Regents asked to
try positive approach
Chairman Kim says more
By Susan Kreifels
'face to face' dialogue is needed
to address concerns
Star-BulletinThe University of Hawaii Board of Regents yesterday chanted the "mantra" from a critical accreditation report on the Manoa campus: communicate, communicate, communicate.
Board Chairman Donald Kim called for a "strong partnership" among administration, faculty and students.
"Let's turn this rampant negativism into positive" actions, he said at the board meeting yesterday. "Let's join hands and put our shoulders to the wheel."
Kim said that meant everyone "giving a little, sharing a little" with face-to-face discussion, not a flurry of memos.
The future of the school of public health will put Kim's challenge to test immediately.
The recently released accreditation report from the Western Association of Schools & Colleges said there were serious problems with leadership, communication and planning at Manoa that had held up urgently needed changes due to years of budget cuts. A team will be back in three years to check progress on the report's recommendations.
The School of Public Health last month became the first such school in the nation to lose its accreditation.
The administration has backed making public health a master's degree program within the John A. Burns School of Medicine.
The Council on Education for Public Health said in a letter Thursday that it may reconsider another visit to the public health school if, by its Sept. 15 meeting, the university shows commitment and resources for saving the school.
Several regents said they are open-minded about the school and want to see facts -- which so far have varied greatly, depending on who presents them -- sorted out by an independent body that would make recommendations to UH President Kenneth Mortimer.
Mortimer said Thursday he would appoint a small task force to do so. He did not give details about who would be on the task force, but regents indicated members may come from the community because the issue has become so polarized and contentious on campus.
Ka Leo O Hawaii
