Note to Greenwood: Hey MRC, this report is nice and all, but you’re in Hawaii now. You’re supposed to be calling Legislators and Administration officials to ‘discuss’ the dirt you’ve got on them. It’s a great way of building that T.E.A.M. spirit. They need to know that your success is their guarantee, so record the conversations. And just to make sure nobody thinks you’re bluffing, leak some of that damaging information to the press. Start with Clayton Hee.

PS: Focus on federal offenses. The state judiciary won’t do anything for you.

* * * * *

Western Association of Schools and Colleges ‘Impressed’ With Greenwood’s Careful Attention to Finances

After taking a beating in front of the Senate Inquisition, MRC Greenwood has released the report of a ‘Special Visit’ by a team of accreditation examiners from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Amazingly, they praise UH administrators for “financial planning and careful attention to finances.”

HNN: Accreditation panel praises Greenwood, asks for info on UH's Wonder blunder "This is a very positive review," Greenwood said in a phone interview Wednesday. "What they thought of our performance seems to be very different from what is currently the local opinion."

SA: Accreditors who visited UH 'want to see what's going on'

LINK: WASC SPECIAL VISIT

RELATED: Student Loan Bubble Inflates College Costs (These are the 'Financial Issues' WASC is praising Greenwood for paying attention to.)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WASC SPECIAL VISIT

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM, September 2012

COMMENDATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

DRAFT

Commendations

The team commands the University of Hawai'i for the improvements it has made in the retention and graduation rates of its undergraduate students. In particular, its progress with regard to the enrollment and graduation of Native Hawaiian baccalaureate students is exemplary.

The team is impressed with the financial planning and careful attention to finances that has characterized the University during the economic downturn. Its management of finances has allowed it to educate more students more effectively than ever before despite a major reduction in support from state appropriations.

The team commends the University for its tuition plan, a multi-year effort that allows predictability for both families and the university and which takes into account impending costs such as salaries and the need to address deferred maintenance.

The team notes the outstanding progress the University has made in securing federal grants to support leading edge research, with increases coming even in the face of a more general reduction in federal support for university research nationwide.

The team commends President Greenwood and her team for their focus on key priorities and their ability to keep in mind the long view rather than short term matters as they make progress on the three key initiatives of the University. The plan and its priorities are well and broadly understood and make clear the goals of the University.

The team is impressed by the spirit of collaboration evinced by the chancellors of the campuses, a sense of team work that also was mentioned by faculty. This is indicative of a sense of "system" that should build a stronger University.

The team commends the Board of Regents for establishing a working group, including outside experts, to undertake a thorough review of the delegations of authority that have or may have been made.

Recommendations

The team recommends that the University provide to the Commission the report or other results of the efforts of the working group the Board of Regents has established to investigate delegations of authority and to determine the appropriate balance of authority between the system and campuses.

The team recommends that the University provide to the Commission any report or legislation arising out of the work of the special state senate investigative committee and other reports by the state that may pertain to the matters raised in the concert issue.

Building on the success the University has had with Native Hawaiian undergraduate students, the team recommends that the President work with leaders from throughout the University to establish and implement clear goals and paths for improved success for Native Hawaiians in graduate programs and as faculty, staff, and administrators for the University.

The team recommends that the University consider carefully student concerns about tuition and affordability as well as the availability of needed classes as it pursues its efforts to increase the number of Hawaiians to whom it awards degrees.

The team recommends to WASC that it consider a regular review of all the public university systems within its region to understand better the policies and legal and financial frameworks that affect the public universities that are encompassed within such systems.