Ka Pe‘ahi Lono: Monthly Message for February

Date/Time sent: 02/01/2022 2:00 pm

Aloha mai kākou e UH West Oʻahu ʻOhana!

Hoʻokāhi ka ilau like ana (Wield the paddles together)

I continue to be humbled by the sacrifices shared by so many of you over the last two years, and I sincerely appreciate all that each of you do to help UH West Oʻahu continue to provide a world-class education, conduct high-caliber scholarship, and offer impactful outreach and engagement locally and globally.

We have fully reopened our campus and while it is expected that there may be a hiccup here and there, please know that we are doing everything to ensure our campus community is safe, healthy, and everyone is following campus protocols and procedures. On behalf of campus leadership, we ask that you stay informed by checking the weekly bulletin and your UHWO email announcements. Please do your part to keep our community “PUEO VIBRANT!”

This month’s Ka Peʻahi Lono provides campus information – what is open and when as well as a message from our director of Information Technology, Therese Nakadomari. We celebrate some of our successes and we conclude with our COVID information updates. Please take a moment out of your day to read through this newsletter.

Wishing everyone a Happy Lunar New Year! I hope that this year, the Year of the Water Tiger, will be one of renewed passion, strength, wisdom, and courage! Hereʻs a little gift from the White House Office of Public Engagement (OPE):

Sticky Rice with Good Luck Orange Flambee recipe. See link to "little gift" in preceding paragraph for recipe details.

Mahalo nūnui for taking the time to review this week’s bulletin.
E mālama pono!
Maenette Benham, Chancellor

Section divider made up of two canoe paddles.

RETURNING AND REVITALIZING THE LIFE OF OUR CAMPUS

I overheard Dr. Manu Meyer, with great delight and excitement, exclaim, “There are more humans on campus!” Indeed, on Monday, Jan. 31, our parking lot was filled (the first time since March 2022)! Mahalo to everyone for checking into LumiSight and showing your “Green Go!” screen when asked! Please remember to wear your mask at all times, especially in the classrooms. Because you are vaccinated, wearing masks and practicing safe distance and good hygiene is important to keeping our campus community healthy!

Here are some reminders about campus services:

Update on bookstore hours: Bookstore will be open Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Special appointments on request.
Update on dining: The Dining Hall opened on Mon, Jan. 31, Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. for take-out only, indoor seating is closed this semester.
Update on the James & Abigail Campbell Library: The library will be open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 8 – 4 p.m., Wednesday: 8 – 7 pm, and Friday: 9 – 2 pm. A librarian will be available via Chat Monday – Friday 8 – 5 p.m. All visitors entering the library will need show their LumiSight “Green Go” screen and check in.

Revitalizing our campus, hosting more on-campus courses and events requires everyone, employees and vistors to provide proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test from a UH-recognized testing facility either through the UH LumiSight app or by showing their vaccination card or current valid negative COVID-19 test results. Please see our COVID-19 Updates and Resources page for more information regarding our in-person and online services.

A CELEBRATION OF GOOD WORKS: KŪLIA I KA NUʻU (REACH FOR THE SUMMIT!)

Sharing good news from Alan Rosenfeld, Gloria Niles, Terri Ota and Vicky del Prado! We have made phenomenal progress with our Student Participation Verification efforts this term, with a 98% success rate (compared to 80% last term). HULO to Registrar Vicky del Prado who manually processed 60 late submissions to make this possible. Mahalo nūnūi faculty for your vigilance and care for your students!

Other highlights from January:

HANA LAWELAWE: ON LEADERSHIP

Pūpūkahi i Holomua (Unite to Move Forward)!

Message from Therese Nakadomari, Director of UHWO Information Technology Department:

Welcome back! The UH West Oʻahu Information Technology (IT) department is ready to assist you with your technology needs. The past two years was a trying time for everyone. I am proud of how the UH West Oʻahu IT staff and students have stepped up to assist everyone with their technology needs. I wanted to share some changes with you.

