By Staff Reports
(Honolulu)– UH Mānoa and Kapiʻolani Community College are expanding a degree pathway partnership agreement originally established in 2007 that allows students to take courses at both campuses until they are ready to transfer smoothly and successfully to UH Mānoa.
The Kaʻieʻie Program is a dual-enrollment, dual-admission program for students pursuing their first four-year undergraduate degree. Students in the program can take courses at one or both campuses, while working closely with advisors to identify the best time to transfer and the most efficient pathway to graduation.
“The Ka‘ie‘ie Program is a unique partnership we have with Kapi‘olani Community College that encourages successful undergraduate educational experiences for students who begin at the community college level and wish to complete their experience at UH Mānoa,” said UH Mānoa Chancellor Tom Apple. “We’ve seen much success with this program since it was initially established and we’ve committed now to enhancing the program based on the lessons that we’ve learned.”
Students in the program currently benefit from access to resources and academic advising at both campuses, including libraries, tutoring, clubs, activities and major-related research.
To increase outreach and serve more students through the program, a UH Mānoa transfer counselor will be placed on campus at Kapi‘olani Community College. Renovations at the Kapi‘olani campus are being made to include a designated Ka‘ie‘ie Program office.
Also, international students are now eligible to participate in the program, which invites more eligible Kapi‘olani students to apply to the program.
“Many of our students at Kapi‘olani Community College get their academic start here and move on to UH Mānoa to complete their baccalaureate studies, and they do very well,” said Kapi‘olani Community College Chancellor Leon Richards. “We are very excited to continue this program in partnership with a new administration at UH Mānoa and to expand it and be able to serve even more students. Our efforts are an integral part of our broader vision and plan to create degree pathways for our students with an emphasis on student engagement, learning and achievement/success.”
Moving forward, the campuses also plan to develop links from high school to college, share community presentations and marketing efforts, improve pre-major advising, and increase the integration of services, data exchange and research.
The Kaʻieʻie Program was originally developed in an effort to improve student access, success and four-year degree completion. The program uses resources at both institutions in a more efficient and effective manner and makes the process of moving from one campus to the next as smooth as possible. For more information about the Ka‘ie‘ie Program, visit http://uhcc.hawaii.edu/kaieie/overview.php.