Welcome to a new series that highlights the services the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu offers to help our students succeed. Student Support Spotlight will profile the wide-ranging services that are important for our students and campus. The series launches today with a feature on Advising.
Upcoming Student Support Spotlight features include profiles on Admissions, Behavior Intervention Team, Bookstore, Campus Security, Career Services, Mental Health Services, Disability Services, Distance Learning, and Financial Aid.
“Our UH West Oʻahu support services are critical to the quality of our students’ learning and college experience,” said Lokelani Kenolio, Director of Enrollment Services. “Our comprehensive and collaborative services provide students with the social, academic, and emotional support and skill development needed to be successful in college and after they graduate.”
Kenolio noted that at recent orientation sessions, students shared how they appreciated the warm welcome, guidance, and encouragement from the student services team.
The professionals in Student Affairs stand ready to support and challenge our students to aspire, excel, and thrive by providing the required learning experiences throughout their time with us, said Jan Javinar, Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.
“Students and our communities on the west side and central Oʻahu deserve the kind of quality opportunities other students in other communities receive,” Javinar said. “Our job is to ensure that as these students and their families access post-secondary education at UH West Oʻahu, that they are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to succeed both intellectually (in the classroom) and interpersonally (outside of the classroom, on campus).”
Central to what we do as an institution of higher education is to maximize student success so that each graduate of UH West Oʻahu can significantly contribute to their communities, said Chancellor Maenette Benham.
“Our value principles and value proposition, our mission and vision, and our theory of distinctiveness drives our academic programs, scholarship, and community outreach to be learner-centered,” Benham said. “The key to our success are our Student Affairs professionals and their critical programs.”
There will also be Student Support Spotlight stories on IT Help Desk, James & Abigail Campbell Library, Nāulu Center, Noʻeau Center, Registrar, Student Life, V.E.T.S. Lab and Lounge, and Student Engagement and Compliance.
Name of service: Advising
Where we are: Campus Center, C-236
Who we are:
- Katrina Abes, Director of Advising Services
- Larry Andres, College Success Advisor, Public Administration (L-Z) & Health Sciences
- Rebecca Carino-Agustin, College Success Advisor, Applied Science & Education Division, Cybersecurity
- Joseph Mareko, College Success Advisor, Creative Media & Public Administration (A-K)
- Keʻalohi Perry, College Success Advisor, Humanities & Social Sciences
- Kekoa Simpson, College Success Advisor, Business Administration
What services we provide: We offer registration assistance, assistance with forms (VA, Financial Aid, appeals), career assistance and planning, educational and life planning, and referrals.
What we’re excited about: We will be hosting our pre-registration workshops virtually and our first year experience for our first year and transfer students virtually. We will be piloting a new way to schedule appointments through STAR Balance. We are finding new ways and approaches to best support the student’s goals and dreams.
What’s special about you: Our students have great life experiences. Their life experiences and their gifts are wonderful contributions to UH West Oʻahu. They add value and cultural wealth to our university.
Contact: 689-2689, uhwoadv@hawaii.edu, bit.ly/UHWOAdvising (virtual office)
