The top story of 2022 was the return to a “new normal” after the COVID-19 pandemic turned the world upside down in early 2020. In-person instruction began in earnest in the fall 2022 semester followed by the lifting of the mask mandate for UH campuses on September 17, but COVID-19 has received enough attention. Here are, in no particular order, the Top 10 (non-COVID-19 related) UH News stories of 2022, followed by the yearʻs Hawaiian Words of the Week and Images of the Week, which were both launched in 2022:
Record graduation rates at UH campuses across the state
UH campuses achieved record highs in important graduation and retention metrics for the academic year 2020–21, the first full academic year impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
UH extramural funding hits record $505M in FY2022
UH Mānoa accounted for $366 million of the extramural awards, followed by units at the UH System level ($70.6 million), UH Community Colleges ($43.6 million), UH Hilo ($18.0 million) and UH West Oʻahu ($6.7 million).
UH Foundation raises record $165M for students, programs, research
Extraordinary gifts included $50 million for ocean research, a grant that aims to boost the share of residents with college degrees, and an endowed scholarship bequest for underrepresented students from Pacific Island countries.
UH regents approve 6-year strategic plan, mission and vision statements
The plan was developed by a steering committee appointed in March 2020, and more than a thousand students, faculty, staff and community members provided input.
Wordle now in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi
The Hawaiian game is named “Hulihua, ” and users do not need to download a program to play. One new word is provided to players each day. Like Wordle, players try to identify a five-letter word and receive hints from the game that help them solve it.
Free training for high-demand jobs available at UH Community Colleges
The Hana Career Pathways program prepares students to apply for registered apprenticeships and related degree programs, and connects students with work-based learning opportunities such as paid internships and guaranteed interviews with local employers.
UH launches ‘a place for you,’ statewide campaign
The campaign encourages residents—no matter their circumstances—to consider enrolling at a UH campus and pursue a higher education.
Maunaloa eruption is living lab for UH Hilo students and researchers
Students and researchers have the opportunity to observe, sample and track the eruption in real time.
Public meetings for proposed tuition increase in 2025, 2026
UH is proposing a freeze on undergraduate tuition for two more academic years followed by a 2% increase in resident tuition rates at the three UH universities in AY 2025–26 and a 2% increase in AY 2026–27.
UH enrollment dips as graduation rates, first-time students rise
“Our students, faculty and support staff have done an amazing job of maintaining focus on paths to graduation through the last two years of the pandemic,” said UH President David Lassner.
2022 UH News Hawaiian Words of the Week and Images of the Week
UH News Hawaiian Words of the Week 2022
Mahalo to the students, faculty and staff members who shared words that inspired them.
UH News Images of the Week 2022
Mahalo to everyone who shared their pictures.
