HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

463

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

 

 

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

 


SECTION 1.  Every year, the worldwide demand for higher education increases.  In the late 1990s, fewer than ten per cent of Chinese young adults ages eighteen to twenty-two years were enrolled in higher education.  Today, over twenty-seven per cent are enrolled in a university, with that population expected to increase to forty per cent by 2020.

In the United States, universities are increasing their online class offerings.  In 2014, the State University of New York will launch Open SUNY, a network of online classes.  In three years, it expects to enroll one hundred thousand degree-seeking students and be the largest public online provider of education in the nation.

Hawaii has a strategic advantage for offering online courses due to its unique course offerings, particularly in the fields of earth science, technology, the environment, and the ocean, in addition to highly popular business, engineering, and hospitality management courses.

In addition, increasing online course offerings will increase access to the university and will improve graduation rates of currently enrolled students, students who could not schedule courses due to scheduling conflicts, and those who are unable to physically attend the university.

The purpose of this Act, therefore, is to require the University of Hawaii at Manoa to increase online courses sufficient to allow a student to obtain an undergraduate or graduate degree entirely online.

SECTION 2.  By January 1, 2015, the chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Manoa shall offer classes through distance learning or another method selected by the chancellor, sufficient to allow students to complete an undergraduate or graduate degree program entirely online.

The courses of study shall be authorized by the board of regents; provided that the courses shall be offered with the same frequency as similar courses at university system campuses.  The degrees conferred shall be authorized by the board of regents; provided that no less than ten undergraduate degree programs and five graduate degree programs shall be available in each year.

SECTION 3.  The University of Hawaii shall submit a preliminary and final report, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2014 and 2015 regular sessions, respectively, on the progress toward implementing the online degree programs including:

     (1)  The undergraduate and graduate degree programs expected to be offered;

     (2)  The names and frequency of the courses being offered;

     (3)  The courses and other requirements of the degree programs being offered;

     (4)  The estimated tuition or fee to be charged for online courses;

     (5)  The expected student enrollment of the courses; and

     (6)  Proposed legislation necessary to implement and maintain the online undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2525.



 

Report Title:

Online Degree Programs; University of Hawaii at Manoa

 

Description:

Requires the chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Manoa to offer online courses sufficient to allow a student to obtain an undergraduate or graduate degree entirely online.  Effective January 1, 2525.  (HB463 HD1)

 

 

 

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