THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

220

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

urging the appropriation of moneys to fund faculty positions and curriculum development and support for iloCano, filipino, and philippine studies at the university of hawaii.

 

 

WHEREAS, the Filipino community has grown since its arrival in Hawaii in 1906; and

WHEREAS, although Filipinos are underrepresented at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (nine percent of undergraduate students and four percent of graduate students) compared to their enrollment in the public school system (nineteen percent), progress has been achieved over the years; and

WHEREAS, a significant issue for Filipino students and the Filipino community at large relates to the availability and stability of curriculum offerings in Ilocano, Filipino, and Philippine studies; and

WHEREAS, an important need exists to increase the number of Filipino students and professionals trained in Philippine languages and culture who can work in the fields of education, health care, legal services, and commerce; and

WHEREAS, curriculum and scholarly research on the Philippines is consistent with the University of Hawaii's long-standing focus on Asian and Pacific studies; and

WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii boasts the largest number of students at any American college or university studying a Philippine language as well as the nation's only bachelor of arts degree in Philippine language and literature; and

WHEREAS, students and faculty have expressed concerns in recent semesters because some courses in Ilocano and Filipino were not regularly offered by lecturers or instructors; and

WHEREAS, funds to hire a replacement for a recently retired Filipino-language faculty member are included in the University of Hawaii's budget request for 2005; and

WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Center for Philippine Studies, part of the School of Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Studies, is well-known locally, nationally, and internationally for scholarship and research by faculty who teach in various academic disciplines, including ethnic studies, American studies, education, history, sociology, and political science, on the Manoa campus; and

WHEREAS, the program in Philippine studies currently only has a 50 percent position for the director and a 50 percent position for political science faculty; and

WHEREAS, funding and positions are needed to stabilize the program and increase the number of classes for the growing number of Filipino and non-Filipino students interested in Philippine studies and Philippine languages; and

WHEREAS, funding and positions are also needed to support one instructor in Filipino, one instructor in Ilocano, and a 50 percent full-time equivalent (FTE) position to increase the Philippine studies director to full-time status and another 50 percent position for a departmental faculty position; and

WHEREAS, funding for curriculum development and instructional support is additionally needed, such as for Leeward Community College's certificate program in Philippine studies; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the House of Representatives concurring, that sufficient funding be appropriated for:

(1) Three faculty positions in Ilocano, Filipino, and Philippine studies at the University of Hawaii;

(2) A replacement to fill a vacant Filipino-language position at the University of Hawaii; and

(3) Curriculum development and instructional support for other campuses of the University of Hawaii system;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii, and President of the University of Hawaii.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Ilokano, Filipino, and Philippine studies; University of Hawaii at Manoa; Faculty positions