STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1330

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.C.R. No. 134

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education and the Arts, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 134 entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXPRESSING STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE FACULTY AND STUDENTS OF THE CLASSICS DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES OF EUROPE AND THE AMERICAS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to express strong support for the faculty and students of the Classics Division of the Department of Languages and Literatures of Europe and the Americas at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from twenty-three individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that the study of Greek and Latin languages and histories serve as the traditional foundation of a multicultural curriculum at the university level.  This academic tradition has continued into the modern system of higher education throughout the nation.  This continuation of Classic-based studies is visible at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where approximately one hundred fifty students fulfill the graduation requirement of second language studies with Greek and Latin language coursework.  For the past forty-five years, four faculty members have overseen the teaching of these courses and others offered by the Classics Division at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

 

     Your Committee notes that the recent death of a Classics Division faculty member has left two equally pressing concerns.  The first concern involves finding a suitable and permanent replacement to teach eight sections of Classical languages.  These sections have been redistributed among the remaining three faculty members, despite the significant workload this redistribution has posed.  The second concern involves the lack of available funds with which to hire a replacement faculty member.

 

     Your Committee finds that prior to the decrease of faculty in the Classics Division, approximately fifty students were turned away from one or more Classics courses each semester due to high demand and low availability of open seats.  Your Committee further notes that this decreased number of faculty will lead to an even higher number of students being turned away or will require the three existing faculty members to attempt to continue an unsustainable workload.

 

     Your Committee recognizes that the quality of education offered by the University of Hawaii at Manoa is largely due to the low student-to-instructor ratio.  The ongoing service of the University professors ensures the quality and thoughtfulness of the future state labor force.  Accordingly, this measure underlines the support of the Legislature for instructors and students of the University through its recognition of an academically crucial Division.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 134, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 134, S.D. 1.

 


Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education and the Arts,

 

 

 

________________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair