Bill Text: HI SR89 | 2017 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: Urging The University Of Hawaii To Examine The Current Status Of The University's Online Programs With A View Toward Increasing Its Online Accredited Courses And Degree Programs.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-04-18 - Report adopted, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [SR89 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2017-SR89-Amended.html

THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

89

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO EXAMINE THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE UNIVERSITY'S ONLINE PROGRAMS WITH A VIEW TOWARD INCREASING ITS ONLINE ACCREDITED COURSES AND DEGREE PROGRAMS.

 

 


     WHEREAS, online courses and degree programs are increasingly important to ensure access to education for many students; and

 

     WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii offers only seventeen Bachelor's degrees, fourteen Master's degrees, and several certificates via online courses; and

 

     WHEREAS, the geography of Hawaii makes online and distance education options especially valuable for out-of-state and international students; and

 

     WHEREAS, students on the neighbor islands are in particular need of affordable, high quality distance education options; and

 

     WHEREAS, the availability of online programs for students residing on Oahu can have a positive impact on reducing traffic congestion; and

 

     WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii is well situated to offer unique and valuable perspectives to local and out-of-state students in a variety of important subjects, including oceanography, renewable energy, and climate change; and

 

     WHEREAS, Penn State World Campus is the online campus of The Pennsylvania State University and offers online courses for over one hundred twenty accredited graduate degrees, undergraduate degrees, certificates, and minors; and

 

     WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii should increase its online accredited programs; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2017, that the University of Hawaii is urged to examine the current status of the University's online programs with a view toward increasing its online accredited courses and degree programs; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University of Hawaii formulate a plan to increase cooperation among its campuses to provide a greater number of online courses and program offerings; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University of Hawaii examine any existing resistance its faculty may have to its online programs and provide solutions for those issues accordingly; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University of Hawaii examine whether a reduced tuition rate for students of online courses and programs would help incentivize potential students to pursue higher education; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University of Hawaii report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2018; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii, President of the University of Hawaii, and Executive Director of the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly.

Report Title: 

UH; Online Courses; Online Degree Programs

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