UH Board of Regents approves university budget recommendations for the 2007-2009 fiscal biennium

LĪHUʻE, Kauaʻi — At its monthly meeting held this week at Kauaʻi Community College, the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents (BOR) approved the university‘s budget recommendations of $38.7 million in general funds and $58.1 million in general funds for its operating budget in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, and 2009, respectively. The Board also approved recommendations of $268 million and $274 million, respectively, in general obligation bond funds for improvement projects in those years.

In requesting this funding, the university‘s recommendations focus on four areas of need for the State of Hawaiʻi identified as priorities for the university—increasing the educational capital of the state, expanding workforce development initiatives, assisting in diversifying the state‘s economy, and addressing underserved regions and populations of the state, particularly Native Hawaiians.

The capital improvements budget includes 23 projects listed by priority, including projects totaling $19 million for addressing health, safety, and code requirements; $112 million for addressing capital renewal and deferred maintenance of UH facilities; $40.4 million for projects addressing critically underserved regions and populations, which includes $35 million for development of the new UH West Oʻahu campus; and the balance focused on planning and development of new facilities at campuses across the system. These figures are totals for both years of the biennium.

The operating budget includes $5.6 million for initiatives related to student learning and success at UH Mānoa; $1.6 million to support the continued development of the College of Pharmacy at UH Hilo; $10.8 million for programs systemwide related to expanding workforce development; and nearly $11 million for projects that address underserved regions and populations throughout the state, including numerous Native Hawaiian programs. These figures are totals for both years of the biennium.

The process of developing a budget request for the 2007-2009 fiscal biennium began in January 2006, and involved the president, chancellors, senior management staff, various systemwide organizations, and processes at each campus. UH system groups and campuses presented their budget needs and requests through an inclusive and thorough stocktaking process focused on the university‘s obligation to address state needs in regards to higher education.

For more information about the biennium budget process and stocktaking presentations, visit www.hawaii.edu/offices/app/aa/ .


ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI

Established in 1907 and fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the University of Hawaiʻi is the state‘s sole public system of higher education. The UH System provides an array of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees and community programs on 10 campuses and through educational, training, and research centers across the state. UH enrolls more than 50,000 students from Hawaiʻi, the U.S. mainland, and around the world. For more information, visit www.hawaii.edu .

For more information, visit: http://www.hawaii.edu/offices/app/aa/