Maui Community College
set to offer 4-year degree
WAILUKU >> Maui Community College is scheduled to become the first University of Hawaii community college to offer a four-year degree.
"This is a significant step forward for the community colleges, especially for the neighbor islands," said UH President Evan Dobelle.
College officials are hoping to begin offering courses leading to a bachelor's degree in applied science by the fall of 2004, said MCC Provost Clyde Sakamoto.
Sakamoto said the degree will include courses that would help a person apply business concepts and research to the Internet, such as developing software for e-commerce.
Some business leaders have been encouraging MCC to develop a curriculum that would enhance the development of high technology and research already taking place on Haleakala and the Maui Research and Technology Park in Kihei.
"We know there's a growing high-technology critical mass on Maui, and what we're seeking is to reinforce and support those kinds of resources to create opportunities for entrepreneurs and businesses," Sakamoto said.
He said two to three additional faculty positions will be added at the college.
Sakamoto said the college is developing the four-year degree partially through an $800,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.
He said the college would need to go through a number of steps before offering the four-year degree, including curriculum development and accreditation.
MCC students may take courses leading to two-year associate degrees and transfer to a four-year college to complete upper-division classes.