The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa was honored with the Community Connector Award at the 2025 EdSights PERSIST Summit in October. The award recognized UH Mānoa’s commitment to student success and innovation in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and student voice data while fostering a culture of change and innovation, as well as the UH System’s continuing efforts to support students.

“We’re proud that this recognition highlights not just technology, but transformation,” said Kapā Oliveira, UH Mānoa interim vice provost for student success. “The EdSights partnership empowers us to use AI tools to understand and support students in real time, helping us create a more connected, responsive and student-centered campus.”

The UH System has a five-year contract with EdSights to provide each campus with a proactive AI chatbot designed to check in with students, connect them to resources and provide valuable insights into student needs.

“Working closely with Kim [Siegenthaler, senior advisor to the UH president], Dr. Kapā Oliveira and Wiliama Sanchez [director of student conduct and concern] has been nothing short of rewarding for our team,” said Carolina Recchi, EdSights founder and CEO, in a congratulatory message to UH President Wendy Hensel. “Your team’s leadership truly exemplifies what’s possible when institutions put students at the center of their strategy,” said Recchi. “We’re proud to partner with The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa and now with the entire system and to continue supporting your important work.”

Support for all 10 UH campuses

As of fall 2025, all 10 UH campuses feature chatbots to assist both students and human support staff.

UH Mānoa’s ‘Bow, introduced in 2023, was the first UH AI chatbot buddy to assist students 24/7 by answering questions, connecting them to campus resources and proactively alerting human staff if it detects the student requires additional support.

In August 2025, UH Hilo (Lehua), Honolulu Community College (Niu), Kapiʻolani CC (Manu) and UH Maui College (Ulu) launched their chatbots. UH West Oʻahu (Pueo), Leeward CC (Ulu), Windward CC (Moa), �鶹��ý CC (ʻIolana) and Kauaʻi CC followed during the semester with their chatbots.

Since ‘Bow launched at UH ����ԴDz�:

• 51% of undergraduate students actively engage with ‘Bow.
• He has received more than 150,000 texts, with 31% of questions around academics.
• 43 proactive retention campaigns connecting 8,687 students to specific UH Mānoa resources during the 2024–25 academic year.
• ‘Bowʻs human helpers connected with 1,229 students for additional staff support.

“Bringing chatbots to all 10 of our campuses marks a major milestone in our commitment to deliver a common standard of care for every UH student,” said Siegenthaler. “Since UH Mānoa introduced ‘Bow in 2023, we’ve seen how powerful these tools can be. Now, with chatbots at every campus, we are extending that same level of proactive, compassionate support systemwide. This initiative strengthens not only our student success efforts, but also the ability of our staff to focus on the deeper, relationship-based work that truly transforms students’ lives.”

EdSights is an education technology company that centers student voice, driving innovation and success for all learners. The annual EdSights PERSIST Summit brings together partner institutions to discuss the latest trends in student success, and how each organization approaches student-centered higher education.

The University of �鶹��ý Community College System and UH Maui College have earned a significant collection of awards from Region 6 of the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR), in recognition of outstanding work in branding and community engagement.

The UH Community Colleges received two awards for its “Native HI” video series, broadcast during the widely watched Merrie Monarch festival. Produced in partnership with Hyperspective Studios, the system office earned a gold Medallion Award for the paid television series featuring Kapiʻolani CC, Kauaʻi CC and UH Maui College, and a silver Medallion Award for a video short series highlighting Kapiʻolani CC, Leeward CC and UH Maui College.

“These regional Medallion Awards affirm the outstanding quality of our marketing and public relations work across the UH Community College System,” said UH Interim Vice President for Community Colleges Della Teraoka. “The ‘Native HI’ video series is a powerful tool for showcasing the transformational journeys of Native Hawaiian students across our campuses and how higher education became a catalyst for hope, success and personal growth.”

Maui Gold

In further recognition of UH excellence, the in-house marketing and communications team at UH Maui College won gold and silver awards for their exceptional creativity and expertise.

The gold award was presented for the design of the college’s printed recruitment brochure, which was created to reflect the high quality and diverse offerings available at UH Maui College.

Chancellor Lui Hokoana said, “This award-winning brochure significantly supports our outreach, not just to degree-seeking students, but to every member of our community seeking learning opportunities and support.”

The silver award recognized a shirt design for strengthening the college’s brand through the powerful integration of sense of place. The design utilized the visual patterns from monument signs at the main campus, connecting the campus, its outreach centers on Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi, and the UH System as a whole.

“Getting these awards is a huge honor, but the real credit goes to the amazing faculty, staff and leadership here at UH Maui College who make my job easy,” said Marc Antosch, who leads the design and marketing team. “Our main focus is to make sure everyone knows about the awesome opportunities we have right here on Maui and at our outreach centers.”

National competition ahead

NCMPR is the only organization of its kind dedicated exclusively to representing marketing and public relations professionals at community and technical colleges across the nation. The organization’s 2025 Paragon Awards will be announced in January.

In March, the UH Community Colleges marketing campaign highlighting exciting career and technical education programs received top national honors: a gold 2024 Paragon Award from the NCMPR for Best TV/Video Advertisement (Series).

