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UH Hilo Chancellor's Blog Posts

UH Hilo Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology receives national accreditation

Published March 31, 2011 by admin

HILO — The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Master of Arts Program in Counseling Psychology has received a full 10-year accreditation from the Masters in Psychology Accreditation Council (MPAC), extending to March 1, 2021. MPAC accredits academic programs in psychology, which promote training in the scientific practice of professional psychology at the master’s level. Accredited programs must demonstrate a commitment to science-based training in all aspects of psychology and to enhancing services to the consumer and the public-at-large.

“This is a proud moment for the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo,” said Chancellor Donald Straney. “MPAC accreditation represents an important validation of the quality of education our students receive as they prepare to join the ranks of professional counselors.”

The Master of Arts Program in Counseling Psychology is administered by the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. The program was established in 2005 with the full approval and support of the University of Hawaiʻi System and the Hawaiʻi State Legislature. The 60 semester-hour program is based on a scientist-practitioner model, with an emphasis on empirical research and evidence-based practices. The program is designed to provide multicultural, student-centered training in counseling psychology and meets the curricular requirements for licensure as a mental health counselor in the state of Hawaiʻi.

“My colleagues and I are very pleased to have attained national accreditation for our counseling psychology program,” said Dr. Bryan Kim, director of the counseling psychology masters program. “We all know that national accreditation represents external recognition of a program’s high-level quality and sustainability. My colleagues and I have worked hard at building our program and we are grateful to have this recognition from the Masters in Psychology Accreditation Council.”

“I personally want to thank my faculty colleagues, administrators, students, graduates, community supervisors, and everyone else who have supported our program since its formation in 2005 and have helped to make this accreditation possible,” he added.

For more information about the program, contact Kim at bryankim@hawaii.edu or (808) 974-7439.

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Legislative Testimony by the Chancellor on HCR 291/HR 256 to search for a site in lower Puna to house Learning Center

Published March 29, 2011 by admin

Testimony Presented Before the
House Committee on Higher Education
March 24, 2011 at 2:00pm
by
Donald O. Straney
Chancellor, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo

HCR 291/HR 256 – REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I AT HILO TO SEARCH FOR A SITE IN LOWER PUNA TO HOUSE A LEARNING CENTER

Chair Nishimoto, Vice Chair Nakashima and Members of the Committee:

From their main location in Hilo, Hawai‘i Community College and the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo have served the higher education needs of the island of Hawai‘i for almost 70 years. We have established learning centers in Honoka‘a (serving Hamakua and Kohala) and in Kealakekua (serving Kona and South Kohala). These centers offer individual courses, 2- and 4-year degree programs, and student support services to students in these communities. The new campus being constructed at Palamanui will expand our capacity to offer higher education in West Hawai‘i.

We welcome the suggestion to plan a similar learning center in Puna. This area is undeserved by higher education and we would look for community partners to help us establish a center that is responsive to local needs.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

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Legislative Testimony by the Chancellor on HCR 279/HR 246 to study feasibility of incorporating Native Hawaiian plant species in CIP

Published March 29, 2011 by admin

Testimony Presented Before the
House Committee on Higher Education
March 24, 2011 at 2:00pm
by
Donald O. Straney
Chancellor, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo

HCR 279/HR 246 – REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO TO SEEK GRANT MONEYS AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR STUDYING THE FEASIBILITY OF INCORPORATING NATIVE HAWAIIAN PLANT SPECIES IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

Chair Nishimoto, Vice Chair Nakashima and Members of the Committee:

The University of Hawai‘i at Hilo is fortunate to have a campus whose landscaping has been planned and well-tended. With a degree program in Agriculture, we maintain a broad range of plantings on campus to support student learning in this field. Likewise, our programs in Hawaiian Culture have established plantings representing the plants brought to the islands and used by the original Hawaiian settlers. ‘Imiloa, our learning center, is dedicated to exploring the interface between science and culture, also has an extensive garden of labeled plants used traditionally in Hawaiian culture.

We are, therefore pleased to see a resolution that would have us increase the native natural plants on our campus. This is consistent with our current campus initiatives. It will enhance the utility of our campus to students and community alike, while also maintaining the beauty of the campus setting.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

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Legislative Testimony by the Chancellor on HCR 197/HR 170 supporting workforce pipeline program of Thirty Meter Telescope

Published March 29, 2011 by admin

Testimony Presented Before the
House Committee on Higher Education
March 24, 2011 at 2:00pm
by
Donald O. Straney
Chancellor, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo

HCR 197/HR 170 – SUPPORTING THE WORKFORCE PIPELINE PROGRAM OF THE THIRTY METER TELESCOPE PROJECT.

Chair Nishimoto, Vice Chair Nakashima and Members of the Committee:

The University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and Hawai‘i Community College are major developers of the trained workforce needed in Hawai‘i County. We place a priority on meeting workforce needs of our community and state. We welcome, therefore, efforts such as those described in this resolution, to stimulate and sustain a broad range of activities to prepare our citizens for rewarding careers in the County.

We are pleased to support the resolution and thank you for the opportunity to testify.

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Legislative Testimony by the Chancellor on HRC 180 urging reauthorization of the Native Hawaiian Education Act

Published March 29, 2011 by admin

Testimony Presented Before the
House Committee on Hawaiian Affairs
March 23, 2011 at 8:30am
by
Donald Straney
University of Hawai‘i at Hilo

HCR 180 – URGING HAWAII’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO SUPPORT THE
REAUTHORIZATION OF THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN EDUCATION ACT

Chair Hanohano, Vice Chair Lee and Members of the Committee:

The University of Hawai‘i System, and the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo in particular, have benefited from the Native Hawaiian Education Act. Under this program, our faculty have developed programs that benefit Native Hawaiian students throughout the state. Programs such as Na Pua No‘eau and the indigenous teacher preparation programs have been very effective.

There remains, however, considerable work to do to ensure that Native Hawaiian children have access to an effective and responsive educational system. Continuation of the native Hawaiian Education Act will ensure that we are able to develop and provide the education that our citizens require.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify on this measure.

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