STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3427

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 26

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 26, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO PROMOTE COOPERATION BETWEEN UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII CAMPUSES TO INCREASE ONLINE COURSES AND DEGREE PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the University of Hawaii's use of online courses and degree programs.

     Specifically, this measure requests the University of Hawaii to:

     (1)  Develop a plan to promote cooperation between the University of Hawaii campuses to increase online courses and degree programs;

     (2)  Examine the current status of the University of Hawaii's online programs and any resistance that the University's faculty may have against online courses and degree programs; and

     (3)  Report to the Legislature prior to the 2017 Regular Session.

     Your Committee finds that online courses and degree programs are increasingly important to ensure access to education for many students.  Your Committee also finds that the geography of Hawaii makes online and distance education options especially valuable, particularly for students living on neighbor islands or who are unable to attend classes in a more traditional setting.  Your Committee further finds that the University of Hawaii is well situated to offer a unique and valuable perspective to local and out-of-state students in a variety of important subject areas, including oceanography, renewable energy, and climate change.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 26, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair