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Hawaii Hall from Quad

As the chief academic officer of the campus, the Provost is responsible for ensuring the success of UH Mānoa students, faculty, and staff across education, research, scholarship, service, and outreach.

Welina mai! Meet our new president, new facilities

Aloha mai kākou,

The start of a new semester brings renewal and excitement. To our returning students, welina mai—welcome back! To our new students, we are thrilled to welcome you to the UH Mānoa ʻohana. You bring fresh energy and inspiration to our campus.

Somber start to 2025

Unfortunately, 2025 begins on a somber note with the devastating fires in Los Angeles. Many of our haumāna (students) are from the LA area, and our hearts go out to everyone affected by this tragedy. We have already reached out to the students who live in the affected areas to offer assistance to help in any way we can. This is a poignant reminder of the importance of standing together, especially as we continue to support our Maui students following the 2023 Lahaina fire. Let’s remain committed to helping one another through both challenges and triumphs.

New leadership

This year marks a new chapter in leadership as we welcome Wendy Hensel as the new president of the University of Hawaiʻi. You can learn more about Wendy by visiting the Meet the President webpage. In her January 6 message to the UH campuses, she shared how the Hawaiian concept of pilina is guiding her approach as she begins her role at UH. Pilina embodies the essence of relationships, interdependence and connections that span generations and places.

There will be two opportunities for you to participate in welcoming President Hensel to the UH Mānoa Campus. Please join us on Wednesday, January 22, at 9:45 a.m. on Hawaiʻi Hall lawn (look for the white tent) for a ceremony welcoming our new president to the campus. Later that day at 3 p.m., please join us in the Campus Center Ballroom for an open forum with President Hensel. She looks forward to hearing your manaʻo(thoughts). Refreshments will be provided at both opportunities. President Hensel is also meeting with our campus governance groups that day and on Thursday, January 23.

Building a better future

2025 will be an exciting year for UH Mānoa. In the fall, the new Student Success Center between University Avenue and Hemenway Hall and Hale Haukani, the new graduate student housing facility on Dole Street across Frear Hall, will be opened.

Construction will soon begin on McCarthy Mall to build a five-story facility with modern classroom spaces and upgrades to the mall and Paradise Palms Food Court. I appreciate your patience with the noise and disruption the project may bring but when it is complete, this project will transform the heart of our campus.

UH Mānoa continues our ascent among the nation’s finest universities, thanks to a solid foundation built by our amazing faculty and staff. Let’s make 2025 a year of even greater success, for the people and places of Hawaiʻi. We are here to support you every step of the way.

Aloha nui,

Michael Bruno
UH Mānoa Provost

Initiatives

The Office of the Provost serves as the home for innovative initiatives that cross the boundaries of education, research, student affairs, and outreach. Current initiatives include the following.

Dr. Frankie Zhu and zero-g researchers

NSF ADVANCE Catalyst

With the aim of increasing the number of underrepresented, wāhine faculty in STEM, UH Mānoa is beginning an ADVANCE Catalyst project funded by the National Science Foundation to undertake data collection and self-assessment to identify systemic gender inequities so that these can be addressed. Learn more!

Smiling students walking near Richardson School of Law – Strategic Investment Initiative 2024

Mānoa Strategic Investment Initiative recipients announced

Eleven impressive projects have been awarded $2.3 million through the highly competitive 4th round of the Mānoa Strategic Investment Initiative competition. This grant opportunity is funded by the Office of the Provost and the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship.

Health Sciences Initiative

Health Sciences Steering Committee

The Health Sciences Initiative is designed to identify opportunities to leverage and build on our strengths in health sciences research, education, and extension for the state and beyond. The steering committee is composed of campus and external colleagues with vested interests in our success in this area. Learn more.

Office of the Provost - Highlights and Current Initiatives

Newsletter – Highlights Initiatives

We are pleased to share with you the monthly newsletter of the Office of the Provost. Our goal through this effort is to amplify and share good news, professional development opportunities, and campus-wide initiatives. We invite you to subscribe to remain informed of initiatives and highlights.

WASC Senior College and University Commission: Thematic Pathway for Reaffirmation. Becoming a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning. Transformational Student Success. Academic Innovation & engaged learning.

UH Mānoa Receives 10-Year Reaffirmation!

UH Mānoa has been reaffirmed for a full 10 years of accreditation, the longest period possible. From the hard work of the steering committee to the tremendous campus-wide participation in the visit, the review team was impressed by the high-level of engagement. Learn more on the WASC Reaffirmation website.

Teacher helping two students

Learning Assistant Program

A Learning Assistant (LA) is an undergraduate student who facilitates discussion and engagement by working with students in small groups during class to encourage active participation. LAs support an increasing number of lower division courses, particularly challenging courses with low success rates. Learn more!

C-Maiki - the Institute

C-MĀIKI

The Center for MICROBIOME Analysis through Island Knowledge & Investigation (C-MĀIKI) performs cutting-edge microbiome research by leveraging the ecology, geography and cultures of Hawaiʻi to better understand and model microbiome dynamics.

View of Waiamea Bay from the Pupukea hillside

Institute for Sustainability & Resilience

ISR provides a campus-wide focus for instructional, research and outreach programs relating to sustainability and resilience Hawaiʻi, as lessons from our islands can help provide global solutions.

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