Council on Study Abroad Policy on Hawaiian Place of Learning

voted on March 22, 2022

The Council on Study Abroad (CSA) welcomes previously and currently approved strategic plans that support UH Mānoa as a “Hawaiian Place of Learning.” We have to be respectful first and foremost to the aboriginal Hawaiian people and secondly, to the University’s aspirations. The Council and the Study Abroad Center’s policy will be an evolving one, and contains important ideas and beliefs at the time of writing.

Though there is little information currently available regarding just what “a Hawaiian Place of Learning” is, the Council on Study Abroad has identified areas where it can take action to support its theme. The Council on Study Abroad is not willing to sacrifice the respect due to the aboriginal Hawaiian population. We do not condone or support appropriation of Hawaiian culture, Hawaiian ways of life, and Hawaiian language in resident director applications. The Council on Study Abroad will continue to support applications from all qualified faculty that do not misuse or misrepresent aboriginal Hawaiian culture and language in any way that seeks an advantage for a non aboriginal Hawaiian resident director applicant.

The first and foremost course of action in line with our Bylaws is to encourage and implement more opportunities for aboriginal Hawaiian faculty to apply for Study Abroad Resident Director positions to sponsored locations that are available. Though any application from an aboriginal Hawaiian faculty is not guaranteed to be chosen based on race, all other things being equal in quality of all submissions, the aboriginal Hawaiian faculty member will be chosen as a preference. Applicants are welcome to self-identify in their application materials. Assistance regarding submissions is always, and will continue to be available, to any faculty member.

The second plan is to increase the number of aboriginal Hawaiian students participating in Study Abroad Center Programs. As part of the application, all faculty members should address how they would engage in increasing the number of Hawaiian students to participate in a Study Abroad Program in their student recruitment plan.

The Study Abroad Center and the Council will keep track of successes in both these action plans and periodically discuss how to continually improve these recruitment goals.

The 2021 WASC report supports the goal to increase Hawaiian student body representation and reports on the number of Hawaiian faculty positions. This policy of the Council on Study Abroad is in line with the WASC report.