Presented to the Mānoa Faculty Senate by the Committee on Academic Policy and Planning (CAPP) for a vote of the full Senate on February 17, 2021, a resolution supporting the proposal for an Undergraduate Certificate in Creative Computational Media. Approved by the Mānoa Faculty Senate on February 17, 2021 unanimously with 60 votes (100%); 0 opposed; and 3 abstentions.

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE PROPOSAL FOR AN UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN CREATIVE COMPUTATIONAL MEDIA

WHEREAS, the general public has an insatiable appetite for entertainment in the form of movies, video games, and concerts, theatre and dance productions, which translates to expansive job opportunities for suitably trained UH students in industries other than tourism in Hawaiʻi; and

WHEREAS, the program objective is to provide students and/or professionals with training necessary to enter into job markets relating to this blend of computer science, creative media, electrical engineering, and the performing arts; and

WHEREAS, the program represents a collaborative effort between the Department of Information and Computer Sciences, the Academy for Creative Media, the Department of Electrical Engineering, and the Department of Theatre & Dance; and

WHEREAS, the four departments have strategically begun cross-listing courses and updating pre-requisites to make key courses suitable and regularly available for the certificate; and

WHEREAS, the participating faculty of this certificate program have strong connections with industry that will help create opportunities for students seeking internships when the companies come to Hawaiʻi during their recruitment drives; and

WHEREAS, 91% of surveyed target students indicated their interest in obtaining the certificate; and

WHEREAS, initiating this certificate will utilize only existing resources present at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, although success may later require additional resource acquisition; and

WHEREAS, the proposed certificate will provide enhanced, integrative training not currently provided in the University of Hawaiʻi System; therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mānoa Faculty Senate recommends approval of the proposal to establish an Undergraduate Certificate in Creative Computational Media at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Supporting Document:

Proposal for Undergraduate Certificate in Creative Computational Media

Presented to the Mānoa Faculty Senate by the Graduate Council for a vote of the full Senate on November 18, 2020, a resolution to approve the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research.  Approved by the Mānoa Faculty Senate with 53 votes (96.36%) in support; 2 votes (3.64%) opposed; and 4 abstentions.

RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE GRADUATE CERTIFICATE
IN CLINICAL RESEARCH

WHEREAS, Hawaii lacks programs that provide training opportunities to meet the needs of clinical and medical trainees who pursue careers in clinical research or seek to conduct research in areas of clinical or translational science; and.

WHEREAS, the Department of Quantitative Health Sciences (DQHS) of the John A. Burns School of Medicine has proposed a new Certificate in Clinical Research to meet the local demand for clinical research training and expertise by meeting the needs of gap-year and undecided graduate students and clinical professionals; and

WHEREAS, this certificate would complement the existing Master’s Program in Clinical and Translational Research; and

WHEREAS, an Authorization to Plan for a Certificate in Clinical and Translational Research was approved by the President in February 2020; and

WHEREAS, the Graduate Council recommended that the Certificate be amended to be a Certificate in Clinical Research, since there was no required course in Translational Research; and

WHEREAS, this was agreed by the Department of Quantitative Health Sciences; and

WHEREAS, the Graduate Council recommended the approval of the new Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research; and

WHEREAS, no new teaching or administrative resources are required for the certificate; therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mānoa Faculty Senate recommends the approval of the proposed Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research, in the Department of Quantitative Health Sciences of the John A. Burns School of Medicine.

Supporting document:

Proposal for the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research Department of Quantitative Health Sciences John A. Burns School of Medicine

Presented to the Mānoa Faculty Senate by the Committee on Administration and Budget (CAB) for a vote of the full Senate on November 18, 2020, a resolution to endorse with reservations the reorganization of Library Services.  Approved by the Mānoa Faculty Senate on November 18, 2020 unanimously.