The Human Studies Program (HSP) at the University of �鶹��ý was again recognized by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP) as a “gold standard” research institution, meeting high standards of quality and protection for participants, and offering assurances of excellence to the �鶹��ý research community.

On March 25, UH was awarded full reaccreditation by AAHRPP for a period of five years. Previously, UH received an initial three-year accreditation in 2017 followed by a reaccreditation 2020. In addition to strengthening protections for research participants, the accreditation helps build confidence in research through a commitment of promoting and adhering to high-quality standards and practices.

“This full reaccreditation by AAHRPP continues to show the University of �鶹��ý’s commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of research participants,” said Diana Blanco, director for the Office of Research Compliance. “We are very fortunate to have three dedicated UH Institutional Review Boards, consisting of community members and UH faculty/staff, who volunteered their time and expertise, as well as a highly experienced administrative team, led by Manager Kristin Bacon, to meet this challenge.”

AAHRPP has accredited organizations across the U.S. and around the world. All major U.S. independent institutional review boards have earned AAHRPP accreditation. In addition, more than 65% of U.S. medical colleges and 60% of research universities are either AAHRPP accredited or have begun the accreditation process.

The University of �鶹��ý 10-campus system has been awarded a five-star rating and was recognized as one of the nation’s top 400 companies across 78 industries, according to Newsweek’s second annual ranking of America’s Greatest Workplaces for LGBTQ+ 2024.

Five stars is the highest rating in the rankings that were based on a five-part evaluation with interviews and research from more than 29,000 LGBTQ+ employees who provided more than 205,000 company reviews. Desk research and analysis from social media were also conducted to assess the performance of the company’s commitment to and inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ community.

The only other �鶹��ý entity that made the list was L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, which received four stars. For the full list of rankings, visit

The is one of the best employers in �鶹��ý, according to the list released August 22. The 10-campus UH System placed No. 5 overall, up four spots from the 2022 Forbes ranking. UH was also No. 3 among local employers in �鶹��ý and No. 1 in the education sector.

“We take pride in providing an inclusive and supportive workplace environment where our employees can thrive,” UH President David Lassner said. “Our amazing faculty and staff provide students across our islands with transformational education opportunities as they engage in research and scholarship that advances �鶹��ý and our planet.”

Forbes partnered with a market research firm to survey 70,000 workers at companies (minimum of 500 employees) in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Participants were asked if they would recommend their employer to others, and to evaluate their employer based on working conditions, diversity, compensation packages, potential for development, company image and more. All surveys were anonymous.

UH also made the list of Forbes 2023 America’s Best Employers for Women, ranking No. 17 in the U.S. education industry and No. 90 overall.

The 10-campus University of �鶹��ý System is ranked No. 17 in the U.S. education industry and No. 90 overall on the list of , released July 25. According to Forbes, the ranking was created to help women identify companies that serve their needs and for companies to evaluate their own treatment of women in their workforce.

“This recognition reflects our commitment to an inclusive work environment for all of our employees and to recognizing excellence in leadership,” said UH President David Lassner. “UH is bucking every national trend with seven women among the 13 officers of the university and seven of our 10 accredited campuses led by women.”

UH ranked ahead of institutions such as the University of Michigan, Duke University and New York University, and just behind institutions such as Northwestern University and the University of Washington.

The list is primarily based on surveys of more than 60,000 workers with at least 1,000 employees. , according to Statista. Approximately 40,000 women were asked to rate their company in areas such as working environment, salary and employee diversity, and then whether they would recommend their company to a friend or family member. According to Forbes, their answers were compared to those of 20,000 men to assess any significant differences in workplace perception.

Women were also asked to rate their employer based on factors such as pay equity, parental-leave policies, leadership training programs for women, representation of women in upper management and employer response to incidents of discrimination. Additional research was conducted into the presence of women in executive management or board positions. The 400 companies with the highest scores made the list.

UH also made the list of by Forbes, ranking No. 9 in �鶹��ý and No. 1 in the education sector.

—By Marc Arakaki

The overwhelming majority of alumni from the , and say their degrees were worth the investment and that UH helped them achieve their goals. That’s according to a survey by the , a non-profit organization focused on post-secondary education success.

Strada surveyed 1,112 alumni who graduated with a bachelorʻs degree from one of �鶹��ý’s public universities in the past 20 years. The key findings include:

• 74%—UH education was worth the cost (national average: 65%)
• 76%—UH helped achieve their goals (national average: 72%)
• 79%—UH helped prepare for their career (national average: 75%)
• 78%—UH prepared them for a better quality of life (national average: 75%)

Complete results of the Strada �鶹��ý survey data (PDF)and national survey data (PDF)are available online.

“These objective survey results reaffirm what I hear throughout the community from our alumni, that UH played a key role in their personal success and that they value their time at UH,” said UH President David Lassner. “It is clear that we are on the right track as we continue to improve the student experience at UH and meet the needs of our state.”

