Report lauds
changes at UHUH-West Oahu draws
criticism, though, for
insufficient resources
The University of Hawaii-Manoa has "dramatically changed" for the better since a 1999 review endangered its accreditation, according to a report released yesterday.
"These (changes) improve the quality of the institution and position it for excellence in much better ways than was the case in 1999," the Western Association of Schools and Colleges said in one of four reports released yesterday by UH.
The accrediting agency criticized the Manoa campus for its leadership, educational quality and planning in 1999. But an association team visited the campus in March and found "significant transition and improvement."
Those improvements, according to the report, included a new strategic plan that "represents a strong foundation"; "significantly increased" research generation; and "impressive and widespread" faculty involvement in assessing educational effectiveness.
UH President Evan Dobelle said he is proud of the entire Manoa team.
"The feedback from the WASC team validates the importance of challenging the status quo," Dobelle said in a statement.
But while the association lauded UH-Manoa's response to concerns raised four years ago, the group also issued another report stating that the accreditation for the West Oahu campus could be in danger if concerns are not addressed. The number of faculty was "barely adequate" to meet student needs, said the report, which also criticized "very confusing" budget figures.
West Oahu Chancellor Bill Pearlman said immediate steps were taken to address the concerns after the March visit by the association's research team.
However, he said: "The lack of sufficient resources is at the heart of WASC's concerns. We barely have enough faculty and administration to deliver programs currently in place, and certainly not enough to grow further or adopt any new initiatives."
The WASC team visited both UH-West Oahu and UH-Hilo in the first of a two-part accreditation process. The first review focuses on campus resources and infrastructure; the second, on educational quality.
While UH-West Oahu was issued a "formal notice of concern," it will retain accreditation.
The review team found "substantial progress" at UH-Hilo since its last visit in 1997 but said organizational and other problems should be addressed before the next review. Among other concerns, the team said UH-Hilo's mission and role in the university system should be clarified. It also pointed out that UH-Hilo "has increased enrollment and programs without a corresponding increase in funding or clear UH system allocation plan or rationale."
UH-Hilo Chancellor Rose Tseng, a member of the 21-member WASC commission, said the concerns are being addressed, and the institution looks forward to the next review.
The second team visit to Hilo will be in March, but West Oahu was given until fall next year for the second review "because we identified a set of problems that were really significant," WASC Executive Director Ralph Wolff said in a telephone interview from Alameda, Calif.
He said a special team will go there this fall "to make sure they're moving in the right direction."
Wolff said issues over a permanent West Oahu campus "are paralyzing their ability to develop the quality of their upper-division programs. What the commission said is, if a campus is not to happen now, shift your focus and make a decision what will you be for the next five years, and do what needs to be done to improve the quality."
The team also looked at the entire 10-campus UH system at Dobelle's request. It said the university's reorganization plan has "great potential," but flagged serious problems, including a "flawed" budgeting process and insufficient financial monitoring.
Dobelle said the university's 25-year-old financial accounting system needs to be reformed and that a review has been completed, focusing on budgeting and allocation of resources.
Wolff said WASC tried to identify issues UH needs to address "to fulfill the promise" of its recent reorganization. It also identified problems affecting the campuses because of the new system, he said. "There is strong commitment by the university to address these issues at the system level and campus level as well."
The team will return to Manoa for a full review in 2009-2010. The accrediting body usually reviews institutions about every 10 years but returned to Manoa in March because of its critical 1999 findings.
The review team reported significant trauma four years ago on the Manoa campus after nearly a decade of budget cuts. It cited lack of leadership and communication under then-UH President Kenneth Mortimer's administration.
Mortimer was UH president and Manoa chancellor during an eight-year period of financial crisis. He resigned, effective July 1, 2001, and, in leaving, recommended that the positions be split.
When Dobelle moved into the president's office July 2, 2001, he named Deane Neubauer interim Manoa chancellor.
Peter Englert, a scientist and administrator at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, was appointed Manoa chancellor last year, taking office Aug. 1.
Faculty members have reacted with strong feelings for and against Englert's changes and methods of operation.
"This is a time of tremendous change," Englert said, "and that brings with it some stress as we set priorities in the face of limited resources. However, I believe we have created some momentum for change now and that we can use our collective intellectual energy to move forward in a positive manner."