STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1555
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.C.R. No. 110
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2023
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 110 entitled:
"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO ESTABLISH BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAMS IN AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY, FOOD SCIENCE, AND EDUCATION AT LEEWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is
to urge the University of Hawaii Community Colleges to establish baccalaureate
degree programs in agricultural technology, food science, and education at Leeward
Community College.
Your Committee received comments on this
measure from the University of Hawai‘i System.
Your Committee finds that leeward and
central Oahu are in need of agricultural technology, food technology, and
teaching programs. The need for
agricultural technology and food technology programs stems from the predicted
retirement of many of the State's farmers, who are nearing retirement age. Without new farmers, food production in the
State will decline. Accessible agricultural
technology and food technology programs can help draw students to farming and
increase the number of new farmers in the State.
Your Committee notes the concerns that, per
discussion with the University of Hawaii, establishing baccalaureate degree
programs at Leeward Community College would require substantial changes with
the College's accreditation body and would be contingent upon the University of
Hawaii's review and approval. Amendments
to this measure are therefore necessary to address these concerns.
Accordingly, your
Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Urging
the University of Hawaii West Oahu, rather than the University of Hawaii
Leeward Community College, to establish baccalaureate degree programs in
agricultural technology, food science, and education;
(2) Amending
its title in accordance with its amended purpose; 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. 110, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 110, S.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,
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________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair |
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