UH Board of Regents holds June meeting in Kapolei

Agenda items include granting of established status for the Masters of Education Program at UH Hilo

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Carolyn Tanaka, 808-956-9803
Mia Noguchi, 808-956-9095
External Affairs and University Relations
Posted: Jun 15, 2006

KAPOLEI, Oʻahu — At its monthly meeting held today at Kapolei Hale, the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents (BOR) granted established status to the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo‘s Masters of Education program. In its fifth year, the program offers Big Island teachers an opportunity to pursue graduate education, which results in increases in pay for the teachers and increased retention for the schools.

The program at UH Hilo is designed to aid in the professional development of teachers and counselors. The cohort model of the program offers a structured learning scheme and professional networking advantages. Students attend part-time while still holding down full-time employment in teaching or other educational positions, and courses are offered in the evenings, on weekends and in the summer to accommodate work schedules. Graduates of the program so far have reported significant personal and professional growth, and employers have rated the program as high in quality and value.

In other action, UH Associate Vice President for Legal Affairs and University Deputy General Counsel Ruth Tsujimura was appointed to the interim vice president position by the BOR for a one-year period or until a permanent appointment is made, whichever occurs sooner. Her appointment is effective July 1. A search for a permanent candidate is currently in progress.

Tsujimura will take over for retiring Vice President for Legal Affairs and University General Counsel Walter Kirimitsu. Kirimitsu previously announced his departure to take on the position of president of Saint Louis School.

Tsujimura received her Juris Doctor degree from the Loyola University at Los Angeles‘ School of Law, and is licensed to practice law in the state of Hawaiʻi and the Federal District Court of Hawaiʻi. She was appointed UH associate general counsel in 1999 and has served as associate vice president for legal affairs and university deputy general counsel since March 2001.

The BOR also appointed Donald Young to the interim dean position of the UH Mānoa College of Education. His appointment is also for one year, effective August 1, unless sooner relieved.

Young, who is a professor of education and director of the college‘s Curriculum Research and Development Group (CRDG), takes over for departing College of Education Dean Randy Hitz. Hitz previously announced his decision to accept an appointment as dean of the Graduate School of Education at Portland State University in Oregon.

As CRDG Director, Young is responsible for the operation of the University Laboratory School, which serves as a laboratory for research and development to improve learning, teaching, and assessment. He has been involved for over 30 years in the development, dissemination, and evaluation of multiple science programs that are used in the United States and in several foreign countries. His recent research activities have been in learning and teaching science, program implementation and maintenance in schools, and multi-dimensional assessment. He is also director of the Hawaiʻi Educational Policy Center.

In addition, the BOR honored outgoing Regent Myron Yamasato whose term ends this year. Yamasato, who is vice president of finance with the Waikoloa Land Company, joined the UH Board of Regents in 2002. He is also treasurer for the Kohala Coast Resort Association and a member of the Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce.

Yamasato is a graduate of Hilo High School and the University of Hawaiʻi, with a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting. A resident of Kamuela, Hawaiʻi, he is married to Karen Yamasato and they have two children, Kelly and Robert.