RESOLUTION TO ENDORSE WITH RESERVATIONS
THE REORGANIZATION OF LIBRARY SERVICES

WHEREAS, Executive Policy A3.101 calls for the Mānoa Faculty Senate (MFS) to review any proposed reorganization; and,

WHEREAS, the Mānoa Faculty Senate has delegated to the Committee on Administration and Budget (CAB) the duty to review reorganization proposals and based on a Reorganization Proposal Consultation Review Checklist, to present their recommendations to the Mānoa Faculty Senate Executive Committee; and,

WHEREAS, the University Library is an essential component in the research function of the University; and,

WHEREAS, the University Librarian submitted a Reorganization Proposal for Library Services, dated March 23, 2020; and,

WHEREAS, under the proposal, the following significant changes were to be made to address physical space changes, responsibilities for distinct collections, to reflect current responsibilities, and to reform operational practices:

• Consolidate Sinclair Library functions and staff with Hamilton Library.
• Revise lines of authority and responsibility in Access Services to improve coordination

and enable collective participation in department functions.

• Disseminate responsibility for special material (archives, manuscripts and rare books)

and integrate the Art Archivist librarian with accompanying responsibilities.

• Remove the Industrial Relations Center and Library Project Development and Grants

Office given the dissolution of these units.

• Modify the Planning unit in the Office of the Associate University Librarian for Planning,

Administration, and Personnel to accurately reflect its function and staffing needs.

; and,

WHEREAS, the appropriate unions (UHPA and HGEA) were engaged in consultation; and,

WHEREAS, the Library Faculty Senate supports this reorganization; and,

WHEREAS, cost savings due to integrating Sinclair Library operations into Hamilton Library have already been achieved, and the reorganization will formalize this integration; and,

WHEREAS, fringe savings will be achieved by eliminating reliance on temporary positions; and,

WHEREAS, the reorganization did not clearly delineate the changes to the organizational structure and charts relating to attrition and the ongoing reorganization, including in relation to the impacts of COVID-19; and,

WHEREAS, there is a recognition among University Library leaders that additional organization changes are necessary but require the creation of a strategic vision; and,

WHEREAS, this reorganization will place Library Services in a better position to create a strategic vision for long term success; and,

WHEREAS, the lack of position descriptions within the proposed reorganization hindered the faculty’s ability to review and evaluate the proposal.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mānoa Faculty Senate Endorses with Reservations the reorganization of Library Services.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Library Services is encouraged to engage in strategic planning in relation to both Library personnel and all Library users prior to engaging in further reorganizations.

Supporting Documents:

Reorganization Proposal for Library Services dated March 23, 2020

Updated Library Services Positions Impacted, Organizational Charts and Function Statement 

Addendum dated July 29, 2020

UHPA response to UHM Librarian on Proposed Reorganization of Library Services dated June 10, 2020

UHM Librarian response to UHPA dated June 23, 2020

HGEA response to UHM Librarian Proposed Reorganization of Library Services dated June 30, 2020

University Librarian response to HGEA dated July 9, 2020

CAB Library Services Reorganization Checklist dated November 10, 2020

Presented to the Mānoa Faculty Senate by the Committee on Administration & Budget (CAB) for a vote of the full Senate on October 21, 2020, a resolution censuring the Mānoa Provost over failure to conduct meaningful faculty consultation in the reorganization process.  Due to time constraints, this resolution was tabled until the next senate meeting on November 18, 2020.  Approved by Mānoa Faculty Senate on November 18, 2020 with 37 votes (64.91%) in support; 20 votes (35.09%) opposed; and 6 abstentions.

RESOLUTION CENSURING THE MĀNOA PROVOST
OVER FAILURE TO  CONDUCT MEANINGFUL FACULTY CONSULTATION IN THE  REORGANIZATION PROCESS

WHEREAS, the Mānoa Faculty Senate (MFS) and its constituents acknowledge that, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM) must adapt, address immediate financial deficits, and evolve, and the MFS desires to be an active participant in finding new and creative solutions; and

WHEREAS, faculty are fundamental to UHM, and must, by Hawai‘i law and principles of shared governance, be involved in the very first steps of transforming and revisioning UHM, and faculty bring valuable knowledge, expertise, and skills to the conversation; and

WHEREAS, Chapter §89-1 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes states:

