Meeting Minutes
November 7, 2025

I. Opening Protocol

1. Quorum: Quorum was established.
2. Mele Honouliuli: Sen. Carrie Larger
3. Land Acknowledgment: Sen. Chair Stan Orr

II. Action Items:

1. Approval of Faculty Senate Minutes: Sen. Chair Stan Orr noted that the meeting minutes were approved as posted, hearing no objections or questions.

III. Administrative Reports

1. Office of the Chancellor (Chancellor Maenette Benham)
   1. The Chancellor announced the FY2026 Budget/Enrollment/Land Report presentation to the campus on Wednesday, November 26, from 2:00 – 3:30 pm, held in the ACM Theatre (Zoom/recording available afterward on the website).
2. Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Administration (Vice-Chancellor David McDonald):
   1. Reported that the campus budget is on track, with spending within expected ranges.
   2. The outlook for the FY2026 state legislative process is conservative, citing potential concerns over a federal shutdown and a mini-recession. This is leading to a very small list of potential projects.
   3. Provided an update on the residence hall Public-Private Partnership (P3), noting that interest rates are starting to decrease. A formal conversation with the Board of Regents for approval is hoped for during the spring.
3. Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs (Vice-Chancellor Dee Uwono):
   1. 1. Announced the start date of November 1st for the new Director for Early College (a temporary, one-year position). The program name will be changed to “pathways”.
      2. Shared updates on automatic admissions for Early College students who meet the criteria of a 2.7 GPA overall, or a 2.9 GPA for West Oʻahu, allowing automatic admission into one of the majors.
      3. Reported that approximately 52 students are currently facing financial stressors, with homelessness and food insecurity identified as the top two concerns.
      4. Updates on basic needs resources include food drops every other Wednesday and Sunday, and a dedicated food drop on November 19th and December 3rd (open to the campus community). The annual Turkey Trot event is scheduled for November 24th, with participants asked to bring canned goods to win prizes.
      5. Noted an increase in online tutoring submissions, with 105 papers submitted in October, up from 61 in September.
      6. Reported that 27 students had rated their health as poor due to mental health concerns.
4. Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs (Vice-Chancellor Harald Barkhoff)
   1. Encouraged all students to register as early as possible due to an upcoming complete shutoff of the registration system for a few days. Clarified the final grade submission timeline due to the Banner system transition (eBanner/Banner Self-Service 9). Final grades are due on December 18th – 19th. The new grade entry window for UH West Oʻahu faculty is 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. HST, noting that 4 p.m. on December 19th is a hard stop with no leeway. Grades submitted prior to December 12th may still be submitted via MyUH (clarified by Terri Ota in Zoom chat).

IV. Committee Reports

1. Academic Affairs and Planning (Sen. Katie Landgraf): No report.
2. Budget and Resources (Sen. Brenda Machosky): No report.
   1. UBAC Report (Stephanie Kamai): No report.
3. Curriculum Committee (Sen. Masahide Kato (Chair):
   1. The committee report covering courses and searches was reviewed. A deadline reminder for November 14th was noted.
   2. The committee moved that the votes and recommendations report be adopted, and the recommendations were adopted without objection
4. Distance Education (Katherine Aumer):
   1. The committee approved various items and noted that one program review had been submitted that they have not yet addressed.
   2. The committee moved the approvals and recommendations contained in its report be adopted, and the recommendations were adopted without objection.
5. General Education (Sen. Megan Ross):
   1. The committee approved a number of writing-intensive and diversification courses.
   2. The committee moved the approvals and recommendations be adopted, and the recommendations were adopted without objection.
   3. System-wide Update: The charge is to recommend a single, system-wide, fully articulated Gen Ed curriculum that transfers seamlessly to facilitate junior standing (60 credits). The proposed curriculum would increase credits from 31 to 34.
   4. Timeline: The committee aims for the first draft to be endorsed by December 19th, followed by consultation with the Faculty Senate between January and March. Board consideration is planned for May 21st, with implementation in fall 2020 (date cited as in source).
6. Program Review (Sen. Joy Mahiko): No report.
7. Sustainability (Sen. Rouel Velasco):
   1. The committee encouraged submissions for the Sustainability Focus Designation (SF-Designation) courses, with a deadline anticipated in February for fall 2026.
   2. Announced the Student Pitch and Present Competition (with narrative and video submissions due that evening) and is seeking two representatives for the UH Systemwide Sustainability Curriculum Coordination Council.
   3. Shared upcoming events for the Mala Student Organic Garden: Friday harvests (10-12pm), a Lau Niu Wreath event on November 22nd, and Uluniu workdays (last workday 11/29).
   4. Reminded the community of the need for volunteers for food drop sorting and organizing on November 19th and December 3rd (truck arrival 8:15 am–9:30 am).
8. Student Affairs (Sen. Ke’alohi Perry): No report.
9. Announcements: 
   1. Award Ceremony: Divisions were reminded of the November 10th deadline to submit nominations for outstanding students for the ceremony slated for December 5th.
   2. Farrington Road Expansion: The entrance off Kualakai Parkway is expected to open in March or April when the expansion moves westward from the HECO substation, at which point it will become the primary entrance to UHWO.
   3. Faculty Opportunities: Faculty were encouraged to participate in the Rate My Administrator survey by November 30th and to attend the AI Town Hall scheduled per the email sent October 24th.

V. Faculty Senate Chair Reports

1. ASUHWO Update (Pres. Rigoberto Gomez): Excused, no report.
2. Faculty Senate Chair Report (FS Chair Stan Orr)
   1. Resolutions: The Chair is working with administration to finalize approval or disapproval of resolutions submitted previously, with more news expected at the next meeting.
   2. Interim Chancellor and DMI Exploration: The report focused on the interim chancellor situation and the potential Dual Mission Institution (DMI) initiative.

VI. Faculty Discussion in Executive Session

Executive session was held.