STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1098

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 123

       S.D. 1

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 S.C.R. No. 123 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A STUDY OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM TO DETERMINE IF IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO ESTABLISH A SEPARATE STATEWIDE SYSTEM FOR THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Request the Auditor to conduct a study of the Community Colleges of the University of Hawaii System to determine if it would be beneficial to establish a separate statewide system for the Community Colleges; and

     (2)  Report the findings and recommendations to the 2010 Legislature.

     Comments on this measure were provided by the University of Hawaii System.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee has heard that a task force created pursuant to Act 188, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, is in the process of developing an approach to formula funding for the University of Hawaii, including the community colleges.  The University has stated that while still in development, the proposed formula accounts for the differential costs of providing education at the community colleges, the baccalaureate institutions, and the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and that many of the concerns raised in this measure would be addressed through that effort.

     While your Committee understands that there may be some duplication in the information to be gathered, this measure focuses on issues beyond funding formulas.  In addition, your Committee believes that the information to be included in the Auditor's report may prove beneficial to the University and to the new President as the President is engaged in reviewing all aspects of the University of Hawaii System.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the Whereas clause related to numbers of students, entry level requirements, and per capita funding;

     (2)  Adding Whereas clause language to clarify the differences between the baccalaureate campuses and the community colleges regarding staffing ratios and staff support, missions, and administrative requirements;

     (3)  Adding an additional Whereas clause regarding the advantages of establishing a governance system just for community colleges; and

     (4)  Requiring the Auditor to include in the report the academic advantages and disadvantages, including an assessment of the various means currently employed to effect articulation for community college students that would either no longer be necessary or improved upon by the separation of governance.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 123, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 123, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair