Student Success Student Advisory Council

Building on the strong foundation laid by our inaugural cohort, the Student Success Student Advisory Council (SSSAC) continues to center the voices and perspectives of our students in shaping the future of UH Mānoa. The Student Success Student Advisory Council is composed of nominated and selected undergraduate and graduate students from all 16 schools and colleges, along with representation from all 5 Chartered Student Organizations.

By bringing together this diverse group of student leaders, we aim to gather well-rounded insight on key issues affecting student life, learning, and belonging. The Council serves as a vital link between students and the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success (OVPSS), helping ensure our programs, services, and policies align with the real needs and aspirations of our campus community.

We look forward to another impactful year of collaboration, innovation, and student-driven change as we continue building a UH Mānoa where every student can thrive.

2025-26 Student Council Members

Mission

The Student Success Student Advisory Council’s (SSSAC) mission is to support the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success’ (OVPSS) strategic plan, Students First, Student Centered, and its four (4) key directions - 1) Perpetuating a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning, 2) Collaborating to strengthen services for student success, 3) Sustaining a model of holistic student retention and 4) Designing programmatic growth and innovation. The SSSAC provides feedback and recommendations to equip the Division to create a student-centered environment that fosters diversity, global awareness, and wellness, prioritizing self-authorship and identity development. Our efforts engage students as partners, building a community-connected campus to help them live meaningful lives and make impactful contributions to the communities we serve within Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi nei, and beyond.

Council Membership

1. The meetings are hosted by the interim Vice Provost for Student Success who requests feedback, views, and recommendations from the council of undergraduate and graduate students who represent all 16 schools and colleges as well as all 5 Chartered Student Organizations.
2. The group will discuss various issues and suggestions related to student life, support and engagement, including programming, services, policies, marketing and engagement tools, and other university initiatives. Members will serve as advisors to the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success (OVPSS) and will be well-informed on issues and upcoming new ideas at the university. Members are expected to share the information with the student body at large to elicit campus-wide student opinion.
3. Members of the council were nominated (self-nominations acceptable) and selected based on their application materials. Our goal was to select about 20-25 students from various colleges and clubs to serve on this council. Each member will serve a one or two-year term.

Meetings

1. There will be one (1) meeting per month for the ʻ2025-ʻ26 academic year starting in September.
2. The council will not meet in the summer months (June, July, August).
3. Meetings will take place on campus from 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm in the Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Services (QLCSS) (in either Room 208 or 412), however, meeting locations may change. Council members will receive regular emails that will include the date, time, relevant information, and location.

Expectations

1. Council members are expected to arrive on time and in-person to the meetings and to participate in the discussions, providing relevant and insightful information on behalf of their peers. (Notification of an absence but be emailed to the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success at vpss@hawaii.edu at least 24 hours prior to the start of the meeting.)
2. Council members who attend at least seven (7) meetings in-person (more than 70% of meetings) in the 2025-26 school year will earn a Student Success stole upon graduating in either Fall 2025 or Spring 2026.

Application Process

1. Faculty/Staff must submit Nomination forms by March 31, 2025. (Nominations are no longer being accepted.)
2. Only nominated students will be considered and invited to complete an application. Students must apply through the application link, which will be emailed to them by the OVPSS office after their nomination has been received and reviewed for completion.
3. For the student application, students should be prepared to:
   1. Share a little about yourself (i.e. your major, interest/hobbies, hometown).
   2. Share about your experience at UH Mānoa.
   3. Tell us how you contribute to UH Mānoa in a positive manner.
   4. Provide an overview of your involvement at UH Mānoa or community organizations.
   5. Share about how you developed personally, professionally, and/or academically at UH Mānoa.
4. Only completed student applications received by the April 14, 2025 deadline will be considered.
5. Student Success Student Advisory Council members will be selected and notified by April 30, 2025.

Student Council Members

Meet the 2025-26 members of the Student Advisory Council. Click on the photo to view their profile.