Meeting Minutes
Mar 6, 2026

as approved April 17, 2026

Zoom 11:32am

Aldayne Adlam, Nicole Akana, Rebecca Arechiga, Katherine Aumer, Linda Axtell-Thompson, Bonnie Bittman, James Burrell, Ellen-Rae Cachola, Rebecca Carino-Agustin, Matt Cavert, Nicholas Chagnon, Kealani Cook, Dion Dizon, Samantha Giridhar, Ariel Gruenthal-Rankin, Michael Hayes, Osman Keshawarz, Carrie Larger, Soledad Lencinas, Brenda Machosky, Joy Mahiko, Christy Mello, Monique Mironesco, David Odhiambo, Stan Orr, Fiorella Peñaloza, Keʻalohi Perry, Li-Hsiang Rosenlee, Megan Ross, Thomas Scheiding, Robyn Tasaka, Eli Tsukayama, Rouel Velasco, Stefanie Wilson, Patricia Yu, and Konstantinos Zougris.

Guests:

Harald Barkhoff, Lelia Chang, Kalikolani Correa, Summer DeBruyne, Stephanie Kamai, Hoku Kwan, Leslie Opulauoho, Terri Ota, Carlos Peñaloza, David L. San Jose, Daniel Smith, and Dee Uwono

I. Opening Protocol

  1. Call to Order: 11:32 AM 
  2. Land Acknowledgement: Chair Orr
  3. Mele Honouliuli: Senator Keʻalohi Perry

II. Administrative Reports

  1. Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Administration (Vice-Chancellor David McDonald)
    1. No report.
  2. Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs (Director of Student Development Dee Uwono)
    1. Events: The Pueo Pilina event was a huge success, with appreciation given to supporting faculty and staff. The We Go West event for incoming students is scheduled for April 2, 2026, and the Career & Internship Fair is scheduled for March 12, 2026.
    2. Surveys: The first round of the E Ala Pono survey achieved 50.4% faculty participation, and the second round closes on March 11, 2026. There is short survey on faculty perspectives regarding AI integration.
    3. Links displayed in the chat:
      1.  https://westoahu.hawaii.edu/eforms/early-alert/progress-survey/
      2. Career & Internship Fair x Careers in IT & Cyber Fair, 3/12/26
        1. Event Link bit.ly/cif-s26
        2. Employers Link bit.ly/cif-s26-employers
      3. Hawaiʻi Tech Days: https://sites.google.com/hawaii.edu/hawaii-tech-days/home
      4. Careers in IT & Cyber Fair: https://sites.google.com/hawaii.edu/hawaii-tech-days/career-fairs/uh-west-oahu-careers-in-it-and-cyber-fair
  3. Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs (Vice-Chancellor Harald Barkhoff)
    1. Staffing & AI: Summer was hired as the new Operations Coordinator. Esther is leading a campus-wide AI initiative, and a webinar titled “AI in Action UH Use Cases” is scheduled for March 25.
    2. UHWO Global Online Initiative: Phase 1 pilot programs are starting based on a gap analysis to determine which programs can be offered entirely online.
  4. Office of the Chancellor (Chancellor Carlos Peñaloza)
    1. Operations & Marketing: Banner improvements are ongoing, and UHWO is included in a UH System-funded TV spot to highlight campus programs. An exploration website for the Leeward-UHWO collaboration is also in progress.
    2. Legislature: The Chancellor is monitoring a bill proposing a travel moratorium, a bill proposing baccalaureate degrees at Leeward CC, and a concerning proposal that would sweep year-end tuition and fee balances to the state general fund.
    3. Budgeting: Proposals for UBAC “Invest in West O‘ahu” are capped at $100k, with the clarification that UHWO is responsible for 100% of salary and fringe for temporary positions.

III. Action Items: Approval of Faculty Senate Minutes:

  1.  Minutes of Feb. 6 Meeting
    1. Approved unanimously

 

IV. Committee Reports

  1. Academic Affairs and Planning (Sen. Tom Scheiding)
    1. The committee approved minutes and proposed an annual spring resolution to honor retiring instructional faculty, specialists, and librarians.
    2. The Senate reinforced using the “adopted if no objection” procedure for noncontroversial motions in virtual meetings.
  2. Budget and Resources (Sen. Lisa Rosenlee)
    1. The Budget & Resources Committee processed five App One and five App Two approvals, allocating all available funds for the second year.
  3. Curriculum Committee (Sen. Robyn Tasaka, Vice Chair)
    1. Curriculum Committee action items were presented and adopted without objection
  4. Distance Education (Katherine Aumer, Chair)
    1. Distance Education Committee action items were presented and adopted without objection
  5. General Education (Sen. Megan Ross) updated 3_5
    1. Gen Ed approvals were adopted without objection.
    2. The committee discussed rapid system-wide Executive Policy changes that lacked faculty inclusion and will draft a campus memo to articulate concerns.
  6. Program Review (Sen. Joy Mahiko)
    1. The BAS program action plan was submitted to OPCAA, with Senate review expected by April or May
  7. Sustainability (Sen. Rouel Velasco)
    1. Upcoming sustainability events include Māla student organic garden workdays and an Earth Day Share Fair on April 26
      1. Links provided in the chat:
        1. Māla Student Organic Garden Events –  Fridays harvest 10-12pm (excl holidays/breaks), Workday tomorrow March 7, 8-11am, email tasiay@hawaii.edu
        2. Uluniu workdays last saturday of every month, starting at 8am, email indrajit@hawaii.edu
        3. Basic Needs Website (food distribution, food drops and the new – kokua care services application) serves like an emergency fund; share with students
        4. Campus Cardboard Campaign – Save cardboard boxes; bring to māla
        5. Earth Day – April 22 (save the date) – donate clothing and home goods for share fair.
  8. Student Affairs (Sen. Ke’alohi Perry)
    1. The committee paused its broader course offerings initiative but is initiating a new assessment on how course offerings impact VA students’ BAH eligibility

V. New Business:

  1. DE Committee Resolution
    1. A resolution was approved by the UHWO Faculty Senate (22 in favor, 2 opposed) to transition from course-based DE approvals to an instructor-based certification model.
    2. This change eliminates repetitive course approvals, recognizes instructional expertise, and maintains divisional scheduling authority.
    3. The earliest impacts will occur in Spring 2027 for new DE instructors and courses.
    4. Faculty who taught DE at UHWO within the past three academic years will automatically satisfy initial certification.
    5. Newly hired faculty and lecturers will be given a one-semester grace period before certification is officially required
    6. Certification curriculum will be presented to Senate for approval before adopted

VI. Faculty Senate Chair Reports

  1. ASUHWO Update (Pres. Rigoberto Gomez)
    1. No report.
  2. Faculty Senate Chair Report (FS Chair Stan Orr)
    1. Leeward-UHWO Advisory Council: The Senate approved Chair Orr, Stephanie Wilson, and Leslie Opulauoho as nominees for the exploratory Advisory Council.
    2. Elections: Elections for the Senate Chair are scheduled for next month’s penultimate meeting

VII. Faculty Discussion in Executive Session

  1. UHWO/LCC Integration Initiative
    1. No meeting was held

Adjourn: 1:38pm

Katherine Aumer, Senate Vice Chair