“(a)  The legislature finds that joint decision-making is the modern way of administering government.  Where public employees have been granted the right to share in the decision-making process affecting wages and working conditions, they have become more responsive and better able to exchange ideas and information on operations with their administrators.  Accordingly, government is made more effective;” and,

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Labor Relations Board (HLRB) Decision 394, which deals with the Employer-Union-Employee consultation process, found that the “natural consequences of the State’s failure to engage in meaningful consultation constitutes a prohibited practice,” and HLRB Decision 394 is substantially related to the issues at hand; and

WHEREAS, Executive Policy A3.101 calls for the MFS to review any proposed reorganization; and

WHEREAS, Board of Regents (BOR) Resolution 20-03 states:

“the Administration will consult with faculty, staff, and student organizations in a cooperative and collaborative manner and approach, taking into account the interests of the individuals, groups and entities involved or affected;” and

WHEREAS, the agreement between the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA), the MFS, and Administration (2017-2021 UHPA-BOR Contract Section R-20, Part 1) specifies that: “The University will refer the following topics to Senates […]

1. Initiation, review, and evaluation of proposed, probationary, or established research, instructional and academic programs;” and

WHEREAS, President Lassner and Provost Bruno assembled “a small team that spent countless hours over the summer examining student enrollments, program reviews, etc, across all of the UH Mānoa units;” and

WHEREAS, the members of this “small team […] consisted of President Lassner and myself [Provost Bruno], along with interim [sic] Vice Chancellor for Administration, Finance and Operations Sandy French, interim [sic] Vice Chancellor for Research Velma Kameoka, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Laura Lyons, and Senior Advisor to the Provost Wendy Pearson” (italics added, bold in original; referred to initially as “Mānoa Budget Team” and henceforth herein); and

WHEREAS, Provost Bruno did not include faculty in the development of criteria to be used in evaluating potential stop-outs, eliminations, reorganizations, or initiations of academic or non-academic units; and

WHEREAS, the Mānoa Budget Team produced documents for sixteen academic deans, outlining various suggested changes, including possible program reorganizations, stop-outs, or initiations; and

WHEREAS, beginning August 31, 2020, faculty were asked to engage in discussions of reorganization recommendations with no transparency, strategic summary, overall vision, methodology, timeline, or fiscal justification or budgets (as they relate to the fiscal emergency or a long-term vision); and

WHEREAS, on Friday, September 11, 2020, Provost Bruno announced a website titled, “UH Mānoa Planning for Post-Pandemic Hawai‘i;” which contained, and may still contain, undated draft program review suggestions to academic units across UHM, representing the first time many faculty were notified; and

WHEREAS, the Mānoa Budget Team’s recommendations imply that reorganizations are impending, and suggest that dozens of stop-outs, eliminations, or program initiations should occur, ignoring Board of Regents (BOR) Policy 1.210; and

WHEREAS, the Mānoa Budget Team’s recommendations lack consideration of facts and context,  lack understanding of programs, are an incomplete program review, overlook the connection between falling global rankings and a decline in ability to hire faculty, frequently reference dated external or program reviews, and lack a clear rationale or criteria for proposed reorganizations while circumventing the faculty governance processes outlined in the 2017-2021 UHPA-BOR Contract; and

WHEREAS, the unsigned documents embedded within “UH Mānoa Planning for Post-Pandemic Hawai‘i” received, and may continue to receive, undated and unspecified updates, making it difficult for faculty to assess the development of such recommendations and the rationales behind each modification; and

WHEREAS, the absence of clear, operationalized criteria and a replicable method as to how those criteria were used to arrive at the suggested program changes hinders the faculty’s ability to evaluate the proposed recommendations; and

WHEREAS, now that the Mānoa Budget Team has shared prospective changes, without faculty consultation or input, they have unilaterally created the framework for all future discussions as it relates to transforming and revisioning the University; and

WHEREAS, meaningful faculty consultation cannot occur if Provost Bruno identifies or implements prospective changes and seeks faculty input after-the-fact, often continuing forward despite legitimate faculty concerns; and

