STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1389

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 105

       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.R. No. 105 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COUNCIL OF CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICERS, TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THE TEACHING OF ENGINEERING AT UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES STATEWIDE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii System to:

     (1)  In consultation with the Council of Chief Academic Officers, develop a comprehensive approach to the teaching of engineering at University campuses statewide; and

     (2)  Submit its findings and recommendations, including any budgetary requests and proposed legislation, to the 2010 Legislature.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the University of Hawaii System and one individual.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that the University of Hawaii System Vice President for Academic Planning and Policy has convened a system wide engineering group for a comprehensive review of the teaching of engineering statewide to address the workforce needs of the State and the efficient and effective use of University resources.  Your Committee understands that the University of Hawaii Board of Regents policies require Board approval for the establishment of all instructional and research programs, after review at the campus and system levels and upon recommendation of the President.

     Your Committee further finds that the review process will consider many of the questions posed in this measure, including State workforce and education needs; cost of new program development and implementation; ongoing costs; and the institution's ability to sustain the program financially and with appropriate academic quality.

     Your Committee has amended this measure to incorporate recommendations by the parties involved, by:

     (1)  Amending the title to read:  REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THE TEACHING AND TRAINING OF ENGINEERING AT UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES STATEWIDE;

     (2)  Adding a Whereas clause regarding support for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research, educational, and training programs on Neighbor Islands;

     (3)  Adding to the entities to be consulted, and to those receiving certified copies of the Concurrent Resolution, the University of Hawaii System Vice President for Research, University of Hawaii System Vice President for Academic Planning and Policy, University of Hawaii at Manoa Vice Chancellor for Research, and University of Hawaii at Hilo Vice Chancellor for Research; and

     (4)  Adding to the list of considerations, the provision of adequate and accessible engineering education and facilities designed to meet the opportunities and needs of Neighbor Island communities; and an evaluation of the current proposals by the University of Hawaii at Hilo to establish an applied-oriented undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree engineering program.

     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.R. No. 105, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 105, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair