'Ohana Update
A Newsletter for UH Mānoa families

A Message from Chancellor Virginia S. Hinshaw

Aloha!

I am delighted to introduce you to the inaugural issue of ‘Ohana Update — a new online newsletter designed specifically to keep parents and families of University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa students up-to-date on campus news and information.
Our top priority is ensuring UH Mānoa provides a great learning experience for your children, Hawai`i's best students, who selected UH Mānoa as their "destination of choice." Our commitment to you includes providing examples of the qualities that make UH Mānoa the great place it is, ranging from the impressive accomplishments of our students, staff, and faculty to current, useful information for you and your family.

Welcome to your UH Mānoa `ohana and mahalo nui loa for being with us!

In this issue:

• UH Mānoa Gets Top Marks: Did you know the UH Mānoa football team is not the only nationally-ranked program at UH Mānoa? From medicine to business to law, learn about our many campus jewels.
• Student Success Center: If your student is searching for a support for his or her academic needs, then check out the Student Success Center at Sinclair Library. It offers services such as tutoring, career exploration, study groups and much, much more!
• Hawai‘i Space Flight Laboratory: UH Mānoa is the first university in the world with the capability to design, fabricate, launch, and control its own satellites.
• Quick Guide to Applying for Financial Aid: Need help wading through the financial aid process? Here are some tips that shed light on the process.
• Alumni Profile: Jay Shidler: Learn more about UH Mānoa alumnus Jay Shidler, a real estate entrepreneur and philanthropist.

UH Mānoa Gets Top Marks

From medicine to business to law, the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa has many campus jewels:

"Project Freshman 2007", an online reality show produced by UH Mānoa and RED, the youth lifestyle division of America Online was recently honored with the 2008 Telly Award for Outstanding Achievement in Broadband Programming – Documentary Category. The documentary profiles three UH Mānoa students as they experience their first year of college life. Visit UH Mānoa's website for the link to "Project Freshman".

UH Mānoa is one of the best overall values — based on cost and financial aid — according to the Princeton Review, “America’s Best Value Colleges,” 2008 edition. It is also among 123 institutions designated a “Best Western College.”

U.S.News and World Report ranks:

• John A. Burns School of Medicine’s geriatric medicine program 12th
• Shidler College of Business' graduate international business program 21st
• The William S. Richardson School of Law among the top 20 law schools for environmental law, diversity, and low faculty/student ratio
• The Library and Information Science program's school library media specialization in the top 10

The respected Chronicle of Higher Education ranks UH Mānoa’s marine biology program as 4th in the nation for the quality of its faculty and teaching programs.

UH Mānoa won “First Place University/College” in the Honolulu Advertiser’s "Best of the Best" 2007 awards.

Return to top

Student Success Center at Sinclair Library

Established last year, the Student Success Center (SSC) located in the Sinclair Library is already an invaluable resource for students throughout their college career.

Students seeking support for their academic needs will find it at the SSC. Services offered include tutoring, writing project assistance, study groups, study skills improvement sessions, supplemental instruction groups, information literacy, a full-service computer lab, a 24/5 facility (wireless compatible), and Ask a Librarian chat service offering 24/7 information and research help. The friendly and knowledgeable staff at the center can also provide students with referrals to other useful services on campus.

Sinclair Library was selected as the primary location for the center because of its large open space and staff record of innovation in public service. The first floor of the library provides approximately 19,000 assignable square feet of space. The library and UH Mānoa administration are collaborating to provide funding to revitalize existing space for student use, furniture, and equipment. Within the next three years, library officials propose to enhance the Student Success Center by expanding study areas, offering more student assistance on-demand, and increasing the number of tutors, study groups, and academic services. Visit the Student Success Center.

Return to top

Hawai‘i Space Flight Laboratory: Space Exploration and Research

The Hawai`i Space Flight Laboratory was designed as a multidisciplinary research and education activity bringing together individuals from diverse areas to explore, study, and advance the understanding of the space environment. An expansion of the Small-Satellite program established six years ago at the College of Engineering, this unique facility positions UH Mānoa to become the first university in the world with the capability to design, fabricate, launch, and control its own satellites. The Laboratory's goals include providing the infrastructure for collaborative space and science research, encouraging entrepreneurship and industrial relations, and providing students with a rich and exciting education for careers in space science and engineering.

Hawai`i's geographical location makes it a desirable gateway to space. As a result, UH Mānoa is positioned as the only university in the world with both satellite fabrication capabilities and unique, direct access to orbital space. Researchers from the college and the School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology are teaming up to launch its first space mission by fall 2009.

Above:
Justin Akagi (left), a graduate of Kailua High School, is currently pursuing an MS in Electrical Engineering. He has participated in the UH Small-Satellite program since freshman year where he directs a student team on a $300,000 small satellite project. Wade Tonaki (right) is a graduate of Mililani High School. Currently a senior, Wade has also been in the program since his freshman year. Both are UH Regents Scholars.

