advantages and disadvantages of establishing a separate system for the seven Community Colleges of the University of Hawaii System; and

 

     (4)  The academic advantages and disadvantages to include an assessment of the various means currently employed to effect articulation for community college students that would either no longer be necessary or improved upon by the separation of governance; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor shall submit the study to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2010, including any recommendations for legislation and funding; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor, the President of the University of Hawaii System, and the Vice President for Community Colleges of the University of Hawaii System.

Report Title: 

University of Hawaii; Community Colleges; Auditor Study