UH Hilo presents A Global Dialogue: Women in Higher Education

For the first time in UH Hilo’s history, an international gathering of women university presidents & chancellors will convene to share their perspectives on the role of women’s leadership in higher education. This historic presentation will serve as an empowering and inspiring message and will offer networking and mentoring opportunities.

Join honored guests for an International Reception, a unique culinary experience on the theatre lanai immediately following the program.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2008

4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

UH Hilo Performing Arts Center

PLEASE RSVP BY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

For information call: 974-7555 or email: uhhconferencecenter@gmail.com

Click here for flyer: flyer-for-a-global-dialogue.

Former Hilo educator and administrator Audrey Furukawa established the Audrey S. Furukawa Study Abroad Scholarship Endowment. Furukawa made the lead gift upon her retirement from Hilo, and then enlisted the community to raise additional funds.

To be eligible, students must be enrolled fulltime as an undergraduate at Hilo and show academic merit as demonstrated with a minimum 3.2 GPA. The study experience will be at least one semester and reserved for students who have not studied, traveled or lived abroad for more than a month. Preference will be given to Hawai‘i high school graduates.

A lifelong resident of Hilo, Furukawa attended Hilo College, the predecessor of UH Hilo, and then went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Manoa. She spent over 30 years as a faculty member and administrator at Hilo, retiring in 2008 from dual positions as executive assistant to the chancellor, and director of the Center for Global Education and Exchange.

“I wish to extend a very special thank you to my family and the many friends who joined me in creating this endowment,” says Furukawa. “Your gift will enable eligible Hawai’i students to begin their global education journey and open infinite doors of opportunity.”

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Mauna Kea’s summit is short one telescope: its first. The first telescope to be placed atop the volcano, in 1968, has been retired and removed, to make way for a new, larger telescope for UH-Hilo astronomy faculty and students. AP photo.

Associated Press

August 24, 2008

KAILUA-KONA » The first telescope to be placed atop Mauna Kea has been retired and removed.

Scientists used the 24-inch telescope, built in 1968, to conduct pioneering observations on asteroids, outer planets and other objects in the solar system.

“This telescope had a lot of history,” UH-Hilo Astronomy Professor William Heacox said. “Even though the years of wear and tear had eroded its capabilities, we were still sad to see it go.”

Many University of Hawaii astronomy students learned the craft using the instrument. UH-Hilo faculty and students used it to collect data for more than 13 published research projects since 1995.

“It is fair to say that most, perhaps all, of our astronomy graduates have learned how to ‘do astronomy’ with the old 24-inch telescope in its unheated dome,” Heacox said.

“I have probably spent more than 100 nights using that instrument, and did most of my Ph.D. thesis research with it in the mid-1970s.”

The recent removal of the old telescope and installation of the new dome clears the way for a larger telescope for UH-Hilo astronomy faculty and students.

The new telescope is being funded by a $650,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. University repair and maintenance funds will pay for the building reconstruction.

The new telescope is being built by Equinox Interscience, Inc. of Golden, Colo. It will be shipped to Hilo in October and, once installed, will be remotely operated from the new Science and Technology Building on the Hilo campus.

Mauna Kea, one of five volcanoes that form the Big island, is the highest point in the state at 13,796 feet. It houses 12 of the world’s leading observatories for optical, infrared and submillimeter astronomy.

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The University of Hawai‘i at Hilo College of Pharmacy was recently awarded Candidate Accreditation Status during the June Executive Board Meeting of the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE). Dean John Pezzuto said this is an important step that will help the one-year-old program address a nationwide shortage of pharmacists.

“This second phase in the accreditation process is a critical milestone that takes the College of Pharmacy to the next level, and we are very pleased,” Pezzuto said. “As the first and only pharmacy school in the Pacific Basin from Samoa to Guam to Alaska, we fill a significant gap that provides opportunities for Pacific Islanders to earn their Doctor of Pharmacy degrees locally. This makes it more likely they will stay to serve the community and hospital pharmacy needs of the islands.”

ACPE accredits all pharmacy programs in the U.S. through a three-step process: pre candidate status for programs that haven’t enrolled students, awarded to UH Hilo in June 2007; candidate status, awarded to a program with students enrolled pending graduating its first class; and full accreditation, for which UH Hilo is on track and eligible in May 2011 when the first group of Pharm D. students will graduate.

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Chancellor Tseng was among the honorees as the Lamda Psi Chapter of Delta Sigma Pi, the nation’s most prestigious business fraternity, held its 19th Annual Initiation and Recognition Banquet earlier this month at UH Hilo.

The chancellor and Mitzi Hennessey, secretary to the dean at the College of Business and Economics, were honored with the 2008 Hall of Fame Award for dedication to the chapter and service to the university and Hilo communities.

