UH president Neighbor islands and outlying campuses would benefit from University of Hawaii President Evan Dobelle's plans to inspire collaboration instead of competition in the 10-campus system.
emphasizes outreach
Evan Dobelle says local
and global ties are keys to
improving the university systemBy Treena Shapiro
tshapiro@starbulletin.comIn his first public appearance since taking over July 2, Dobelle called for expanding Maui Community College into a four-year campus, and looking into similar options at UH-West Oahu, Honolulu Community College and the University Center in Kona.
And he plans to accomplish these and other goals without asking for a supplemental budget from the state, an announcement greeted with applause from business leaders and lawmakers at a Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii reception yesterday.
"The time has come to stop bemoaning what is wrong and get about to setting things right. The time has come to move beyond zero sum games. The time has come to stop wasting energy on fixing blame rather than fixing problems," he said. "And the time has come to say that at the University of Hawaii mediocrity is not acceptable and average is not good enough."
Dobelle implored the audience of more than 1,000 to "Stand up for the University of Hawaii," and provided it with a list of 11 goals he hopes to accomplish, including a straightforward audit by PriceWaterhouseCoopers that will determine how the university does business.
"Is it too big? Is it rewarding of entrepreneurship? Is it flexible? Does it serve the needs of our faculty and students?" he asked.
Gov. Ben Cayetano said he liked what he heard.
"UH needed to take a look at its bureaucracy," he said.
According to Cayetano, Dobelle has confirmed what he believed all along -- that there was extra money in the university, about $65 million.
"He's basically going to reallocate and prioritize how this is used," Cayetano said.
The University of Hawaii's location plays a significant role in Dobelle's plans.
"For a long time, Hawaii has aspired to become the heart of the Pacific, the Geneva of the Pacific," Dobelle said. "I want the University of Hawaii to have a strong international presence and commitment."
Dobelle also promised full funding to UH's Hawaiian Studies department.
At the Manoa campus, led by interim Chancellor Duane Neubauer, changes are also afoot, including strategic planning for the campus that will look at the potential for a new rigorous liberal arts college to keep Hawaii students from selecting mainland colleges.
Neubauer said that the strategic planning will be a "bottom-up" process, involving students, faculty and administrators.
Dobelle "is asking us to look at many of the things that we do with new eyes," Neubauer said. "Are we using the money that we do have in a way that makes sense?"
Three weeks into the job, Neubauer described Dobelle as "a great guy to work with."
Besides seeking input from the university community, Dobelle hopes to form a bridge with the entire community and to "determine with coaches and faculty how we can be pre-eminent in the U.S. in diverse areas such as athletics, film students and laboratory schools as well as at Manoa create the environs of Manoa into a college town.
"I'm really concerned that a lot of education is transitional, not transformational," Dobelle said.
Included in his master plan will be a way to encourage students to live in dormitories or stay on campus after class, perhaps with coffee shops, art galleries and guest speakers and performers, creating a campus environment that will "celebrate who we are," he said.
When people come to the University of Hawaii, "I want it to be Technicolor," Dobelle said. "I want it to be hot."
University of Hawaii