Return to top

Quick Guide to Applying for Financial Aid

While the cost of tuition has increased over the years, there are options available to assist high school seniors interested in attending the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. The most commonly known option is financial aid. There are several types of aid that can help students and their families pay for educational expenses, including tuition and fees, books, supplies, housing, transportation, and other qualifying expenses.

Eligibility Requirements

• Be enrolled or plan to enroll at least half-time (6 credits)
• Maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA in college courses

Note: Additional eligibility requirements may apply for federal aid.

Types of Aid Available

• Grants are awarded based on financial need and do not need to be repaid.
• Scholarships are based on specific requirements such as talent, merit, ethnicity, and major. They can be awarded by UH Mānoa or private organizations. Some external scholarships include Hawai‘i Community Foundation, Ke Ali`i Pauahi Foundation/Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate, and Unity House. To learn more about the types of scholarships available, visit the Financial Aid Office.
• Federal Work Study is a need-based employment program that enables eligible students to work and earn money with on- or qualified off-campus employers.
• Student loans are borrowed funds that must be repaid. These loans usually have low interest rates, and most do not have to be repaid until the student graduates or ceases to be enrolled half-time.

How to Apply

• Step 1: Complete the 2008-2009 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. Alternatively, students may call 1-800-4-FEDAID and order up to three paper forms. A FAFSA determines a student’s eligibility for federal student aid programs and many other need-based aid programs. Visit Financial Aid Services for a list of current deadlines.
• Step 2: Receive the Student Aid Report (SAR), the output document from the U.S. Department of Education that reflects the information provided on the application. Review it for accuracy and make appropriate corrections as indicated on the form. The campus receives an electronic copy of the student record and will contact the student if additional information is required to award aid.
• Step 3: Access the electronic award letter on MyUH portal from Financial Aid Services. The letter will indicate the types and amounts of aid offered. Students should review the terms and conditions of each award, and then accept or decline within the specified time frame.

Where To Get More Information

In person:

Financial Aid Services
Queen Lili`uokalani Center for Student Services, Room 112
2600 Campus Road
University of Hawai`i at Mānoa
Honolulu, HI 96822

By phone:

808-956-7251 (9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.)

Email:
finaid@hawaii.edu

Financial Aid 101: Tips for Success

If your mind is spinning over the financial aid application process, here are some tips to ease the process.

Apply early. To be considered for financial aid you must complete and submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1, 2008.

Apply online. The online FAFSA is easier and processed faster than paper applications. To avoid delays in processing, take your time and read the instructions carefully. Be sure to include the following:

• Your student's Social Security number
• All required signatures
• UH Mānoa’s school code 001610

Watch your deadlines. It’s a smart move to submit the FAFSA several weeks before the deadline to give the federal processor adequate time to process the information. Completed applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Apply for a FAFSA PIN. Visit the Federal Student Aid PIN website to apply for a PIN today. With it, you and your student can electronically sign the FAFSA, saving valuable time!

Note: If you are a parent of a dependent student you must also apply for a PIN.

Start a financial aid file. This will come in handy if you need quick access to the information later on. Some suggestions include:

• Photocopies of your and your student's federal income tax return and W-2 information
• A hard copy of the completed FAFSA
• A copy of your student's Federal Student Aid Report
• Copies of all other information used to complete the aid application (e.g., information on your savings and investments, other benefits received such as Social Security, etc).
• FAFSA PIN
• Copies of correspondence with aid agencies

Return to top

Alumnus Profile: Jay Shidler

Real estate entrepreneur and philanthropist Jay Shidler received a Bachelor's of Business Administration from UH Mānoa in 1968.

Shidler is founder and managing partner of the Shidler Group, a Honolulu-based commercial real estate company. He is nationally acknowledged for his expertise in real estate and finance. Since forming the Shidler Group in 1972, he has participated in the acquisition and management of more than 2,000 properties located in 40 U.S. states and Canada. Four of the companies he founded are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

With the intent to transform his alma mater into one of the top institutions in the country, Shidler gifted UH Mānoa's College of Business $26 million ($25 million in 2006 and $1 million in 2007) — the largest private gift in UH Mānoa history. Now with a new name, a new look, and new programs, the Shidler College of Business is on its way to becoming one of the best in the nation.

Return to top

Founded: 1907

Accreditation:
Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Campus Size: 320 acres

Academic Year: Semester

Degrees:
87 bachelor's; 87 master's;
51 doctoral; 3 professional

Enrollment: 20,357

Student Body: All major Hawaiian Islands, 50 states,
& more than 100 nations represented

Student/Faculty Ratio: 16:1

Average Class Size:
31 (freshman, sophomore);
20 (junior, senior)

Male/Female Ratio:
45%:55%

Athletics: NCAA Division 1

Recognized Programs: Environmental law; Asia and Pacific culture studies;
international business; astronomy; oceanography; tropical agriculture; urban planning

Major Research Facilities:
Lyon Arboretum; Waikīkī Aquarium; Hawai`i Institute of Marine Biology at Coconut Island; astronomical observatories atop Mauna Kea and Haleakala

Freshman Acceptance Rate:
68.2%