WHEREAS, some of the recommendations brought forth by the Mānoa Budget Team for academic units may have merit and could lead to developing a stronger, more prestigious UHM; and

WHEREAS, it remains to be seen if Provost Bruno or President Lassner will bring forth similar recommendations regarding non-academic units (such as student support services, university libraries, ORUs, athletics, vice chancellors’ and deans’ offices among others) and whether meaningful consultation will occur in the creation of criteria and the evaluation of such recommendations; and

WHEREAS, Provost Bruno’s actions circumvent meaningful faculty shared governance and consultation to the detriment of scholarship, students, and the greater UH community (including taxpayers of Hawai‘i), despite the MFS repeatedly raising this concern; and

WHEREAS, Provost Bruno has knowingly allowed, and participated within, a practice and culture of non-compliance with shared faculty-governance; and

WHEREAS, while Provost Bruno did not engage in the faculty consultation process in a timely manner as outlined in the aforementioned policies, contracts, agreements, and laws; it is evident that Provost Bruno has attempted to engage with faculty regarding reorganizations after-the-fact, and has made some changes in response to faculty feedback in these instances; however, Provost Bruno’s changes did not meet faculty’s analysis of what was necessary.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mānoa Faculty Senate censures Provost Bruno of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Mānoa Faculty Senate, and principles of shared faculty governance, requires that Provost Bruno and President Lassner share all relevant data necessary (including the replicable method used to make conclusions for suggested program changes and, especially, fiscal justification in light of the ongoing fiscal crisis) for the identification, evaluation, and recommendation of potential reorganizations.

Presented to the Mānoa Faculty Senate by the Committee on Administration & Budget (CAB) for a vote of the full Senate on October 21, 2020, a resolution censuring the Mānoa Chief Executive Officer (President Lassner) over failure to conduct meaningful faculty consultation in the reorganization process.  Approved by the Mānoa Faculty Senate on October 21, 2020 with 51 votes (85.0%) in support; 9 votes (15.0%) opposed; and 5 abstentions.

RESOLUTION CENSURING THE MĀNOA CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (PRESIDENT LASSNER) OVER FAILURE TO CONDUCT MEANINGFUL FACULTY CONSULTATION IN THE REORGANIZATION PROCESS

WHEREAS, the Mānoa Faculty Senate (MFS) and its constituents acknowledge that, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM) must adapt, address immediate financial deficits, and evolve, and the MFS desires to be an active participant in finding new and creative solutions; and

WHEREAS, faculty are fundamental to UHM, and must, by Hawai‘i law and principles of shared governance, be involved in the very first steps of transforming and revisioning UHM, and faculty bring valuable knowledge, expertise, and skills to the conversation; and

WHEREAS, Chapter §89-1 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes states:

“(a)  The legislature finds that joint decision-making is the modern way of administering government.  Where public employees have been granted the right to share in the decision-making process affecting wages and working conditions, they have become more responsive and better able to exchange ideas and information on operations with their administrators.  Accordingly, government is made more effective;” and,

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Labor Relations Board (HLRB) Decision 394, which deals with the Employer-Union-Employee consultation process,  found that the “natural consequences of the State’s failure to engage in meaningful consultation constitutes a prohibited practice,” and HLRB Decision 394 is substantially related to the issues at hand; and,

WHEREAS, Executive Policy A3.101 calls for the MFS to review any proposed reorganization; and

WHEREAS, Board of Regents (BOR) Resolution 20-03 states:

“the Administration will consult with faculty, staff, and student organizations in a cooperative and collaborative manner and approach, taking into account the interests of the individuals, groups and entities involved or affected;” and,

WHEREAS, the agreement between the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA), the MFS, and Administration (2017-2021 UHPA-BOR Contract, Section R-20, Part 1) specifies that: “The University will refer the following topics to Senates […]

1. Initiation, review, and evaluation of proposed, probationary, or established research, instructional and academic programs;” and,

WHEREAS, President Lassner and Provost Bruno assembled “a small team that spent countless hours over the summer examining student enrollments, program reviews, etc, across all of the UH Mānoa units;” and,