Our IT Help Desk has completely transitioned to be more student-centered in both services to everyone at UH West Oʻahu and how the Help Desk operates. During the pandemic, we hired a team of excellent student assistants that were trained to answer a broad range of questions and to respond to your request for assistance from both online and in-person. We have two student managers that are learning how to manage a technology help desk operation and customer service. Our IT students are also gaining real world experience where they get to practice what they learn in class every time you call in.

We have established a computer loan program during the shutdown. The loan program is basically to assess the person’s needs and provide an appropriate computer (desktop or laptop) to UH West Oʻahu faculty, staff, or students if there is a computer available. UH West Oʻahu IT does not have unlimited resources but we will try to provide a solution to meet the need. We have partnered with the UH West Oʻahu Library to provide computers to students and they have done a tremendous job in managing this program for us. The UHWO IT Help Desk will manage the faculty and staff loans. For more information about this program, please contact the IT Help Desk or you may file an IT ticket at westoahu.hawaii.edu/it.

We have modified about 20 regular classrooms so that they can be used to deliver the hybrid instructional method. Each classroom has new technology that will allow an instructor to broadcast their class session without an IT person in the room. Please note that these technologies are so new that they are still being developed in the industry so please be understanding. We have automatic tracking cameras that will follow an instructor that likes to roam around in the front of the class. This camera will follow your voice and movement so that your students on Zoom can watch you. There are wireless microphones in every classroom that you can use if you roam around. There is a large screen TV so that you can see your students that are online while you are teaching. If you like to write on the whiteboards, you will need to try the VIBE boards. The VIBE boards are electronic whiteboards that you can start Zoom on, share screen to your students, and save your whiteboard as a pdf for your students. These technologies can be overwhelming. Please schedule an appointment with the IT Help Desk and they will be there to walk you through the different technologies. We also have written instructions in each room. Or if you would like to watch a video, please visit westoahu.hawaii.edu/it/services/faculty-staff/.

We have a number of software licenses that are free to UH West Oʻahu faculty and staff but it requires you to sign up before you can use it.

If you do not have a Zoom licensed account, please complete the request form (hawaii.edu/sitelicense/zoom). You will also need to read on this website about how to save your Zoom recordings to the cloud so that you can share the recording with your students or meeting attendees. Please note that all recordings are using shared storage and do have expiration dates. All information about the management of Zoom cloud recordings is on that website.

UH has purchased Adobe Acrobat DC licenses that you can use to modify pdf files. These licenses require you to submit a request to hawaii.edu/sitelicense/adobe for an account. Once you are approved, you should receive an email and instructions on what to do.

UH West Oʻahu faculty, staff, and students have the use of Microsoft 365 formerly known as Office 365. Microsoft 365 is free of charge and will need to be activated. Everyone has a UHWO Pueo ID. This ID will allow you to use the Microsoft 365 software. To activate your UHWO Pueo ID, please visit https://westoahu.hawaii.edu/it/pueoid/.

Lastly, all of the UH West Oʻahu IT staff has worked really hard to provide a variety of services to everyone. Over the last two years, our data network team installed the new high speed data network in the new Creative Media Building. This data network is capable of 100GB bandwidth so that our Creative Media students can work in studios that mimic a real TV/movie studio. They have also installed the Wi-Fi network for the Outdoor Learning Space and the secured data network for our new bookstore. Our web applications team has assisted many departments with the transition to online forms like Kuali Build and modifications to microsites to provide current information to the public. Our cybersecurity team has kept on top of the many vulnerabilities that have plagued the Internet such as log4j. Our Audio Visual (AV) team has kept up with the installation of the hybrid technologies and has continued to do the special event broadcast and recordings. I am proud to have these brilliant people working for the IT Department. I can promise that we will continue to improve technology at UH West Oʻahu and welcome new ideas. Please come and see us!

Important Announcements

REGARDING COVID-19:

Our Revised COVID Guidelines (Spring 2022) are now posted. We encourage you to get your booster shot, to check in daily on LumiSight UH, and to follow all campus safety precautions.

