Ka Pe‘ahi Lono: Monthly Message for October
Date/Time sent: 09/01/2022 9:00 amHoʻokāhi ka ilau like ana (Wield the paddles together)
Aloha mai kākou e UH West Oʻahu ʻOhana!
Some may have noticed that the weekly “Chancellor’s Message” has not appeared the last several weeks. In March of 2020, we created this platform to keep our campus community informed of our actions and decisions as we addressed COVID-19. While we continue to experience it’s impact, we are much more prepared. In a recent memo to all campuses, President Lassner stated:
The Hawaiʻi Department of Health has asked UH and other state agencies to remind everyone that COVID-19 vaccines are still one of the best tools available to protect against the COVID-19 virus. The virus remains a serious health concern, especially for those in high-risk categories. Information on the new COVID-19 bivalent booster, vaccination options for children and vaccination sites near you.
The new booster is specifically designed to protect against original COVID-19 and Omicron sub-variants. It is available for everyone ages 12 and older who completed their primary vaccine series or received their first or second booster at least two months ago.
We will continue to update you on COVID-19 protocols as they are needed in our weekly bulletin and/or in UH email messages. Keep in mind, kūkūlu kaiāulu! Please strengthen our community with your passions, respect for one another, and patience! Please respect an individual’s personal choice to wear a face mask. Mahalo to everyone, for your patience and empathy, your good work and commitment over the past two years!
Mahalo nūnui for taking the time to review this month’s Ka Peʻahi Lono!
E mālama pono!
Maenette Benham, Chancellor
Healthy Minds Survey to Begin Soon!
We would like to spotlight, and encourage you to participate in the upcoming campus-wide survey administered by the Healthy Minds Study. Please visit their website to learn more about this important program. In essence, the purpose of this survey is to assist campus leadership to better understand the mental health and well-being of both our students and our faculty/staff. Your participation will help us to learn more about what services are currently being used and what services are needed. Helping us to strengthen our ability to support our community of learners is “top of mind” for campus leadership.
All students and faculty/staff at UH West Oʻahu will receive invitations to take the survey beginning October 17. The survey is confidential. Watch your email and weekly bulletins for more information.
A Celebration of Good Works: Kūlia I Ka Nuʻu (Reach for the Summit!)
Highlights
Here is the UH News story/news release on a survey by Strada that found the overwhelming majority of alumni from our universities say their degrees were worth the investment and that UH helped them achieve their goals.
- UH West Oʻahu student appointed to Honolulu Youth Commission
- UH West O‘ahu receives $533K grant award from Department of Homeland Security
- UH West Oʻahu student receives $5K cybersecurity scholarship
Important Announcements
2022 Annual Security Report
The University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu’s 2022 Annual Security Report (ASR) is now available online. The ASR provides information regarding campus security and personal safety, including topics related to the safety and security of our campus community, such as crime prevention, crime reporting policies, disciplinary procedures, and other matters of importance. The UH West Oʻahu 2022 ASR can be viewed at westoahu.hawaii.edu/asr.
A federal law called the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, 20 USC 1092(f), also known as the “Clery Act,” requires institutions that receive federal funding to assemble and disseminate information regarding safety and emergency processes and crime statistics, 34 CFR668.46(b). On a university or college campus, this information is contained in a report referred to as the “Annual Security Report” (ASR). The ASR includes statistics for the previous three years (2019, 2020, 2021) concerning reported crimes that occurred on or near campus, as well as institutional policies about campus security.
Hard copies are also available by visiting the Campus Security Office in its temporary location in the Administration and Health Sciences Building, A117 (normally the Maintenance/Mechanical building, F201).
Ethics Training
Aloha UH faculty, staff and administrators,
A newly enacted state law (Act 165 (2022)) requires that all state employees and board and commission members participate in mandatory ethics training, as offered by the Hawaiʻi State Ethics Commission. This training mandate reflects renewed scrutiny on the conduct of State employees following several corruption scandals within local and State government.
Our University employees have always been expected to adhere to the highest ethical standards of responsible conduct and intellectual honesty. The University’s expectations of ethical conduct are based on both federal regulations and State laws and are enshrined throughout our University’s Regents Policies, Executive Policies, Administrative Procedures (AP) and student codes of conduct. In addition, some University employees may be subject to other professional codes of conduct related to their particular discipline or areas of responsibilities.
As State employees, each of us has always been required to follow the State Ethics Code (HRS Chapter 84). The new training requirement is intended to increase awareness not just of the Ethics Code itself, but how the Code is interpreted by the State Ethics Commission. The latter may not always be intuitive, so training is highly recommended.
Training sessions are available via Zoom on:
- October 20
- November 3
- December 16
- January 24, 2023
Each training session, in person or on Zoom, is scheduled for an hour and 30 minutes and is considered part of work hours. Please register for a session at the Hawaiʻi State Ethics Commission website.
State employees who are not required to file public financial disclosure statements, which includes most UH employees, may opt to complete the online self-directed training. This will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
Under the new law, refresher training is required once every four years after the initial training. The Ethics Commission also publishes a flier with answers to common questions, including whether a recent training session counts toward the requirement. If you have specific questions about compliance with the State Ethics Code, the Ethics Commission can be reached at ethics@hawaiiethics.org or (808) 587-0460.
We encourage you to take this opportunity to learn anew about what our State Ethics Code requires of all of us. Participation in this training is now required by law.
Mahalo for your time and attention,
David Lassner