THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	184
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I TO REPORT ON HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE COMMISSIONS.

     WHEREAS, as Hawaii's technology sector grows, and as technology becomes embedded in many of our more traditional industries, there is a growing need for a workforce that has basic science, technology, engineering, and mathematical skills, as well as graduates with specialized science and engineering degrees; and

     WHEREAS, some states are addressing their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education needs, as well as other strategic postsecondary education needs, through a strong commission on higher education; and

     WHEREAS, both public and private higher education institutions make a contribution to the goal of improving access to education and training and increasing the rate of students pursuing postsecondary education; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's business community is affected by the educational and workforce training outcomes of both public and private higher education institutions; and

     WHEREAS, Hawai‘i has traditionally funded public higher education through appropriations to institutions, and there is no state aid program directed to individual students, with the exception of the State of Hawai'i B Plus Scholarship program; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's post-secondary education commission established in chapter 304A, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, has a limited scope of serving as a vehicle for receiving federal funds, and representation that is mostly assigned to the University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents; and

     WHEREAS, a study of higher education financial assistance commissions in other states, their mandates, and their role in providing incentives or aid to state residents wishing to pursue higher education in their respective states, improving student access, and increasing the educational capital of the State, would be helpful in establishing a commission in this State; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawai‘i, Regular Session of 2008, the House of Representatives concurring, that the University of Hawai‘i System, with input from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, a representative from a private institution of higher education, the Hawai‘i P-20 Initiative, and the Hawai‘i Business Roundtable, is requested to study higher education student financial assistance commissions in other states; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting this study, the University of Hawai‘i System is requested to:

     (1)  Focus on statewide higher education student financial assistance commissions and programs, including scholarships, grants, loan forgiveness, and related student aid and incentive programs for state residents; and

     (2)  Describe procedures used by other states to receive, disseminate, and administer aid to resident students through the vehicle of their financial assistance commissions; and

     (3)  Describe how higher education student financial assistance commissions in various states use legislatively funded student aid programs to accomplish state public policy goals, including in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics; and

     (4)  Recommend a course of action for the State of Hawai'i in regards to the governance and possible creation of a Hawai‘i higher education student financial assistance commission; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University of Hawai‘i System is requested to submit a report of its findings to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the University of Hawai‘i System, the Chairperson of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawai‘i, the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Superintendent of Education, the Executive Director of the Hawai‘i Business Roundtable, and the Executive Director of Good Beginnings Alliance.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Higher Education Student Financial Assistance Commissions