HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

463

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to the university of hawaii.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


SECTION 1.  Every year, the worldwide demand for higher education increases.  In the late 1990's, fewer than ten per cent of Chinese ages eighteen to twenty-two years were enrolled in higher education.  Today, over twenty-seven per cent are enrolled in a university, with that population expected to increase to forty per cent by 2020.

In the United States, universities are increasing their online class offerings.  In 2014, the State University of New York will launch Open SUNY, a network of online classes.  In three years, it expects to enroll 100,000 degree-seeking students and be the largest public online provider of education in the nation.

Hawaii has a strategic advantage for offering online courses due to its unique course offerings, especially in the fields of earth science, technology, the environment, and the ocean, in addition to highly popular business, engineering, and hospitality management courses.

In addition, increasing online course offerings will increase access to a university and will improve graduation rates of currently enrolled students, students who could not schedule courses due to scheduling conflicts, and those who are unable to physically attend the university.

The purpose of this Act is to require the University of Hawaii at Manoa to increase online courses sufficient to allow a student to obtain an undergraduate or graduate degree entirely online.

SECTION 2.  By January 1, 2015, the chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Manoa shall offer classes through distance learning, or another method selected by the chancellor, sufficient to allow students to complete an undergraduate or graduate degree program entirely online.

The courses of study shall be authorized by the board of regents; provided that the courses shall be offered in the same frequency as similar courses at the university system campuses.  The degrees conferred shall also be authorized by the board of regents; provided that no less than ten types of undergraduate degrees and five types of graduate degrees shall be available in each year.

SECTION 3.  The University of Hawaii shall submit a preliminary and final report, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2014 and 2015 regular sessions of the legislature, respectively, on the progress implementing the online degree programs including:

     (1)  The undergraduate and graduate degrees expected to be offered;

     (2)  The names and frequency of the courses being offered;

     (3)  The course and other requirements of the degrees being offered;

     (4)  The estimated tuition or fee to be charged for online courses;

     (5)  The expected student enrollment of the courses; and

     (6)  Proposed legislation necessary to implement and maintain the online undergraduate and graduate degree program.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Distance Learning; University of Hawaii at Manoa; Online Education

 

Description:

Requires the UOH to offer online courses sufficient to allow a student to obtain an undergraduate or graduate degree entirely online.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.