WHEREAS, the members of this “small team […] consisted of President Lassner and myself [Provost Bruno], along with interim [sic] Vice Chancellor for Administration, Finance and Operations Sandy French, interim [sic] Vice Chancellor for Research Velma Kameoka, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Laura Lyons, and Senior Advisor to the Provost Wendy Pearson” (italics added, bold in original; referred to initially as “Mānoa Budget Team” and henceforth herein); and,

WHEREAS, in the two instances where President Lassner is mentioned in Provost Bruno’s September 11 announcement, President Lassner’s role is described in equal terms with Provost Bruno’s in the creation of the Mānoa Budget Team and the creation of a “course of action to reposition the University for FY22 and beyond;” and,

WHEREAS, President’s Lassner’s active leadership role in managing the academic concerns of UHM appear to contradict the distinct roles of the President/CEO and Provost of UHM outlined in the “Phase I Reorganization of the Mānoa Management Structure;” and,

WHEREAS, President Lassner did not ensure that faculty were included in the development of criteria to be used in evaluating potential stop-outs, eliminations, reorganizations, or initiations of academic or non-academic units; and,

WHEREAS, the Mānoa Budget Team produced documents for sixteen academic deans, outlining various suggested changes, including possible program reorganizations, stop-outs, or initiations; and,

WHEREAS, around August 31, 2020, faculty were asked to engage in discussions of reorganization recommendations with no transparency, strategic summary, overall vision, methodology, timeline, or fiscal justification or budgets (as they relate to the fiscal emergency or a long-term vision); and,

WHEREAS, on Friday, September 11, 2020, Provost Bruno announced a website titled, “UH Mānoa Planning for Post-Pandemic Hawai‘i;” which contained, and may still contain, undated draft program review suggestions to academic units across UHM, representing the first time many faculty were notified; and,

WHEREAS,  the Mānoa Budget Team’s recommendations that arose from this “small team” imply that reorganizations are impending, and suggest that dozens of stop-outs, eliminations, or program initiations should occur, ignoring Board of Regents (BOR) Policy 1.210; and,

WHEREAS, the Mānoa Budget Team’s recommendations lack consideration of facts and context,  lack understanding of programs, are an incomplete program review, overlook the connection between falling global rankings and a decline in ability to hire faculty, frequently reference dated external or program reviews, and lack a clear rationale or criteria for proposed reorganizations while circumventing the faculty governance processes outlined in the 2017-2021 UHPA-BOR Contract; and,

WHEREAS, the unsigned documents embedded within “UH Mānoa Planning for Post-Pandemic Hawai‘i” received, and may continue to receive, undated and unspecified updates, making it difficult for faculty to assess the development of such recommendations and the rationales behind each modification; and,

WHEREAS, the absence of clear, operationalized criteria and a replicable method as to how those criteria were used to arrive at the suggested program changes hinders the faculty’s ability to evaluate the proposed recommendations; and,

WHEREAS, now that the Mānoa Budget Team have shared prospective changes, without faculty consultation or input, they have unilaterally created the framework for all future discussions as it relates to transforming and revisioning the University; and,

WHEREAS, meaningful faculty consultation cannot occur if President Lassner identifies or implements prospective changes and then seeks faculty input after-the-fact, often continuing forward despite legitimate faculty concerns; and,

WHEREAS, some of the recommendations brought forth by the Mānoa Budget Team for academic units may have merit, and could lead to developing a stronger, more prestigious UHM; and,

WHEREAS, it remains to be seen if President Lassner or Provost Bruno will bring forth similar recommendations regarding non-academic units (such as student support services, university libraries, ORUs, athletics, vice chancellors’ and deans’ offices among others) and whether meaningful consultation will occur in the creation of criteria and the evaluation of such recommendations; and,

WHEREAS, President Lassner’s actions circumvent meaningful faculty shared governance and consultation to the detriment of scholarship, students, and the greater UH community (including taxpayers of Hawai‘i), despite the MFS repeatedly raising this concern; and,

WHEREAS, President Lassner has knowingly allowed, and participated within, a practice and culture of non-compliance with shared faculty-governance.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mānoa Faculty Senate censures President Lassner of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa; and,

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Mānoa Faculty Senate, and principles of shared faculty governance, requires that Provost Bruno and President Lassner share all relevant data necessary (including the replicable method used to make conclusions for suggested program changes and, especially, fiscal justification in light of the ongoing fiscal crisis) for the identification, evaluation, and recommendation of potential reorganizations.

