STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1480

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 313

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 313, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Board of Regents of thE University of Hawaii

 

G.M. No. 313

GRANT TUCK SUN TEICHMAN,

for a term to expire 6-30-2010,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee, and finds Grant Tuck Sun Teichman to have the necessary qualifications to be appointed to the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this nomination from the University of Hawaii at Manoa Outreach College, University of Hawaii at Manoa Co-curricular Activities, Programs and Services; University of Hawaii at Manoa Office of Student Life and Development; Atherton YMCA; Englekirk Partners Consulting Structural Engineers, LLC; Associated Students of the University of Hawaii at Manoa; and twelve individuals.  The Associated Students of the University of Hawaii-Honolulu Community College; and three individuals provided testimony in opposition.  The University of Hawaii Student Caucus expressed concerns.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Grant Tuck Sun Teichman is the third generation of his family to graduate from the University of Hawaii and he holds a Bachelor's degree in History, with Honors, and in Political Science.  During his tenure at the University of Hawaii, Mr. Teichman served twice as the President of the Associated Students of the University of Hawaii, and most recently as the President-Elect for the University of Hawaii Student Union Campus Center Board.  He was also a Staff Writer and Associate News Editor at Ka Leo O Hawaii and a Member of the Honolulu Mayor's High-Capacity Transit Advisory Committee.  Currently, he is active as a Leadership Advisor for the YMCA Youth Legislative Program and is a Beta Tester for Paramount Pictures, Sony Entertainment Activision.  Mr. Teichman is the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards, was a University of Hawaii Rhodes Scholar Nominee, and a member of the University of Hawaii Deans List for four semesters.

 

     Your Committee discussed a range of issues with Mr. Teichman, including the challenges of serving as the student member of the Board, given the diverse student population of the University of Hawaii System.  Your Committee has also reviewed Mr. Teichman's responses to questions regarding his motivation as a member of the Board of Regents, his goals and priorities for the University, his views on the University presidential selection process, his suggestions for dealing with the unprecedented budget crisis, and his views on the current ten-campus University of Hawaii System.

 

     Your Committee has also discussed with Mr. Teichman the concerns raised by several students and student organizations regarding what the students perceive as serious lapses in communication and accessibility by Mr. Teichman.  Your Committee would point out that the miscommunication appears to be in part due to misunderstandings and misinformation by both the students and the nominee.  However, your Committee has requested that Mr. Teichman and the student caucus meet as quickly as possible to resolve these issues and to identify how they will work together and communicate more effectively in the future.  As your Committee has noted before, the student member of the Board has a challenging role, and a very limited term of service.  For these reasons, it is imperative that the student member and the students represented work in an atmosphere of mutual transparency and communication to ensure that the student voice is heard at the Board of Regents.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

 

 

 

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair