This message was shared with the faculty, and staff of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa on May 11, 2020.
Aloha UH Mānoa faculty and staff,
As previously announced, UH is planning the return of the fall 2020 semester at all 10 campuses. Here at UH Mānoa, we recognize the need to prepare, respond and adapt throughout 2020 to support the university’s mission as we navigate together the rapidly changing landscape that lies ahead of us. Of primary importance is the health and safety of our employees and our students. With respect and compassion for our community, we will make our decisions based on the best science and data available. We will also be guided by our firm commitment to provide the best possible learning experience for our students, while continuing our essential world-class research, scholarship and service to our home, Hawaiʻi.
We have initiated the planning process for the fall semester and beyond. This process will be transparent and inclusive, and will capitalize on the extraordinary expertise and experience on our campus. We will engage with faculty, staff, administrators and students, as well as government and industry professionals as required and appropriate. We are mindful that we must prepare in a manner that supports two-way remote-capable (that is, teaching and learning off campus as well as on campus) in order to accommodate any eventuality in the course of the pandemic, as well as:
- high-risk students, faculty, and staff
- quarantined or ill students, faculty, and staff
- international students who are unable to travel to campus
I have appointed a Coordinating Committee composed of the following individuals:
- Myself, Michael Bruno, Provost
- Velma Kameoka, Interim Vice Chancellor for Research
- Laura Lyons, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean, College of Languages, Linguistics and Literature
- Sandy French, interim Vice Chancellor for Administration, Finance and Operations
- Lori Ideta, Interim Vice Chancellor for Students
- Roxie Shabazz, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Director of Admissions
- Jan Gouveia, Vice President for Administration
- Garret Yoshimi, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
We have also created several Working Groups with assignments in areas considered essential to the task before us. These groups, and their leads are listed below.
- Health and Wellness
Leads: M. Boland (Dean, School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene) and J. Hedges (Dean, School of Medicine) - Student Learning
Leads: L. Lyons and P. McKimmy (Specialist, Educational Technology and Director of Technology and Distance Programs, College of Education) - Student and Residence Life
Leads: L. Ideta, C. Quemuel (Interim Assistant Vice Chancellor for Diversity, and Director of Student Equity, Excellence and Diversity), and R. Shabazz - First-Year Students
Lead: R. Shabazz - Research
Leads: V. Kameoka and B. Taylor (Dean, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology) - Business Processes
Leads: S. French and G. Yoshimi - Communications
Leads: D. Meisenzahl (Director, UH Office of Communications and UH News) and B. Suyama (Associate Director, UH Office of Communications and UH News) - Space Planning, Preparation, and Utilization
Lead: J. Gouveia
We recognize that our employees, as well as our students and their families, expect to be notified of our plans and actions well before the August 24 start of the semester. For many reasons, we must complete our preparations and announce our plans for the start of the semester well before this date, tentatively on or before June 30. Throughout the coming weeks and months, we will be guided by our healthcare and medical sciences professionals. I am grateful to Deans Hedges, Mokuau and Boland, as well as Andrew Nichols, Director of University Health Services, for their ongoing advice.
I will provide more information soon regarding the planning process, including the group members, contacts for inquiries and suggestions, and our plans for ongoing communication to the campus.
Please continue to be well,
Michael Bruno
UH Mānoa Provost