We received several questions regarding how we keep our campus safe. Please find below the three queries and responses. Please note referring to our UH West Oʻahu COVID Guidelines will provide more information on our protocols and procedures.

How are our classrooms are being ventilated?

See Page 13: C. Ventilation

• Ensure ventilation systems operate properly.
• Verify filters are installed correctly, and replace as needed.
• As indoor occupied spaces are air-cooled, refrain from propping doors open to maintain proper indoor air temperature and humidity to maintain human comfort, reduce potential for spread of airborne pathogens and potential for mold growth.

What is our process of determining close contacts, notification, and campus notification?

See Page 12:

As appropriate, students, employees, and the public will be made aware when confirmed COVID-19 cases are present on campus in the previous 10 days and considered to be a risk to campus safety. Any university closures or any restrictions in place to limit COVID-19 exposure (e.g., limited hours of operation) may be communicated in a manner that balances privacy with health and safety interests. The university has established communication protocols on how a confirmed, positive case of COVID-19 on a UH campus should be announced to the respective campus community.

What are our cleaning protocols?

Page 13: Cleaning and Disinfection

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces (e.g., door handles, elevator buttons, faucets, paper towel dispensers) on campus at least daily or between use as much as possible. Use of shared objects (e.g., lab equipment, computers) should be limited when possible, or cleaned between use.
• Develop a schedule for increased, routine cleaning and disinfection.
• Use products that meet EPA disinfection criteria. Ensure safe and correct use of and storage of cleaning and disinfection products.
• Staff should ensure that there is adequate ventilation when using these products to prevent others from inhaling toxic fumes.
• Industrial use products should be used only by staff with proper protective equipment and training.
• Use of shared furnishings (e.g., classroom tables and chairs, meeting room tables and chairs) should be cleaned between use by the arriving/incoming user.
• Out of courtesy to others, e.g., office mates, classmates, and visitors, please clean up your work spaces (campus public areas, equipment you have used) after yourself.
• Handwashing or sanitizing stations will be available at the entrances of school, near or inside of classrooms, and in all meeting areas (e.g., library, dining hall, offices).

Download and Use LumiSight UH

Students, employees, and visitors, it is essential that you download LumiSight UH to your smartphone. Register and upload all relevant COVID-19 information. Prior to coming to campus please check-in using your LumiSight App, remembering to respond to all health questions. BE PREPARED TO SHOW YOUR “GO GREEN” SCREEN at our campus verification stations. If for some reason you forgot to sign-in please do so before entering campus or see our friendly student assistants at any of the verification sites. They will assist you with signing in or getting a day pass. NOTE: you must have proof of COVID vaccination or negative COVID test to retrieve a day pass. Welina mai – Welcome to campus!

Travel protocol reminder

To mitigate the risk of introducing post-travel infections onto our campus, University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu leadership is strongly recommending that all students and employees, vaccinated and unvaccinated, who are returning from out-of-state travel, business or personal, upload to LumiSight UH proof of a negative COVID-19 test before returning to campus. For your safety, health and well-being please follow all State of Hawaiʻi Safe Travel guidelines and UH COVID-19 Guidelines, including being cleared by the LumiSight UH daily health check app to be on campus and wearing face masks indoors when on campus.

For employees and students who are reporting to work/to classes immediately after returning from out-of-state travel, it is strongly recommended that you obtain two negative COVID-19 test results: the first should be obtained within 24 hours of your return and before returning to campus, and the second should be obtained within three-to-five days of returning from travel.

Let’s be mindful, respectful, and responsible of and to our campus community as we celebrate family, holidays, commencement, and continued good news in the upcoming months.

If you have any questions, please email covid19@hawaii.edu.

University of Hawaiʻi Telework Policy

More information of the University of Hawaiʻi Telework Policy is forthcoming. See: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2021/12/13/telework-policy-guidelines-2022/