A team from the University of Hawaii’s accrediting agency that visited earlier this month supports a plan to form a working group to review "delegations of authority" in the wake of a botched benefit concert, and wants to be apprised of any report or legislation resulting from the concert fallout, according to a draft synopsis of the team’s conclusions.
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges team, following its regularly scheduled visit, also said UH should be applauded for boosting its undergraduate retention and graduation rates, improving financial planning and making "outstanding progress" in securing federal grants for research.
The team said UH President M.R.C. Greenwood and her group should be lauded "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 key initiatives at the university."
Greenwood told the Star-Advertiser on Wednesday that the WASC brief was a "strong endorsement of what we have been doing."
She said the team’s request for information on the failed Stevie Wonder concert reflects WASC’s interest in assuring accreditation standards were being upheld.
WASC REPORT
Highlights of a report by an accrediting team from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges:
>> Commended the University of Hawaii on boosting graduation and retention rates.
>> Applauded UH on improved financial operations and five-year tuition plan.
>> Urged UH to share the results of a legislative panel on the botched Stevie Wonder concert with the accrediting agency.
>> Supported the creation of a working group to consider issues raised in the wake of the concert.
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"They want to see what is going on to make sure we’re still meeting standards," said Greenwood, who would not comment further on the concert.
The report was much-welcomed news for a university struggling to stem growing outrage about the events that led up to and followed the failed benefit concert.
Some have worried the embarrassing episode could threaten accreditation for UH campuses, given continuing concerns about university governance, accountability and the roles of the UH president, chancellor and Board of Regents in the wake of the blundered fundraiser.
While WASC may still raise concerns about UH practices that have come to light, it does not appear the team thought the matter urgent enough to take more immediate action.
The visiting team did recommend that UH provide the accrediting agency with the "results of the efforts" of the working group, which is being formed by the Board of Regents and will look at the concert debacle and broader operational issues.
The team said WASC should also be given the results of a special Senate panel convened to investigate the Stevie Wonder concert, which was to be a benefit for the cash-strapped athletics department but ended up costing the school $200,000 in an apparent scam.
The Senate Special Committee on Accountability met for the first time Monday, during which senators had tough questions for Greenwood, Board of Regents Chairman Eric Martinson, former athletic director Jim Donovan and others.
The panel will hold its second meeting Tuesday. UH-Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple and other Board of Regents members are scheduled to testify.
State Sen. Jill Tokuda, vice chairwoman of the special Senate panel, met with the WASC team during its visit and has said the accrediting officials were pleased overall with the University of Hawaii’s direction.
But Tokuda also said that it’s vital that the university act to address concerns "if we don’t want to end up in a place where we could be in trouble" with WASC.
Meanwhile, in the draft report, the WASC team also commended the university for its tuition plan, which "allows predictability" for families and takes into account rising costs. But the team suggested UH "consider carefully student concerns about tuition and affordability as well as the availability of needed classes."
Last October, the Board of Regents approved a five-year plan to increase tuition on all campuses.
Resident tuition for undergraduates at UH-Manoa is set to rise 35 percent by 2016, to $11,376 a year. Tuition at UH-West Oahu for resident undergraduates will go up 49 percent, to $7,656.
While WASC does not accredit the UH system, it does monitor system-level operations closely. That’s because the system has a direct impact on UH campuses, which are accredited.
In 2011, UH-Manoa’s accreditation was reaffirmed for 10 years. UH-Hilo received 10-year accreditation in 2004, while UH-West Oahu got seven-year accreditation, to expire next fall.
The Stevie Wonder concert was canceled July 10, after UH found out the singer had not authorized the event.
The following day, Apple announced Donovan and Stan Sheriff Center Manager Rich Sheriff had been placed on indefinite paid administrative leave while an investigation of the concert deal was conducted.
While Sheriff was reinstated to his position in August, Donovan — in a much-criticized decision — was reassigned to a newly created marketing role in the Manoa chancellor’s office, with an annual salary of $211,000, for three years.
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