The University of Hawai'i at Hilo is one of ten branches of the University of Hawai'i System anchored by the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa in Honolulu, Hawai'i. The University of Hawai'i at Hilo is a public, co-educational university located in Hilo, Hawai'i in the United States. It opened in 1970 by an act of the Hawai'i State Legislature. The University of Hawai'i at Hilo primarily serves residents of Hawai'i but also enjoys a considerable international student body. It offers 33 undergraduate and three graduate degree programs for an average of 3,045 students served each year. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

The current chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Hilo is Rose Tseng .

Academics

The University's curriculum is especially strong in marine biology, volcanology, astronomy, and Hawaiian studies. One of its three graduate programs, the Masters of Arts in Hawaiian Language and Literature, is distinguished for being the first in the United States to focus on an indigenous language. [1]

Growth

In recent years, the Hilo campus has seen a growth in enrollment. In the past seven years, enrollment has increased 30 percent. In addition, federal financing has grown by more than 500 percent, in addition to new buildings for the campus's marine science and volcanology programs.

"Hawaii State University?"

There has been a growing movement throughout the last decade to separate the Hilo campus from the University of Hawaii system, creating a "Hawaii State University." Supporters of the separation argue that the growing Hilo campus is "shortchanged" its sister campus in Manoa and that being independent of the system would allow the college to grow faster, better serve the community, and draw in more money from independent sources. Opponents argue that the state is too small for competing university systems and that financial divisions between Manoa and Hilo are fair, given that Manoa places emphasis on research and Hilo places emphasis on teaching. There are also concerns that this movement will hurt relationships between the Hilo campus and the rest of the University of Hawaii system.

A bill was introduced in the 2005 session of the House of Representatives of the Hawaii State Legislature to draft legislation to spin off the Hilo campus as the independent Hawaii State University. The bill was approved by the House Higher Education Committee but no hearing on the bill was planned by the House Finance Committee, effectively killing it. [2]

Resources

• University of Hawai'i at Hilo
• University of Hawai'i at Hilo Athletics
• Ka Haka ‘Ula O Ke‘elikōlani, College of Hawaiian Language

Further Reading

• The University of Hawai'i-Hilo: A College in the Making (2001) ISBN 0824824954