Focus Proposals

Effective Fall 2022, only COURSE-Based Focus Proposals will be accepted to designate new Focus courses. The only exceptions for Instructor-Based Focus designations are for variable topics courses, Study Abroad courses, and 399/499 courses. Other courses with existing instructor-based approval will continue to be designated through the end of the current approval period, but must then be submitted for a course-based designation to continue the Focus.

COURSE-Based proposals should be submitted by the Department Chair or Focus Course Coordinator to request or renew a Focus designation(s) for a course that inherently meets the Focus hallmarks, either because course content or department policy dictates it. Upon approval, all sections of the course will be designated with the approved Focus for the duration of the approval period (3 years for new requests, 5 years for renewals), regardless of who the instructor is. Approved course-based Focus designations cannot be removed for individual sections or terms.

Please check the Focus Status List for active approvals and expiration dates.

SUMMER 2025 COURSE-Based Focus Proposal Forms
Deadline: FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2025

Summer proposals received by this January 17 deadline will have first priority for review by the Faculty Boards. Summer proposals requesting one or two Focus designations only may be submitted as late as January 24 but will be reviewed by the Boards only after review of earlier submissions is complete, with the understanding that there may not be time for the negotiation that is sometimes necessary to secure approval.

Mac users: Please use Adobe Acrobat (not Preview) to complete the form-fillable PDF. Using software other than Adobe Acrobat may cause the text entered to be displayed improperly so that it cannot be read. If you are having any difficulty with the PDF version, please use the MS Word version instead.

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SUMMER 2025 INSTRUCTOR-Based Focus Proposal Forms (ONLY for variable topics, Study Abroad, & 399/499 courses):

Variable Topics or Study Abroad Courses
Instructors who would like to add a Focus to their section of a variable topics or study abroad course may use either of the following PDF or Word forms.

399 or 499 Courses
Instructors who would like to add a Focus to one of their 399 or 499 sections, please use one of the following forms.

FALL 2025 COURSE-Based Focus Proposal Forms
Deadline: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024

Fall proposals received by this February 7 deadline will have first priority for review by the Faculty Boards. Fall proposals requesting one or two Focus designations only may be submitted as late as February 28 but will be reviewed by the Boards only after review of earlier submissions is complete, with the understanding that there may not be time for the negotiation that is sometimes necessary to secure approval.

Download to your your computer before editing

FALL 2025 INSTRUCTOR-Based Focus Proposal Forms (ONLY for variable topics, Study Abroad, & 399/499 courses):

Variable Topics or Study Abroad Courses
Instructors who would like to add a Focus to their section of a variable topics or study abroad course may use either of the following PDF or Word forms.

399 or 499 Courses
Instructors who would like to add a Focus to one of their 399 or 499 sections, please use one of the following forms.

TO SUBMIT A FOCUS REQUEST:

Download the form-fillable PDF or MS Word Doc version of the appropriate proposal form. Do NOT fill it out in your browser.
Complete all sections relevant to the Focus designation(s) you are seeking.
Attach one or more syllabi as appropriate, and save as one file (preferably a PDF).
Submit completed forms to gened@hawaii.edu.

The hallmarks, explanatory notes, and student learning outcomes for each of the four Focus areas can be found on our Teaching Focus Courses page. For the hybrid/online checkbox, please check the appropriate box if you are currently planning to teach the course in this modality, regardless of the possibility that the course may revert to all in-person instruction at some point in the approval period. Please refer to this link for more information about online and hybrid course modalities.

Examples and Teaching Resources

We also encourage you to take a look at exemplary proposals identified by the Boards and to explore the Teaching Resources available on our website for pedagogical resources relevant to many areas of the undergraduate curriculum, as well as distance education/online, hybrid, and classroom instructional modes. More information is available in our Faculty FAQs on specific proposal form-related questions.

Proposal Review Process

Click here for information about the proposal review process.

Diversification Proposals

To request a Diversification designation, departments should complete a UHM-1 form (for new courses) or a UHM-2 form (to modify an existing course).

For new courses (on a UHM-1 form), check the box in #7a to “Request Gen Ed designation indicated below” and indicate the requested Diversification designation (i.e., DA, DH, DL, DS, DB, DP, DY) in #7b. A course that has an embedded laboratory component may have DB+DY or DP+DY.

For existing courses (on a UHM-2 form), fill in the “Existing Gen Ed Diversification, Foundations, or HSL Designation” in #7a and indicate the requested designation in #7b.

Submit the UHM form as required by your School/College. For a Spring 2026 effective term, the form should be routed to the OVPAE by March 15, 2025.

Foundations Proposals

Spring 2026 Foundations Forms due: Tuesday, February 18, 2025

When a Foundations designation is being requested for the first time, a UHM form is also required. Submit the form as required by your School/College. For a Spring 2026 effective term, the form should be routed to the OVPAE by March 15, 2025.