STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1351

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 138

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 138 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A MANAGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC STRATEGY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct a management and performance audit of the Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy of the University of Hawaii.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System.

Your Committee finds that the Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy of the University of Hawaii is responsible for overseeing system-wide policies, programs, and initiatives that shape the institution's academic quality, career pathways, workforce pipelines, and performance metrics. Your Committee further finds that it is vital to evaluate the University of Hawaii's plan to develop career pathways to ensure alignment with the State's industry needs and to facilitate students' transition to gainful employment. Your Committee also finds that a management and performance audit of the Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy of the University of Hawaii would provide valuable insights into the efficiency, effectiveness, and impact of programs and initiatives under its scope, enabling evidence-based improvements and strategic decision-making. This measure requests the Auditor to perform a management and performance audit of the Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy of the University of Hawaii to provide clarity and insight into the Office's ongoing efforts.

Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting language that would have requested the Auditor to focus on the design, implementation, and effectives of performance metrics in measuring program success when performing its audit of the Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy of the University of Hawaii.

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. 138, 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. 138, S.D. 1.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair