STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1226

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 175

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 175 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO EXAMINE THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE UNIVERSITY'S ONLINE PROGRAMS WITH A VIEW TOWARD INCREASING ITS ONLINE ACCREDITED COURSES AND DEGREE PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the University of Hawaii to examine the status of the University's online programs to consider increasing its online accredited courses and degree programs.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from three individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System.

     Your Committee finds that online courses and degree programs are increasingly important to provide access to education for as many students as possible.  Your Committee further finds that while the University of Hawaii offers many online courses and some online degree and certificate programs, the University could make stronger efforts to expand its online accredited programs.  Your Committee notes that the University of Hawaii has the opportunity to offer unique and valuable perspectives to local and out-of-state students on many issues, and to potentially make higher education an option for individuals who are not able to attend courses in person.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting a provision urging the University of Hawaii to examine whether a reduced tuition rate for students of online courses and programs would help incentivize potential students to pursue higher education;

     (2)  Requesting that the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly receive a copy; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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. 175, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 175, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair