HI HR145

Requests the University of Hawaii Board of Regents to initiate a public discussion about financing and costs of public higher education in Hawaii.

Directs the discussion to cover citizen expectations, legislative programmatic demands, cost containment approaches, and optimal revenue sources for budget planning.

Requires the Board of Regents to submit findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2016 Regular Session convening.

Addresses concerns about rising tuition costs, declining state investment in public universities, increased reliance on part-time instructors, and growth in administrative positions over the past thirty-five years.

Calls for examination of the optimal balance between faculty, support staff, and executive/managerial personnel while considering productivity, academic excellence, and fair wages for contingent faculty.