Chaminade offers degree program at UH campus
In what may lead to other partnerships, Chaminade University will offer a bachelor's degree program in criminal justice at Windward Community College this fall.
It's the first agreement of its kind between the private university at the base of St. Louis Heights and the public UH system, officials said.
"We're trying to make education more convenient," said Connie Turner, the coordinator at Windward's new Office of University Partners.
The first two Chaminade classes will be Criminal Justice Systems, taught by retired judge Sandra Simms, and Introduction to Forensic Sciences, taught by FBI consultant Lee Goff.
More classes leading to the degree will be offered as demand warrants. Windward students also will be able to take Chaminade classes offered at the Kaneohe Marine base, and some classes are available online.
Students will pay the Chaminade tuition for off-campus programs, currently $123 a credit for lower-division and $173 a credit for upper-division classes.
All Windward Community College credits will transfer to general education requirements of the degree. Windward's tuition is $63 a credit.
The criminal justice degree can lead to careers in law enforcement, administration, probation and parole, social work and public safety, Turner said, fields where there is high job demand.
"Anybody who is getting a degree in criminal justice has an interest in law enforcement," said Honolulu police Capt. Frank Fujii, adding that the department is constantly searching for new recruits.
Windward and Chaminade have been talking about offering programs on campus for several years, said Skip Lee, the director of Accelerated Undergraduate Program, which offers off-campus classes at military bases and six Catholic parishes.
The key to offering the criminal justice degree is that it is not offered at UH-Manoa, and so does not compete, Lee said.
Just down the road from Windward, Hawaii Pacific University offers a similar degree in justice administration. UH-West Oahu also offers a justice administration degree.
If this program is successful, Lee said Chaminade also has an interior design degree that is not offered at UH-Manoa.
Turner said Windward Community College is also talking to UH-West Oahu about offering degree programs.