WHEREAS the continuing lull in the State's economy is likely to force the imposition of additional restrictions upon UHM's budget, and
WHEREAS funding for education is not an expense but an investment in the future and that the Board of Regents is committed to developing excellence at UHM through investment in selected areas, and
WHEREAS UHM is the research university that offers a breadth of education experience not available at any other campus in the State system, and
WHEREAS the faculty at UHM is the University and as such is the body with the responsibility through its Senate to define the instructional, research, and service programs and priorities at UHM,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that in budget decisions UHM administration adhere to the attached academic priorities formulated by the Faculty Senate and passed by a two-thirds majority.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the UHM Administration identify to the Faculty Senate and its committees in a timely manner a list of UHM programs that are proposed for reorganization, reduction, or elimination on the basis of budgtary restrictions.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the UHM Administration incorporate the Senate's evaluations of the academic impact resulting from proposed budget cuts into decisions regarding program reorganizations, reductions, or elimination.
PRIORITIES FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL BUDGET (The 101 Budget):
Given that all UH-Manoa undergraduate students, whatever their majors, take most of their courses from departments other than their own, and that the fundamental purpose of a university education is not to provide specific job training but to provide the thinking and writing skills that will be required in all professions in the twenty-first century, the first priority in allocating instructional resources must be the maintenance of a high standard of excellence and a wide range of offerings in the courses and disciplines that constitute a student's basic education.
Given that the university has developed graduate programs of national and international caliber in some disciplines, and that it has a commitment to the graduate students who have chosen to enroll at UHM rather than attend another institution, second priority in the allocation of instructional resources must be given to maintaining the highest standards in graduate programs of proven excellence.
Given that the university serves a unique function as the only large graduate and research institution in the state, third but very high priority in the allocation of instructional resources must be given to graduate and undergraduate programs that serve the special needs of the people and the state of Hawaii.
In a time of scarce resources, the maintenance of quality in existing programs must take priority over the creation of new programs unless a proposed program has demonstrably high priority according to one of the criteria already enumerated.
High priority must also be given to the acquisition and maintenance of adequate library resources to support the instructional programs that the university offers.
PRIORITIES FOR THE RESEARCH BUDGET (The 102 Budget):
Given that UHM contributes to the economic well-being of the State and the region and that outstanding research programs attract extramural funding, UHM shall place the highest priority on the allocation of limited research resources for research and creative endeavors recognized nationally and internationally for their excellence.
Given that the best education requires research to advance the field, UHM shall place its second highest priority on the allocation of limited research resources for research and creative endeavors because they enhance UHM's graduate and undergraduate instructional programs and the experiences of students at UHM.
Given that UHM is the only research university in the State and the only one in the United States in a tropical Pacific-basin location, UHM shall place the third highest priority on the allocation of limited research resources for the expertise needed to assist the relevant local, regional, and international communities.
High priority must also be given to the acquisition and maintenance of adequate library resources to support the on-going research activities of the university.
PRIORITIES FOR THE SERVICE BUDGET
(The 103 and 105 Budgets and Library Services from the 104 Budget):
Given that UHM's mission is to educate students, UHM shall place its highest priority on the allocation of limited resources for the services and acquisition costs of the UHM libraries' collection of books, journals, and electronic information.
Given that UHM has a responsibility to serve the entire State, particularly by offering the only graduate education within the UH system, and given the importance of revitalizing service to the State, UHM shall place its second highest priority on the allocation of limited resources for service to meet the cooperative extension and distance education needs of the State.
Given that UHM educates students, UHM shall place the third highest priority on the allocation of limited resources for service to students at UHM which enhances their educational experiences.
PRIORITIES FOR THE CAPITAL BUDGET:
Given that Hamilton Library is the research center for the UH system, ~ shall place its highest priority for allocating the capital budget on meeting the educational needs of all UH students; specifically, the Hamilton Library expansion.
Given the emerging new technologies and learning environments, UHM shall place its second highest priority on those capital budget items that enable UHM to provide an excellent education in the 21st century.
Given that UHM has several facilities needing repair, UHM shall place its third highest priority for allocating the capital budget on revitalizing the original capital investment at UHM.
PRIORITIES FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET
(The 104 and 106 Budgets, except for Library Services):
Given that UHM's mission is to educate students, UHM shall place its highest priority of the limited resources for administration on services directly supporting the instructional needs of students in the most cost efficient manner.
Given that UHM has unnecessary duplication of paperwork and is far behind most leading universities in computerizing its operations, UHM shall place its second highest priority for the limited resources for administration on services for computerizing operations at UHM in open, distributed network systems in the most cost efficient manner.
Given that UHM's mission is to advance research, UHM shall place its third highest priority of the limited resources for administration on services assisting faculty research in the most cost efficient manner.