Carole Miura, emerita professor of mathematics, was presented the 2008 Outstanding Professor of the Year Award. Professor Miura retired this spring after 35 years of teaching business mathematics. She was UH Hilo’s first director of institutional research and was responsible for installing the university’s first four-year student tracking system.

Neil Nakaza was recognized with the Hawai‘i Alumni Chapter’s Outstanding Alumni Award by President Karolina Siriah for his continual support of the chapter by attending all of its fundraising and social events.

Lambda Psi also welcomed its newest faculty initiate, Kimberly Furumo, into the chapter. Furumo is a professor of management information systems at the business college.

Chancellor Rose Tseng (at left) stands with Commencement keynote Constance Lau, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric. Spring Commencement was held on Saturday.

Reported by Ken Hupp on KPUA.net

The president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric Industries called on UH Hilo graduates to treat their degrees like an investment by contributing to their body of knowledge and expertise. During spring commencement ceremonies at Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium, Constance “Connie” Lau told the class of 2008 that the education they’ve received can be the gift that keeps giving if they understand that learning is a lifetime proposition.

“Your diploma represents the knowledge of how to create value. And it is a priceless gift that can keep on giving for the rest of your lives,” Lau said. “It is like that old saying when you give a man a fish he can feed his family. But if you teach a man or woman to fish, they can feed a village.”

Lau attributed her success in Hawai‘i’s corporate community to the education she received.

A total of 448 students representing the College of Arts and Sciences; College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management; College of Hawaiian Language; and College of Business and Economics were candidates for various degrees or certificates.

Connie Lau (at left), president and chief executive officer of Hawaiian Electric Industries, will deliver the spring commencement keynote.

Timothy Fallis, an English major with minors in religious studies and philosophy, will deliver the student address. Fallis maintained a 3.93 grade point average as a full-time student while also working full time as a machinist for Mauna Kea observatories.

Spring commencement is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 17th, at Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium.

A total of 448 students are candidates for degrees or certificates:

· College of Arts and Sciences (377)

· College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management (20)

· Ka Haka ‘Ula O Ke‘elikolani College of Hawaiian Language (21)

· College of Business and Economics (30)

Full press release here.

The university’s cable show, Focus on UH Hilo, wraps up the season tonight with Don Price (at left), Randy Hirokawa and Mark Manuel discussing the integration of culture, science and technology in education and research at the university. The 30-minute show airs live on local cable Channel 55 starting at 8 p.m.

Price is a biology professor who serves as co-project director of Hawai‘i’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. Administrated by UH Hilo, EPSCoR is a federal program funded by the National Science Foundation to strengthen the research capacity of the entire state.

Randy Hirokawa is dean at UH Hilo’s College of Arts and Sciences. Mark Manuel is a graduate student in UH Hilo’s Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science master’s program.

Focus on UH Hilo, hosted by Chancellor Tseng and moderated by Ken Hupp, highlights programs, developments and partnerships with community organizations.

For more info, contact Michelle Araki at University Relations, melander@hawaii.edu.

Chancellor’s Remarks

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
International Conference & Annual Meeting
April 13, 2008

Honolulu

“The Role of Universities in Regional Prosperity”

Good afternoon and aloha! Thank you for inviting me to speak to you today.

This afternoon I would like to share with you some thoughts about the role of universities and business schools in workforce and economic development, tell you a little about UH Hilo’s role as an economic engine, and then share with you some strategies that I hope you’ll find interesting and useful.

Compared to other developed countries, the U.S. lags in the proportion of its population who have an associate degrees or higher. This is a gathering storm. We need to enhance our human capital, and in the new knowledge economy, universities are recognized as the engine of economic growth.

The Big Island is a microcosm of the world: an island the size of Connecticut, surrounded by water, thousands of miles from the mainland. In fact, you could say our university is at the center of a big economic experiment. UH Hilo plays a huge role in the local economy, including direct expenditures on the island, second largest employer in east Hawai‘i, and workforce development. On the Big Island, it’s easy to see the effect UH Hilo has on the economy.

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Marine Science lab. Photo by William Ing.

Jason Turner, a UH Hilo assistant professor of marine science and Jennifer Turner, a marine science lecturer, are the featured guests on tonight’s Focus on UH Hilo cable program. The show starts at 8 p.m. on channel 55.

The Turners will discuss UH Hilo’s Marine Science program, including information about the new bachelor of science degree. They also will preview the program’s course offerings for the upcoming summer session.

Focus on UH Hilo is a 30-minute show hosted by Chancellor Tseng and moderated by Ken Hupp that highlights UH Hilo teaching, research, and community service.

For more info contact Michele at the marketing and alumni office at melander@hawaii.edu.