RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii's commitment to academic quality and integrity, as well as to academic freedom, rests upon honesty and fairness in all aspects of scholarly endeavor; and

WHEREAS, faculty must test, grade, and review student work in a manner that is fair and reasonable and students must maintain scholastic honesty beyond reproach; disputes that arise about fairness and honesty are best resolved through open and sincere communication among all parties—students, faculty, committees, and administrators; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the University of Hawaii that the faculty and students be provided consistent and equitable treatment in resolving disputes arising from the academic relationship between faculty and students; the applicability of this policy is limited to those issues directly associated and concomitant with the faculty member’s responsibilities as a teacher and the students’ responsibilities as a learner; and

WHEREAS, a student at Kapiolani Community College (KCC) has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii alleging, among other things, that the University of Hawaii violated his civil rights by failing to address his concerns regarding the use of a racially derogatory word referring to African Americans in the course of a classroom discussion, and further created a racially hostile environment by the inclusion of that word in KCC's campus newspaper; and

WHEREAS, a former KCC faculty member has also alleged, among other things, that the University of Hawaii has violated various administrative policies and procedures, including offering special treatment to students who are more vocal about their needs than others, the unfairness of the peer evaluation process, the implementation of policy changes without notification to faculty and students, and classroom overcrowding; and

WHEREAS, Kapiolani Community College attracts students from across the United States and internationally and serves a diverse student population, and thus should be aware of and sensitive to student needs, and implement administrative policies and procedures and resolve all grievances that are filed in a fair, equitable, and timely manner; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Auditor review the administrative procedures and policies at Kapiolani Community College in relation to faculty review, faculty workload at the lower faculty levels, procedures and resources in the student grievance process and whether they are equitably allocated, equity in program funding, and sensitivity to racial, ethnic, and cultural values and students' civil rights; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University of Hawaii is requested to cooperate fully and respond promptly to the Auditor's requests in conducting this review; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to submit its findings and conclusions no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President and Chairperson of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii, the Chancellor of Kapiolani Community College, and the Auditor.

Report Title:

UH; Information; Alleged Grievances; Professor; Student