STAND. COM. REP. NO.
Honolulu, Hawaii
MAR 3 1 2025
RE: S.C.R. No. 193
S. D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred
S.C.R. No. 193 entitled:
"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF
HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF
BACHELOR'S DEGREE PROGRAMS THAT DIRECTLY ALIGN WITH JOB
OPPORTUNITIES AND INDUSTRY NEEDS WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE
REGION OF SERVICE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the
University of Hawaii Community Colleges to develop a comprehensive
list of bachelor's degree programs that directly align with job
opportunities and industry needs within their respective region of
service.
Your Committee received comments on this measure from the
University of Hawai‘i System and University of Hawaii Professional
Assembly.
Your Committee finds that the State's economic vitality
depends on a skilled workforce that meets the needs of key
regional industries, including tourism and hospitality,
agriculture, marine research, renewable energy, and health care.
Your Committee further finds that each of the University of Hawaii
Community Colleges plays a vital role in providing accessible,
regionally-relevant higher education that supports local economic
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 STAND. COM. REP. NO. I3H
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development. This measure will align academic programs offered at
the University of Hawaii Community Colleges with current and
emerging job opportunities in each region to benefit students,
local employers, and the overall economic growth of the State.
Your Committee notes the concern raised by the University of
Hawaii System that focusing exclusively on bachelor's degree
programs may limit the flexibility to offer academic pathways that
anticipate future workforce trends. Your Committee finds that
expanding the scope of this measure to account for future
workforce trends and other innovative workforce development
pathways, including micro-credentials, will better address the
State's workforce needs in a more sustainable, efficient, and
equitable manner.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Inserting language that requests University of Hawaii
Community Colleges to include workforce development
pathways other than bachelor's degree programs in its
comprehensive list of programs that directly align with
job opportunities and industry needs within their
respective region of service;
(2) Inserting language requesting the University of Hawaii
Community Colleges to consider current job needs and
future workforce trends in developing the list;
(3) Specifying that the University of Hawaii Community
Colleges are requested to include future workforce
trends in its assessment of these programs in
collaboration with local industry leaders and
stakeholders;
(4) Tkmending its title accordingly; and
(5) 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 that is attached to this report,
your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R.
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 STAND. COM. REP. NO.
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No. 193, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the
form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 193, S.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Higher Education,
DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair
2025-2438 SCR SSCR SMA.docx
 The Senate
Thirty-Third Legislature
State of Hawai‘i
Record of Votes
Committee on Higher Education
HRE
Bill / Resolution No.:* Committee Referral: Date:
tiP-e 3f2£>
The Committee is reconsidering its previous decision on this measure.
If so, then the previous decision was to: ___________________________________
The Recommendation is:
Pass, unamended Pass, with amendments __ Hold __ Recommit
2312 2311 2310 2313
Members Aye Aye (WR) Nay Excused
KIM, Donna Mercado (C) Z- '‘^****^ '***
KIDANI, Michelle N. (VC)
FUKUNAGA. Carol ^**^***^
HASHIMOTO, Troy N.
FEVELLA, Kurt
TOTAL
Recommendation: __
L^J^'^opted __ Not Adopted
Chair’s or Designee’s Signature: . _ <
Distribution: Original Yellow Pink Goldenrod
File with Committee Report Clerk's Office Drafting Agency Committee File Copy
*Only one measure per Record of Votes
Revised: 12/09/24