Chancellor’s Message
Chamber Connection
February 2009

Mahalo for Chamber’s advocacy at State Legislature

Thank you to the Chambers and business community for your support of UH Hilo each legislative session. This year is more important than ever as the legislature addresses the crucial need to invest in building Hawai’i's workforce during tough economic times. Community support inspires and galvanizes our Big Island delegation in their efforts to champion UH Hilo as a comprehensive university. I am always pleased to see that everyone rallies around UH Hilo.

I’d like to share with you an excerpt of my testimony to the Legislature:

“On behalf of the University of Hawai’i at Hilo, I express our deepest appreciation to the legislature for its investment in UH Hilo over the years. With your support, UH Hilo has become a comprehensive university, with 36 bachelor’s, six master’s, and two doctoral degree programs.  Enrollment has increased 43% since 1997; UH Hilo’s 3,773 headcount in Fall 2008 was the highest in our history.

“Yet, our commitment to personalized baccalaureate education ensures we offer a close-knit, supportive learning community as we prepare graduates to tackle the serious global challenges facing us.

“UH Hilo has developed programs to meet statewide needs for graduates in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and other fields essential to the state’s growth and survival. In Fall 2007 our College of Pharmacy, which still awaits its new building, welcomed its first cohort.

“The Big Island’s natural laboratory has enabled UH Hilo to provide incomparable hands-on learning experiences in marine science, agriculture, aquaculture, astronomy, and many other fields. We are well-known for our student-faculty research collaborations. In addition, we have established ourselves as a leader in Hawaiian and indigenous studies, and we have been acknowledged for our ability to successfully integrate science and culture.

“UH Hilo has served students well even without having received sufficient funding to support enrollment growth over the past years. We are a cost-effective investment for Hawai’i taxpayers.  However, our constrained budget has been reduced further by the state’s economic decline. We are therefore taking the following steps to increase efficiency: Reducing energy use and consumption of natural resources, reducing travel, obtaining grants to strengthen student support services, deferring or delaying some hiring, and examining more efficient ways to recruit and graduate students.

“As we have analyzed our budget and operational practices, UH Hilo has allocated its limited resources to continue forward, focused always on producing trained graduates able to help build and sustain Hawai’i's future.

“Yet despite our determination to cut costs, for UH Hilo to serve the state’s workforce demands, we need further investments by the state. We have critical, urgent needs in the areas of student services, STEM programs, and campus security and emergency preparedness.

“For every $1 in state investment, UH Hilo generates $2.38 to $2.75 in direct expenditures. UH Hilo is a crucial contributor to the financial health of the Big Island, an area still struggling to overcome rural poverty. As UH Hilo continues to grow, so does our benefit to the state economy.

“I look forward to continuing our partnership with you as UH Hilo evolves into a world-class comprehensive university meeting state higher education and workforce needs in the years to come.”

I will keep you informed of our progress with the Legislature. Mahalo again for all your support. When we all work together, great things happen!

Mahalo and aloha,

Rose Tseng