Presented to the Mānoa Faculty Senate by the Committee on Academic Policy and Planning (CAPP) for a vote of the full Senate on October 21, 2020, a resolution reasserting Mānoa Faculty Senate oversight of academic programs.  Approved by the Mānoa Faculty Senate on October 21, 2020 with 45 votes (76.27%) in support; 14 votes (23.73%) opposed; and 5 abstentions.

RESOLUTION REASSERTING MĀNOA FACULTY SENATE OVERSIGHT OF ALL ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

WHEREAS, “The role of a university faculty governance organization is to advise the administration (primarily at the campus and unit level) on matters impacting and/or relating to the development and maintenance of academic policy and standards to the end that quality education is provided, preserved, and improved” according to UH Board of Regents Policy 1.21; and

WHEREAS, the Mānoa Faculty Senate has “the responsibility to speak for the faculty on academic policy matters such as: (1) Determining the initiation, review, and evaluation of proposed, probationary, or authorized research, instructional, and academic programs,”  (BOR Policy 1.21, B.3.b); and

WHEREAS, “The faculty has primary responsibility for such fundamental academic areas as curriculum content, subject matter, and methods of instruction and research.” (UH Mānoa Faculty Senate Charter Preamble); and

WHEREAS, among the duties of the UHMFS Committee on Academic Policy and Planning (CAPP) are to provide oversight and make recommendations on the “establishment and modification of degree programs and curricula” (UHMFS Bylaws, Article IV, Section 1, g); and

WHEREAS, the February 5, 2015 agreement regarding consultation protocols between UHPA, the Faculty Senates, and UH Administration (UHPA/BOR Contract, section R-20, Part I) specifies that: “The University will refer the following topics to Senates ….

1)    Initiation, review, and evaluation of proposed, probationary, or established research, instructional and academic programs;” and

WHEREAS, the Mānoa Administration has been recommending cuts to some academic programs and recommending to some academic units that they run academic programs through Interdisciplinary Studies, or “partner” with IS, without consultation with the Faculty Senate; and

WHEREAS, the Interdisciplinary Studies (IS) Program has not been consulted or informed about the suggested moves of academic degrees to IS, nor about what it means to “partner” with departments on this; and

WHEREAS, the Interdisciplinary Studies Program is unlikely to be able to take on new programs without additional resources; and

WHEREAS, the primary purpose of the Interdisciplinary Studies program is to offer students the opportunity to put together self-designed courses of study that are not provided elsewhere; and

WHEREAS, pre-planned degrees as part of a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies may have the possibility of conflicting with academic units,; and

WHEREAS, the review process for degrees within Interdisciplinary Studies at UH Mānoa does not provide for any oversight by the UH Mānoa Faculty Senate, and thus violates the oversight specified by the Board of Regents Policy, the Mānoa Faculty Senate Charter and Bylaws, and the UHPA R-20 document; therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mānoa Faculty Senate asserts its right to carry out its oversight of all

academic programs at UH Mānoa, including the “Initiation, review, and evaluation of proposed, probationary, or established research, instructional and academic programs;” and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Mānoa Faculty Senate expects and requires that the University will refer the following topics to the Senate for review by its appropriate committees: “Initiation, review, and evaluation of proposed, probationary, or established research, instructional and academic programs;” and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Mānoa Faculty Senate decides that the UH Administration shall cease and desist from referring academic programs to be housed in Interdisciplinary Studies, without Faculty Senate review, effective Fall semester 2020; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Mānoa Faculty Senate decides that programs that are not interdisciplinary shall not be moved to Interdisciplinary Studies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Mānoa Faculty Senate decides that Interdisciplinary Studies shall not be used by the Administration or academic or other units as a way around Faculty Senate oversight and that, thus, and thus IS should communicate with CAPP to see if any problems have been identified in proposed programs ; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Mānoa Faculty Senate demands that the UH Mānoa administration report to the Mānoa faculty and its agent, the Mānoa Faculty Senate, in a fully transparent manner, any proposed creation or termination or move of any academic program, whether under budget crisis conditions or otherwise, so that the Senate can exercise its oversight over establishment and modification of degree programs and curricula.

