It is always exciting to begin a new semester at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. I would like to say a special thank you to our hard working faculty and staff for helping our students begin a successful spring semester.

Some of you may recall that when I started as chancellor five years ago in 1998, I set goals to improve three areas of our university: Image, Quality, and Resources. I am pleased to report that we have made excellent progress and achieved many milestones in reaching these goals. I emphasize WE because our achievements are because of the dedication and commitment of our faculty, staff, and local community to our students. Together, we have successfully moved our university forward.

We get so busy in our day-to-day operations, that sometimes we forget to look around and appreciate how much we have progressed. We take for granted that what we have now, is what we always had. But this is not true. Much of what we have today is the fruit of yesterday, and is a tribute to the planning and hard work of many others even before my time here as chancellor. And so it is helpful to pause and reflect on where we are today as compared to five or more years ago.

IMAGE

Today UH Hilo has achieved greater name recognition and higher status as an excellent institution–on the Big Island, in the state, nationally, and internationally–than ever before. Many not only know who we are, but also speak highly and with pride of the quality of our university.

Over the years, we have sustained a steady growth in students. More and more students, both here in Hawai‘i and abroad, know about our excellent academic programs and choose us as their first-choice university.

Our Big Island community values and counts on us as an important partner in meeting the social and economic needs of our island. Our reputation goes beyond the islands and the state, and UH Hilo has received many national awards and distinctions.

QUALITY

Quality, which goes hand-in-hand with image, is the next goal. UH Hilo’s academic quality continues to thrive and develop. We have five Board of Regents-approved graduate degrees, 28 bachelor of arts degrees, six bachelor of science degrees, and a bachelor of business administration, along with 25 minors and numerous certificates.

In January 2004, our school of business emerged as the College of Business and Economics. Congratulations to the business and economics faculty for this fine achievement.

Last March, when the Western Association of Schools and Colleges’ team–the group that examines the university for accreditation–visited UH Hilo, they reaffirmed our academic quality and over-all vitality in their report: “We found an empowered university, full of activity and people excited about what they were accomplishing. Students, faculty, staff and administration are all engaged in improving the student experience… moving forward with an invigorated grants and contracts program.”

Although our physical plant is still in need of attention, it too has improved in its quality. Today we look very different in comparison to the 1990s.

We now mark our campus entrance from Kawili Street with our beautiful signage. The lower entry near the theatre is also improved with a border of palm trees that merges into a freshly-paved parking lot.

We now have continuous road access from the main campus–across a new bridge–directly to the University Park of Science and Technology, home to six astronomical observatory base facilities. This direct access expands our university’s borders and presents many exciting opportunities for further development. We have lots of land in the university park for further development, which means more jobs for our students and the Big Island.

We are pleased that in the last couple of years we have dedicated and opened two new buildings: the Marine Science Building and the University Classroom Building (UCB). Having more state-of-the-art classrooms creates a positive learning environment for our students and faculty.

We have been watching and waiting for the completion of the covered plaza linked to UCB by a covered walkway. We will soon have a dedication of this beautiful area that is ideal for casual gatherings and campus and community events.

RESOURCES

The third area is resources. Many members of our faculty, staff, and administration have been actively seeking grants. Because of these efforts, UH Hilo significantly increased the number of awarded grants. Currently we have over $14 million of active awards, about a 400 percent increase since 1998.

Yes, I am sure you will agree that UH Hilo is dynamic, growing, and developing and making good progress in achieving our Strategic Plan. While growth and development are positive steps forward, it does come with a price tag. The reality is that along with growth and development come new challenges and impacts that need to be addressed.

Of the three university goals–Image, Quality, and Resources–the third goal, resources, specifically the lack of resources, is UH Hilo’s biggest challenge to moving forward.

Over the past years, we have had many meetings with the UH system and State Legislators on the allocation of general funds. Last year, we spent enormous time and energy on strategies to increase our budget allocation. I know the budget will continue to be a top priority.

