Politics weighs down
regents, report findsThe board is criticized for taking
duties the president should have
The accrediting body for the seven University of Hawaii community colleges has criticized the Board of Regents for "excessive politics."
The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges said the regents micromanage the university by making decisions that are "more appropriately" delegated to the UH president.
In a progress report released yesterday, the commission recommended that the Board of Regents "review its responsibilities to serve as a policy-making board and to assume its role in evaluating the president."
The report was finished before former UH President Evan Dobelle was fired June 15, but the letter is dated last Friday.
Neither the report nor the letter mention the decision to end Dobelle's employment.
The report said the relationship between the board and the president "appears to be troubled, and that is disadvantageous to the university and its institutions."
It advised the board to develop a stronger relationship with the president and to seek training to "further enhance" its ability to meet standards of accreditation and serve the university.
The report blames the board for not making "adequate progress" in addressing an earlier recommendation that the board refrain from making operational rather than policy decisions.
"Observations of two days of the board meeting (April 15-16) indicate the Board of Regents continues to have difficulty operating on an appropriate policy level and decision-making level," the report stated.
It noted that the board is unable to keep to its schedule and is "sidetracked by political commentary that is unnecessary."
It said one board member used a proposed policy on university contracting to "make long political comments about the governor, the previous governor and the state's history of contracting corruption under another political party."
The "lengthy commentary" was "inappropriate for a university governing board which has a responsibility to protect the educational institution from undue political influence," the report said.
As an example of micromanaging, the report cited a discussion on temporary student housing.
"While it appears the board level of discussion was well-intentioned, it was operational, not policy, in nature," the report said. "The questions and inability of the staff to provide answers at this time ultimately delayed action on this item."
The report also noted "poor communication or a lack of trust" between the board and the president.
In a news release, board Chairwoman Patricia Lee said the board wants to return significant management responsibilities to the UH administration. "The Board of Regents appreciates the guidance of the ACCJC and takes seriously the recommendations made by the commission," Lee said.
Dobelle said the report validates what he has said about the regents.
"I've long maintained it has been an abusive relationship," he said. ACCJC Executive Director "Barbara Beno sat in the audience (during the April board meetings) and saw it for herself."
The report reviews progress made as part of an ongoing review of how the reorganization of the university system affects the community colleges. The ACCJC has concerns over governance, staffing and funding. The university is to submit another report detailing further progress on the ACCJC recommendations by Nov. 1.
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges report:
www.hawaii.edu/vpaa/#wasc
University of Hawaii
www.hawaii.edu