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Town Hall Sessions Spring 2018 – Discussion Summary

Q1. Why are we here at UH Mānoa?

Q1.a. Why did you choose UH Mānoa?

Themes

Layer 1 (most frequent): Research, Students, Diversity

Layer 2 (second most frequent): Hawaiʻi, Culture, Opportunity

Examples:

  • Hawaiian value-driven sustainability,
  • Unique place-based research and learning opportunities,
  • Meaningful diversity of ideas, culture, arts, research, faculty,
  • Diverse student population,
  • Campus energy, unique opportunities

Q1.b. What keeps you excited about being a part of the UH Mānoa community?

Themes

Layer 1: Students

Layer 2: People (faculty, staff, students) Community, Diversity, Opportunity, Research

Examples

  • Engaged students and faculty enthusiastic to teach and impact students’ lives,
  • Good research environment because of our diversity,
  • Asia-Pacific orientation of campus,
  • Diverse people and views,
  • Excitement about research,
  • Aloha aina, reorganization of global initiatives/paradigms in the context of island culture and ecology,

Good people doing good work. Issues:

  • Enhanced student support services to promote retention and ensure student success,
  • Too many rules and regulations that act as barriers,
  • We need more collaboration,
  • Not excited- lack of community, poor resources/funding/support and too many interims preventing decision-making on difficult topics. Need people in these positions to guide change but are on “stand-by” until they are in

Q1.c. Where do we want to go from here?

Themes

Layer 1: Students, Community, Better

Layer 2: Research, Resources, Support, Identity/Pride

Examples/Issues

  • Improved student morale and engagement,
  • Promote Hawaiian knowledge,
  • Updated facilities, progressive technology use, and personnel/student info systems
  • Integrated disciplines, research, and refreshed curricular offerings,
  • Promote the reputation of UH locally, nationally and with the community and the leg, and highlight all the good work taking place- better external communication,
  • Provide better support for commuter students,
  • Better funding support to students,
  • Focus on teaching students to think and use critical thinking skills and creative development, not so much focus on workforce training. Hard to quantify this contribution within the current scope of accountability metrics,
  • Maintain forward motion and progress,
  • Reinvigorate pride and excitement on

Q2. What are we uniquely able to provide to the community, the state, the nation, the world? What is it our responsibility to provide? Consider our place, people, knowledge systems and practices.

Themes

Layer 1: Community, Knowledge, Education, Students

Layer 2: Hawaii/Hawaiian, State, Unique, Sustainability/Environment

Examples

  • Broad dissemination of knowledge/research, giving back to the community through meaningful application, cultivation of community well-being,
  • Increase access and affordability for residents and underrepresented populations,
  • Incorporation of Hawaiian knowledge across disciplines and mindsets: we are not just another colonial institution- indigenous-serving institution,
  • Sustainability through indigenous wisdom, caring for the aina “stationary Hōkūleʻa”,
  • Hawaii as a living laboratory for innovation, inquiry and discovery,
  • Support education of the state’s workforce, professionals, future leaders in science, innovation and technology,
  • Provide a more educated citizenry, lifelong learners, critical thinkers, future leaders in Hawaii and at
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