In addition to the survey findings, a (PDF) (UHERO) found that the rate of return on investment for a UH degree is about 11%. UH graduates earn between $300,000 to $2.9 million more in lifetime earnings, compared to high school graduates, depending on the type of degree earned (associate, bachelor, post graduate).

In order to help shape UH’s new strategic plan, the Strada survey also asked alumni to state what they think UHʻs number one priority should be over the next six years. The top four recommendations were:

1. Prepare more �鶹��ý residents to fill the jobs �鶹��ý needs (40%)
2. Seeding new economic sectors (23%)
3. Engaging more �鶹��ý residents in post-secondary education and training (17%)
4. Strengthening UH research enterprise as a major economic and intellectual driver (13%)

“Mahalo to Strada for inviting us to participate in this survey, which provides important and useful data,” said Lassner. “Strada has been an amazing partner over the past years and this is yet another example of how they are helping us advance post-secondary student success in �鶹��ý.”

The survey data is one of the many sources of broad input being used to develop the new UH �鶹��ý 2023–2029. The university is asking for feedback on the first draft of the plan, specifically on the plan’s four imperatives. Comments can be submitted directly through the web pages below:

• Successful Students for a Better Future
• Meet �鶹��ý Workforce Needs of Today and Tomorrow
• Embrace Kuleana to Hawaiians and �鶹��ý
• Diversify �鶹��ý’s Economy through UH Innovation and Research

Other data and information being used to develop the plan include results of surveys of the general public and UH students, faculty and staff; virtual town hall meetings; the UH Third Decade Report (PDF); the and UH post-pandemic plans.

The is ranked as the by WalletHub. The UH community college system consists of seven community colleges statewide—�鶹��ý CC, Honolulu CC, Kapiʻolani CC, Kauaʻi CC, Leeward CC, UH Maui College and Windward CC.

The personal finance website said the ranking was based on an analysis of the , a sample of 677 institutions and 19 key metrics including tuition cost, transfer rates, student loan defaults and the presence of free community college education.

Connecticut, Maryland, New Mexico and Washington ranked No. 1–4, respectively out of the 41 states ranked. Nine state do not have community college systems.

Four-year schools cost three times as much as community colleges, according to WalletHub, which stated, “ Community colleges are an especially attractive option this year as many families deal with financial struggles caused by rising inflation and the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

UH offers the , which provides free in-state tuition for qualified UH Community College students with financial needs. �鶹��ý Promise provides the “ last dollar” to cover direct education costs—such as tuition, fees and books—that are not met by other forms of financial aid.

• Read more about the �鶹��ý Promise Scholarship in UHNews.

For the 2020–21 academic year, 1,800 students from seven UH Community Colleges statewide benefitted from almost $3 million in �鶹��ý Promise scholarships.

WalletHub has once again confirmed that �鶹��ý college graduates are among the least likely to leave school with debt. And for those who do graduate with debt, they owe among the least in the country.

Among the states and territories, �鶹��ý enjoys the 2nd lowest percentage of college graduates with any debt and is the 3rd lowest when it comes to student debt as a percentage share of income, according to a report by WalletHub. The personal-finance website released its report on August 25.

“A big reason we are among the very best when it comes to student debt is the affordability of the 10-campus University of �鶹��ý public higher education system,” said UH President David Lassner. “Our regents and administration have committed to tough choices as we have frozen and even decreased tuition over these past challenging years. Coupled with our high quality education, UH provides an outstanding return on investment for our students and �鶹��ý.”

According to , about two-thirds of �鶹��ý high school graduates attend a University of �鶹��ý campus.

The total outstanding college-loan balances in the United States was at at the end of the second quarter of 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Education. That’s an average of $37,000 for each of the 42.9 million borrowers.

It was not all positive news for �鶹��ý. The state rose to first in the nation for the highest percentage of student loan balances past due or in default. This was likely due to the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on �鶹��ý’s economy, among the hardest hit in the nation, which WalletHub noted has pushed �鶹��ý to the third highest average unemployment rate for those aged 25 to 34. In addition, �鶹��ý ranked last in state grants and student work opportunities.

The University of �鶹��ý System was recognized as one of the best employers in �鶹��ý in a new nationwide ranking by Forbes. In its “” list released on August 24, UH placed seventh overall and fifth among local employers in �鶹��ý.

Forbes partnered with market research company Statista to survey 80,000 Americans working for businesses with at least 500 employees (an estimated 65 companies in �鶹��ý and more than 40,000 nationally). Surveys were conducted on a rolling basis from October 2020 to June 2021. The final list ranks the 1,328 employers that received the most recommendations.

The rankings are based on a variety of criteria, including competitiveness of compensation, opportunities for advancement and others related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as safety of the work environment and openness to telecommuting. Respondents were also asked how likely they would be to recommend their employer to others and to nominate organizations in industries outside their own.

“This has been one of the most challenging years in recent memory, so I’m incredibly proud of the resilience, passion and commitment of all our employees pulling together to serve �鶹��ý when our state needs us most,” UH President David Lassner said. “It is an incredible honor for UH to be recognized for providing an environment in which our faculty, staff and administrators have been able to support students and communities across the islands.”