Weekly Newsletter for Faculty and Staff, Sept. 13, 2022
Featured in this week’s issue of Ha‘ilono o UH Hilo (News of UH Hilo): Farrah-Marie Gomes, Chris Holland, Tyler Gerken, Tracy Wiegner, Louis Economy, John Burns, Sofia Ferreira, Chloe Molou, and Lindy Hern.
Administration


The UH Board of Regents meets Thursday, Sept. 15, 10:00 a.m., at Windward Community College. The meeting also can be viewed via livestream. Meeting agenda and materials are available online.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Farrah-Marie Gomes is leaving UH Hilo to be the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs for the UH System effective Oct. 1, 2022. Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Chris Holland will serve as Acting VCSA effective Oct. 1, 2022.
Alumni
The senior thesis of a former environmental science major Tyler Gerken was published this summer in the Journal of Environmental Quality. The research team, which included Professor of Marine Science Tracy Wiegner and alumna Louise Economy, collected soil samples at urban, agriculture, and native-forest land uses in the Hilo Bay watershed. Staph, MRSA, and fecal indicator bacteria were present in soil from all land uses with the highest being in urban soils and the lowest in native-forest soils.
Campus Community
UH Hilo retains its No. 1 ranking as one of the nation’s most ethnically diverse campuses.
Community Outreach
See the 2022-23 UH Hilo Speakers’ Bureau list. Call the Office of University Relations (x7339) with requests for speakers.
Covid Updates
Face masks will no longer be required on UH campuses after Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. Masking is still strongly encouraged in crowded indoor spaces. UH will continue to remain highly vigilant, and COVID-19 restrictions may be quickly reinstated should conditions change and warrant stronger measures. Masking is required for those who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or have contracted the virus. They must wear a mask for the duration of the 10-day isolation period. Someone who has been infected may return on day six if symptoms are substantially improved and they have not had any fever in the preceding 24 hours. These changes and other important information are reflected in the updated UH Hilo COVID-19 Guidelines.
Deadlines
Last Day to Drop Classes without “W,” Tuesday, Sept. 13.
Last Day to Receive 50% Refund of Tuition for Complete Withdrawals, Tuesday, Sept. 13.
Events
Constitution Day Library Exhibition through Friday, Sept. 16, Mookini Library.
UH Hilo Flu Shot Clinic in partnership with Safeway, Thursday, Sept. 15, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., University Classroom Building, room 127. Flu shots are free with medical insurance. Bring medical insurance cards with you. Safeway is currently not accepting Kaiser medical insurance.
“Enhancing our knowledge of coral reefs with technological innovations,” by Associate Professor of Marine Science John Burns and students Sofia Ferreira from Paraguay and Chloe Molou from Vanuatu, Thursday, Sept. 15, 5 p.m., via Zoom. Meeting ID: 974 9098 3741, Passcode: 891058.
“The Interaction of Two Constitutions” by Judge Simeon Acoba (via Zoom), Thursday, Sept. 15, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., University Classroom Building, room 100. Presented by the Department of Political Science in celebration of Constitution Day.
“Civic Engagement” by Associate Professor of Sociology Lindy Hern, Friday, Sept. 16, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., University Classroom Building, room 100. Presented by the Department of Political Science in celebration of Constitution Day.
Dance Collective 2022 will bring some of the island’s most talented and passionate choreographers and dancers together for one evening only, on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center.
The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy is offering free health screenings, Saturday, Sept. 17, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Hale Kiho‘iho‘i (at the college), classroom A. Presented by UH Hilo pharmacy students and faculty as part of the Aloha Project, a series of one-day events that are open to the public. No prior sign-up is required.
For more info on events, see UH Hilo Calendar of Events.
Services
See Sodexo’s Family Dinner menus for Wednesday, Sept. 14 and Friday, Sept. 16. Order by email at uhhdine@hawaii.edu or the GET mobile app.
In fall and spring semesters, this newsletter is a weekly e-blast of news and information for faculty and staff, produced by University Relations, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo.