Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1028, H.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the University of Hawaii (UH) School of Social Work's distance learning program to provide for adequate staffing and operation of the distance learning program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the UH School of Social Work, Hawaii Youth Services Network, and Hale Opio Kauai, Inc.

The goal of distance learning is to provide access to the rich array of instructional resources already available to on-campus students and to students anywhere in the State, who are committed to higher education, but unable to attend the UH campus offering their program of choice.

Distance learning can be delivered any time and anywhere (asynchronous) or at a specific time and location (synchronous) allowing the student to fit their education between family and work. Distance learning in many cases provides students greater flexibility. This flexibility includes freeing students from the constraints of travel or relocation, affording them opportunities to take courses otherwise non-accessible due to scheduling or physical constraints. As a result, students have more control over their own learning and success.

Your Committee finds that the UH School of Social Work's planned distance learning program is essential to the fulfillment of higher educational training for professional social workers. Your Committee further finds that students residing in neighbor island communities will benefit from this program as the program will be able to eventually service individuals in their communities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by increasing the appropriation from $1 to $225,000 to be appropriated in fiscal years 2005-2006 and 2006-2007, and by specifying that the appropriations are to be matched dollar for dollar with federal Title IV E funds.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1028, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1028, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.