University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo


The University of Hawaii at Hilo, abbreviated UH Hilo, is a public research university in Hilo, Hawaii. It is one of ten general campuses of the University of Hawaii system. It was founded as Hawaii Vocational College ''' in 1941. In 1970 it was reorganized by an act of the Hawaii State Legislature.
The university has been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges since 1976. It offers thirty-three undergraduate and three graduate degree programs and has about 3000 students; most students are residents of Hawaii but many are international students.

Academics

The university specializes in marine science, volcanology, astronomy, and Hawaiian studies. The Masters of Arts program in Hawaiian Language and Literature was the first in the United States to focus on an indigenous language.

Colleges

The University of Hawaii at Hilo offers BA, BBA, BS, and BSN degrees in addition to certificates. Students can also choose minors in some programs.

Athletics

Until 1994 UH Hilo belonged to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics or NAIA. Since 1992, it has been a member of the NCAA Division II, Pacific West Conference. It fields teams in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. The sports teams nickname is the Vulcans.

Chancellors

Shared with UH West Oahu 1976–1997.
There has been a growing movement throughout the last decade to separate the Hilo campus from the University of Hawaii system, creating a "Hawaii State University". Supporters of the separation argue that the growing Hilo campus is "shortchanged" by its sister campus in Mānoa and that being independent of the system would allow the college to grow faster, better serve the community, and draw in more money from independent sources. Opponents argue that the state is too small for competing university systems and that financial divisions between Mānoa and Hilo are fair, given that Mānoa places emphasis on research and Hilo places emphasis on teaching. There are also concerns that this movement will hurt relationships between the Hilo campus and the rest of the University of Hawaii system.
A bill was introduced in the 2005 session of the House of Representatives of the Hawaii State Legislature to draft legislation to spin off the Hilo campus as the independent Hawaii State University. The bill was approved by the House Higher Education Committee but no hearing on the bill was planned by the House Finance Committee, effectively killing it.

Points of interest at UH Hilo

University Park