Presented to the Mānoa Faculty Senate by the Committee on Administration & Budget (CAB) for a vote of the full Senate on March 24, 2021, a resolution opposing the Phase I and II Reorganization of the Mānoa Management Structure.  Approved by the Mānoa Faculty Senate on March 24, 2021 with 32 votes (72.73%) in support; 12 votes (27.28%) opposed; and 9 abstentions. 

Resolution Opposing the Phase I AND II Reorganization of the Mānoa Management Structure 

WHEREAS, the Mānoa Faculty Senate is required to evaluate and provide recommendations on the Phase II Reorganization of Mānoa’s Management structure, relating to the creation of Vice-Provost offices and subsequent reorganizations under their leadership; and,

WHEREAS, the Mānoa Faculty Senate’s Executive Committee referred both the Phase I and Phase II reorganizations to the Committee on Administration and Budget (CAB) for review, consideration, and recommendations; and,

WHEREAS, the Mānoa Faculty Senate previously stated that it “reserve[d] the right to endorse or oppose the reorganization in its entirety [including Phase I] after all phases of the proposal have been received, evaluated, and considered”; and,

WHEREAS, this reorganization lacks innovation, consisting primarily of renaming executive and management titles, and realigning the duties and responsibilities of these officers on Mānoa following the implementation of Phase I; and,

WHEREAS, the Phase I and II proposals concentrate authority within the President/CEO, resulting in less autonomy for the University of Hawaiʻi’s (UH) flagship campus, particularly due to the Mānoa Office of Business and Finance reporting directly to the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa CEO rather than the Provost; and,

WHEREAS, consultative opportunity was denied regarding the reporting line of the Office of the Mānoa Business and Finance, that replaced the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration, Finance and Operations; and,

WHEREAS, this concentration of authority is exacerbated by Administrative Policy A3.101 University of Hawaiʻi Organizational and Functional Changes, authorizing the President to make administrative changes at two levels below the President while approving changes at UHM CEO one level below, leading to a consolidation of power in an individual with limited oversight and potential conflicts-of-interest; and,

WHEREAS, The Phase II proposal as written does not provide an itemized list for budget savings, eliminated positions, and created positions, providing no way to verify the proposed savings are accurate, nor is there discussion in the document regarding overall ‘efficiencies, service improvements or other benefits that will be achieved as a result of this reorganization’. These elements are required in the body of proposal per A3.101, p5, Section 5a, 1(d) “Reorganizational Proposals”; and,

WHEREAS, the proposed Phase II reorganization lacks strategic direction, failing to incorporate the overall goals of the 2015-2025 Strategic Plan for UH Mānoa (UHM); and,

WHEREAS, specific elements within the Phase II proposal remain underdeveloped, particularly First Year Programs, Graduate Division, Global Engagement, Advising, and Mānoa’s Research and Scholarship office; and,

WHEREAS, the Phase II proposal provides no clear criteria to evaluate its implementation, particularly with regard to student success; and,

WHEREAS, insufficient opportunities were provided for individual units or faculty members to provide feedback during the design phase of the Phase II proposal, and no guidance was provided post-release for how individual units or faculty members should provide feedback, or even if it would be considered; and,

WHEREAS, the Mānoa Faculty Senate can provide only global, rather than department or unit-specific feedback; consultation with the Senate does not replace direct consultation with individual units.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, until the aforementioned issues are addressed, the Mānoa Faculty Senate is unable to support, and thus opposes, both Phase I and Phase II Reorganization of the Mānoa Management Structure.

Supporting document:

Resolution Opposing the Phase I of the Reorganization of the Mānoa Management Structure (February 20, 2019)