University of Hawaii West Oahu Seal

Bulletin No. 44

Date/Time sent: 04/05/2021 6:35 pm

Statement of Gratitude: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.”
― Melody Beattie

Campus Updates

Gradual Reopening of UH West Oʻahu Campus

As the UH System and our own campus begins to develop a plan for our gradual reopening in the fall of 2021, we are well aware that the cost to reopen in these times, will be more not less, but colleges (UH West Oʻahu) must open as we are a vital part of our region’s (and state’s) economic engine. So, we begin the process with CARE: In a nutshell, we have begun our plan to reopen gradually this spring semester with more F-2-F (face-to-face) courses, blended/hybrid courses, and labs. Additionally, more of us have increased the number of days we are working from campus (less remote work days) and there have been in-person meetings of up to 8-10 people. We will continue to add more on-campus activities through the summer. Of great importance is that we continue to maintain physical distancing; deploy the public health tools needed to keep our campus safe preventing the virus’s spread; and continue to invest in educating and empowering our faculty, staff, students and guests. To learn more about our guidelines please go to our website. Beginning with care is essential and can only be effective if all our UH West Oʻahu community members extend that care by appreciating and supporting one another. One of the silver linings of this moment is that we can reach out through a phone call, an email, a zoom gathering to show our colleagues that they are appreciated and they are not alone. I encourage us all to reach out this week to actively combat fear and isolation, and instead, generate kaiāulu.

To begin this celebration, please join your colleagues and friends at our drive-thru graduation ceremonies on campus, which will allow for some elbow bumping, graduation photo, physically distanced waves and selfies with faculty and staff, name announcing, and picking up a special gift from the Chancellor! We will balance both health/safety and the joy/tradition of this milestone.

Spring 2021 Drive Thru Celebration
Saturday, May 8, 2021
2 to 5 p.m.

To support and to celebrate our graduates fill out this form today:
https://forms.gle/UE9gXppT8gAenYV38

The link includes the date, time, and general plan
Respond by: Friday, April 9, 2021 @ 5 p.m.

Campus Work Groups

Please see the April Ka Peʻahi Lono for recent updates.

Federal Stimulus Funds

The first meeting of our Federal Funding Advisory Council was held on Thursday, April 1. The members of this advisory hui represent campus communities not represented by the Vice Chancellors, they include:

  • Nalimakui Council – Kaʻiulani Akamine
  • Kapwa Council – Rouel Velasco
  • Faculty Senate – Katherine Aumer
  • Budget/Business Model Work Group – Leslie Rush
  • APT/Admin & Fiscal – Donna Shaver
  • ASUHWO – Brittny Perez and Alan Iwasaki (alternate)
  • Facilitating: Sheri Ching and Chancellor Benham
  • Notetaker: Chris Neves

The first meeting provided orientation regarding federal funding (a ppt is being developed and will be shared with the campus community when complete). This increased collective understanding of the opportunities as well as the restrictions of federal funding. The conversation also included the role of counsel and the important perspective that each member brings. For your information, here is overarching information about the three federal funding streams:

Federal Stimulus Funding to UH West Oʻahu, which includes:

I.  Coronavirus Aid, Relief, & Economic Security (CARES Act March 27, 2020)

  • Tranche I: Student Aid
  • Tranche II: Institutional
  • Tranche III: MSI
  • You may hear us call this HEERF I — Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund
  • This was a total of $14.3B

II.  Coronavirus Response & Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA December 27, 2020)

  • Supplemental to Tranche I: Student Aid — just received
  • Supplemental to Tranche II: Institutional — just received
  • Supplemental to Tranche III: MSI — just received
  • You may hear us call this HEERF II — Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund
  • This was a total of $22.7B

III. The American Rescue Plan (ARPA)

  • This was proposed on Jan. 14, 2021, enacted March 22, 2021 (1.9 Trillion).
  • For ED: $18M Student Aid, $18M Institutional, $3.7 MISC
  • You may hear us call this HEERF III — Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund
  • This will be a total of $39.6B

More information anticipated within the next several weeks