In a ceremony at the Hawaii State Capitol, Hawaii’s Gov. Neil Abercrombie proclaimed April 23 as The University of Hawaii Community Colleges Day in recognition of the UH Community Colleges System’s 50th Anniversary. On this exact day in 1964, Gov.
In a ceremony at the Hawaii State Capitol, Hawaii’s Gov. Neil Abercrombie proclaimed April 23 as The University of Hawaii Community Colleges Day in recognition of the UH Community Colleges System’s 50th Anniversary.
On this exact day in 1964, Gov. John A. Burns signed into law a major legislative act that would forever change the educational landscape of the entire state of Hawaii. It provided the opportunity for all citizens to have access to a college education.
Today, the community colleges’ open-door policy and affordable tuition attract all types of students to seek higher education, from the traditional high school graduate to the nontraditional working adult. More than 60 percent of community college students go to school part-time while working part- or full-time jobs.
“I’m proud of our students. They work hard to overcome many obstacles in their lives just to be in the classroom,” says John Morton, vice president for community colleges. “We have a responsibility to our students to keep the doors of opportunity open, to provide the best and most responsive services and programs, to help them successfully complete their degrees and go forward to fulfill their ambitions.”
When UHCC was established 50 years ago, its mission was defined by three broad categories: preparation for transfer, preparation for a career, and community services.
While the overall mission remains the same, the colleges have transformed into dynamic, innovative institutions, offering students multiple pathways to bachelor’s degrees and careers, as well as opportunities to access cutting-edge technologies.
The forces of change through time have also transformed program offerings at the community colleges.
Today, the community colleges offer more than 70 fields of study, from the traditional career and technical programs to new high-tech high-demand programs in digital media, veterinary technology, computer technology, science, math and Hawaiian studies.
“Our degrees remain as viable today as ever, and have become even more valuable in terms of its relevancy to today’s industries and the skills required to compete globally” said Morton.
Indeed, times have changed since the signing of the Hawaii Community College Act in 1964. Today, the University of Hawai’i Community College System is seven campuses strong, serving more than 33,000 students annually.
