WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HCR 53

REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII BOARD OF REGENTS TO CONDUCT A SYSTEMWIDE ASSOCIATE DEGREE COMPLETION AUDIT.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terez Amato and 10 co-sponsors

Hawaii requests UH Board of Regents audit associate degree completion rates systemwide to identify barriers and improve student success in community colleges.

House agrees to Senate amendment(s).
#associatedegrees #audit #boardofregents #universityofhawaii
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HCR 53

Legislative bill overview

HCR 53 is a concurrent resolution requesting that the University of Hawaii Board of Regents conduct a comprehensive audit of associate degree completion rates and processes across the entire UH system. The resolution seeks to identify barriers, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement in how students progress through and complete two-year degree programs.

Why is this important

Associate degrees serve as critical pathways for workforce development and economic mobility in Hawaii, particularly for students with financial or personal constraints. An audit could reveal systemic issues affecting completion rates, student success, and the overall effectiveness of community college education in the state, potentially informing policy changes and resource allocation.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and resource allocation: Conducting a systemwide audit requires funding and staff time; unclear whether this will strain existing UH budgets or delay other initiatives
  • Audit scope and actionability: The resolution doesn't specify what the audit should measure or mandate what the Board must do with findings, potentially resulting in a study with limited practical impact
  • Equity considerations: The audit should examine whether completion barriers disproportionately affect Native Hawaiian, low-income, and other underrepresented student populations—unclear if this is explicitly addressed

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.