Internally–within UH Hilo itself–we are looking at ways to increase our revenues. At the same time, we are seeking ways to increase revenues from the UH system.

January was the opening of the 2004 session of the State Legislature, which gave UH Hilo the opportunity to present our story including our needs. I would like to share parts of my legislative testimony with you.

The first part of my testimony is much like what I have just shared, the positive achievements of sustained student enrollment, increased grant awards, and academic vigor and vitality.

The second part of the legislative testimony hones in on the fact that funding has not kept pace with our growth and development. I outline how our funding of Hawai‘i Community College’s utilities and other operational costs have depleted our reserves. And I emphasize how WASC recognizes how difficult it is for UH Hilo to continue our positive momentum of growth and development without a clear UH system allocation plan.

Here is part of my testimony:

“Yes, we hold optimism for the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, but I must also speak of what is needed to both sustain and fulfill our Strategic Plan. Even with our well-qualified faculty and staff dedicated to students and academic excellence, we cannot sustain our momentum and move forward without additional resources.

“UH Hilo’s revenue falls far below most other public-higher education institutions of similar size and complexity. Our enrollment has doubled since 1987, and over the last five years we have sustained a steady increase in enrollment despite limited funding. In FY 2000, UH Hilo spent $1,350 less per student than comparable universities. With increase in our enrollment, this gap is getting bigger.

“Our physical plant has also increased in size. Since 1998, with no additional funding, we have increased the size of our plant over 100,000 square feet. We have less to spend per square foot for facilities, ground security and repairs and maintenance as compared to three years ago. The lack of staff and the delay in funding repairs and maintenance has negatively impacted the health and safety of our students and faculty.

“We have also been supporting Hawai‘i Community College’s cost of utilities and other operational costs for the last 12 years. Currently, UH Hilo spends $1.88 million on Hawai‘i Community College’s operations. The uncompensated increases over the last 12 years of supporting Hawai‘i Community College’s operation due to inflation and other costs is $4.4 million. To balance our budget we used our reserves.

“Funding has not kept pace with our growth and development. The gradual decrease in our spending power is due to the increase in enrollment, collective bargaining salary increases, and inflation. UH Hilo has depleted its reserves to bear the costs of supporting Hawai‘i Community College and meet the basic needs of a four-year comprehensive university.

“With additional resources UH Hilo will continue to hold its special niche as a comprehensive university, and continue our national distinction in undergraduate education. But to stabilize the base, reach our potential, and maximize our assets we need an increase in our permanent base budget as well as funding for new growth initiatives.

“WASC acknowledged the fiscal challenge we face, and stated, ‘the core budget of UH Hilo has been eroded due to a lack of support for enrollment growth, compensation increases and new space.’ The team also reported that the university has increased its enrollment and programs without a corresponding increase in funding or a clear UH system allocation plan.”

The UH System is presently working on an allocation plan. We are also seeking ways in which we can increase our revenues.

UH Hilo has made and is making excellent progress in achieving our Strategic Plan. I sincerely want to thank you for all your efforts to make this university a quality teaching and learning environment for all of us.

KUNG HEE FAT CHOY!

2004 is the Year of the Monkey. We need to be flexible, creative, and find ways to energize ourselves:

• See the big picture: Attend to the details but don’t get lost in them.
• Take calculated risks: Don’t be afraid to take calculated risks and go for it. Be both a role model and a mentor.
• Balance: Work to the strengths of the people; use energy to create more energy. Position for success.
• Don’t beat yourself up: Recognize and respect the natural flow of life, the interconnectedness of nature, including the need for relaxation and rest.
• Trust: Trust and value your colleagues. Work together toward a common goal, and things will fall into place.
• Believe in the possibilities: Believe in the possibilities, focus on the common good for today, tomorrow and future generations.

Thank you for your hard work in support of our goals. Let us continue to work together.

Mahalo,

Rose Tseng