THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1412

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII Promise PROGRAM.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the University of Hawaii's Hawaii graduation initiative is a system-wide strategic initiative endorsed by the board of regents to increase the educational capital of the State.  The Hawaii graduation initiative focuses on increasing the number of students who enroll and earn degrees, particularly native Hawaiians, low‑income students, and those from underserved regions and populations, to prepare them for success in the workforce and their communities.

     The legislature further finds that an educated labor force and engaged citizenry are essential in today's global, knowledge-based economy.  Across the nation, states have set ambitious goals to boost college completion rates.  Hawaii's own 55 by '25 Campaign goal focuses on increasing the percentage of working age adults with two- or four-year degrees to 55 per cent by 2025.  According to the most recent data available, 46 per cent of Hawaii's working age adults have a postsecondary degree.

As the State's sole public higher education system, the University of Hawaii is committed to doing its part to close the State's projected educational attainment gap.

     In April 2016, the Institute for Research on Higher Education at the University of Pennsylvania graduate school of education issued a study that analyzed college costs in relation to family income level.  The study revealed how higher education has gone from expensive to unaffordable for most low- and middle-income families.  According to the United States Department of Education, Hawaii is ninth lowest in the nation for tuition and fees for two-year public institutions in 2020-2021, and eighteenth lowest overall for public institutions.  Yet, as one additional measure of affordability demonstrates, in 2020 when the University of Hawaii administered a survey to better understand college student basic needs, including food security, 39 per cent of respondents reported experiencing food insecurity within the last 30 days.

     In 2017, the University of Hawaii implemented the Hawaii promise program, which provides need-based awards intended to be applied toward the unmet need of qualified students enrolled at any community college campus of the University of Hawaii.  Awards are contingent upon funding and amounts are determined by the individual students' Free Application for Federal Student Aid information.

     Even though financial aid through federal Pell Grants, University of Hawaii and private scholarships, the GI Bill for service members and veterans, and employers covers much of the cost for need-based students, cost is still a barrier for certain need-based students, especially for those who do not qualify for the Hawaii promise program because they are enrolled at one of the University of Hawaii's four-year campuses.

     The purpose of this Act is to expand the Hawaii promise program to provide scholarships for the unmet needs of qualified undergraduate students enrolled at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, University of Hawaii at Hilo, and University of Hawaii-West Oahu, and to provide an appropriation to establish and implement the program.

     SECTION 2.  Section 304A-506, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§304A-506[]]  Hawaii [community college] promise program; established.  (a)  Notwithstanding section 304A-501, there is established the Hawaii [community college] promise program to be administered by the board of regents.  The program shall provide scholarships for the unmet direct cost needs of qualified students enrolled at any [community college] campus of the University of Hawaii.

     (b)  A student enrolled at a community college campus shall be eligible for scholarship consideration for a maximum of eight semesters if the student:

     (1)  Qualifies for Hawaii resident tuition;

     (2)  Completes and submits the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for each academic year and accepts all federal and state aid, grants, scholarships, and other funding sources that do not require repayment;

     (3)  Is enrolled in a classified degree or certificate program with six or more credits per semester;

     (4)  Maintains satisfactory academic progress, as defined by federal requirements established pursuant to Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and determined by the campus at which the student is enrolled; and

     (5)  Has been determined by the campus to have unmet direct cost needs.

     (c)  A student enrolled in an undergraduate program at a University of Hawaii campus, other than a community college campus, shall be eligible for scholarship consideration for a maximum of eight semesters if the student:

     (1)  Qualifies for Hawaii resident tuition;

     (2)  Completes and submits the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for each academic year and accepts all federal and state aid, grants, scholarships, and other funding sources that do not require repayment;

     (3)  Is enrolled in a classified degree or certificate program with twelve or more credits per semester;

     (4)  Maintains satisfactory academic progress, as defined by federal requirements established pursuant to Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and determined by the campus where the student is enrolled; and

     (5)  Has been determined by the campus to have unmet direct cost needs.

     [(c)] (d)  Scholarships shall be awarded to the extent possible based on available funds and on a greatest need basis.  An award granted to a student shall be no higher than the student's unmet direct cost need, based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid calculation of need, less the amounts available to the student from Pell grants [and other scholarships].

     [(d)] (e)  To maintain a scholarship under this section, a student enrolled at a community college shall meet the requirements of subsection (b)(4)[.] and a student enrolled in an undergraduate program at a University of Hawaii campus, other than a community college campus, shall meet the requirements of subsection (c)(4).

     [(e)] (f)  As used in this section, "direct cost" means any cost directly related to a student's education, including tuition; educational fees; and the costs of books, supplies, and transportation between the student's dwelling and the student's campus."

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $____________ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to carry out the purposes of this Act, including the provision of scholarships.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act, upon its approval, shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________BY REQUEST

 

 

 

 

Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Scholarships

 

Description:

Provides scholarships for the unmet needs of qualified students at any four-year University of Hawaii campus who meet certain criteria.

 

 

 

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