Hawaii Senate Bill SB3354

Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/26/22
• Refer: 1/28/22

Caption

Proposing Amendments To The Hawaii Constitution To Establish A Hawaii Community College System That Is Separate From The University Of Hawaii.

Impact

The bill's enactment could reshape the educational landscape of Hawaii significantly. It is designed to segregate the governance of community colleges from the broader university system, allowing for specialized focus on community education and training programs that align more closely with local workforce demands. By creating a separate board of regents responsible for the governance of community colleges, the legislation delegates specific powers to this new body, empowering it to make decisions that directly reflect community needs and aspirations, potentially enhancing educational access and success rates for students across the state.

Summary

SB3354 proposes significant amendments to the Hawaii Constitution aimed at establishing a Hawaii Community College System that is independent from the University of Hawaii. The legislation stipulates that the new community college system will be a corporate body overseeing all public community colleges in Hawaii. It will have the authority to administer and manage its own property and operate independently from the University of Hawaii, thus creating a distinct chain of governance for community colleges across the state. This independence is expected to foster tailored educational strategies and policies that meet the specific needs of local communities.

Contention

However, the establishment of an independent community college system is not without controversy. Opponents of the bill might argue that separating the community colleges from the University of Hawaii could lead to fragmentation of educational services, creating challenges in consistency and resource allocation. Critics may also express concern regarding the sufficiency of support for community colleges once they operate independently, fearing that they may not receive adequate state funding or oversight. The legislative discussions surrounding the bill likely reflect these varied perspectives, highlighting the contested nature of educational restructuring in Hawaii.