University of Hawai'i West O'ahu to welcome first class of incoming freshmen in Fall 2007

Board of Regents approves transition toward four year baccalaureate degree

University of Hawaiʻi-West Oʻahu
Contact:
Kalowena Komeiji, (808) 454-4824
Office of the Chancellor
Posted: Nov 27, 2006

KAHULUI, Hawaiʻi — At its November meeting at Maui Community College, the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents (BOR) approved a new four-year curriculum for UH West Oʻahu. The board‘s action takes the vision of a four year baccalaureate degree program for West Oʻahu and turns it into a reality.

"Since its inception, it has always been our intention to offer a four-year degree program at UH West Oʻahu," said Gene Awakuni, chancellor of UH West Oʻahu. "Approval by the Regents now makes UH West Oʻahu the only public four-year baccalaureate program on Oʻahu‘s west side, and we believe this is especially significant for Leeward and Central Oʻahu residents who have wanted access to a four-year degree program that‘s close to home."

With the Regents‘ approval, UH West Oʻahu will launch a new program of lower division courses for the new baccalaureate program beginning next Fall. Sixteen classes will be offered in the first semester with an increase to 30 classes in the program‘s second year.

"We can begin offering these classes to the first class of incoming freshmen under the new degree program by renting facilities at Kapolei," Awakuni said. "It‘s essential that we keep UH West Oʻahu‘s various programs moving forward in a timely way, not just to coincide with the opening of the new Kapolei campus but to ensure that UH West Oʻahu students can receive their baccalaureate degrees in a timely way as well."

Groundbreaking of the new Kapolei campus is scheduled for late 2007 with completion of the first phase in 2009. The new campus will include student and faculty housing as well as retail and commercial activity nearby.

In addition to the BOR‘s approval of the new four-year curriculum, the BOR also approved a new Bachelor of Applied Science degree and a revised mission for UH West Oʻahu. Both items are also consistent with the UH West Oʻahu strategic plan.

"The University of Hawaiʻi and UH West Oʻahu are committed to serving the complex needs of the Leeward and Central Oʻahu communities as well as responding to the changing needs of today‘s student," Awakuni said. "We‘re excited by this progress and are anxious to move UH West Oʻahu forward in order to better serve this community."

For more information, visit: http://westoahu.hawaii.edu/