STAND. COM. REP. NO. 146

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 317

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 317 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to support student mentors and tutors at the University of Hawaii community colleges.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the student mentor and tutor programs at the University of Hawaii community colleges provide a number of direct benefits that lead to higher levels of student retention and graduation. Peer mentors help students adjust to college life by offering a unique perspective on academic expectations, social opportunities, and available campus resources. Additionally, peer tutors offer a highly effective means of providing supplemental instruction, especially for some of the basic mathematics and English courses. This measure provides essential resources to ensure higher academic achievement and improved personal and social development for students at the community colleges.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 317 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair