THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	160
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A FINANCIAL AND PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII at MANOA ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT.

WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics Department is responsible for the operations of various student sports teams, their training and performance, travel as necessary, and for providing educational and mental health support for their athletes; and

WHEREAS, the Athletics Department includes student athletes as well as department support staff to coordinate domestic and national events, manage operations, and provide assistance to student athletes; and

WHEREAS, the Athletics Department receives funding through private donors, the university, legislative appropriations, and various sport-specific distributions for the purpose of supporting department operations and programs; and

WHEREAS, the effective use and management of funds and resources to promote increased interest and participation in collegiate sports should be a priority of the department; and

WHEREAS, ensuring that existing support programs are effective in encouraging student athletes' continued improvement and success in both the educational and athletic sectors should also be a priority of the department; and

WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics Department does not have a master plan to address the various needs of the Athletics Department; and

WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii does not have a clear plan to address the potential of, nor implement, the Name, Image, and Likeness program for the purpose of department and athlete exposure, as well as development of a new source of revenue; and

WHEREAS, an audit conducted in Fiscal Year 2024 shows a $2,100,000 deficit between revenues and expenditures for the University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics Department; and

WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics Department does not have a sustainable funding plan to address the deficit nor the overall needs of the department; and

WHEREAS, evaluation of the department's operations, program offerings, and effectiveness is necessary for the improvement and efficiency of the department as a whole; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Office of the Auditor is requested to conduct a financial and performance audit of the University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics Department to ensure that the department is operating in an effective, fiscally responsible, and comprehensively supportive manner for the success of the program and its student athletes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor and Director of Athletics of the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Office of the Auditor; University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics Department; Financial and Performance Audit