STAND. COM. REP. NO. 458

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 326

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Higher Education and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 326 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to fund the Office of Student Equity, Excellence, and Diversity at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to fund faculty, graduate student assistant, and student employee positions to conduct and disseminate research relating to Asian American and Pacific Islander students in higher education, and to provide direct services to undergraduate and graduate students interested in diversity careers in student affairs and higher education.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Ilocos Surian Association of Hawaii, Filipino American Citizens League, Nursing Advocates & Mentors Inc., National Federation of Filipino American Associations Region 12, and twelve individuals.

     Your Committee finds that there is a need for research to address the underrepresentation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in higher education institutions.  To address this underrepresentation, sufficient funding is necessary to fund faculty, graduate assistant, and student employee positions to conduct and disseminate research relating to Asian American and Pacific Islander students in higher education, and to provide direct services to undergraduate and graduate students interested in diversity careers relating to student affairs and higher education.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 326 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair