{"id":239595,"date":"2026-08-25T16:28:33","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T02:28:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=239595"},"modified":"2026-08-25T16:28:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T02:28:33","slug":"bor-chair-akitake-priorities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/08\/25\/bor-chair-akitake-priorities\/","title":{"rendered":"New UH<\/abbr> Board of Regents Chair Akitake outlines priorities for year ahead"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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UH<\/abbr> Board of Regents Chair Lauren Akitake, left, with UH<\/abbr> President Wendy Hensel, Kauaʻi<\/span> Community College Chancellor Margaret Sanchez and new Regents Marie Laderta, Eric Gee, Keith Amemiya and Keola Robert Whittaker at an August 19 reception at the Kauaʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr> Performing Arts Center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Board of Regents (BOR<\/abbr>) Chair Lauren Akitake outlined her priorities for the year ahead, emphasizing student success, greater collaboration across the 10-campus system and preparing UH<\/abbr> for Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>‘s future.<\/p>\n

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Lauren Akitake<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Akitake, who was elected chair in July, delivered the remarks at the BOR<\/abbr>‘s August meeting at Kauaʻi<\/span> Community College as part of a new agenda item focused on the BOR<\/abbr>‘s direction for the coming year.<\/p>\n

“Our role as Regents is to set strategic direction, provide oversight, ask questions and support President Hensel as she leads the University,” Akitake said.<\/p>\n

UH<\/abbr> President Wendy Hensel is scheduled to present her strategic priorities to the BOR<\/abbr> at its September 17 meeting. Akitake said the Board’s work should be guided by several overarching themes, beginning with student success—from recruiting students and helping people across Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> understand UH<\/abbr> as a pathway to opportunity and a stronger future, through enrollment, navigating UH<\/abbr>, transferring, graduating and finding meaningful opportunities after graduation.<\/p>\n

She also emphasized strengthening UH<\/abbr> as one University while recognizing the distinct communities, missions and strengths of each of its 10 campuses. Akitate said her recent experiences at UH<\/abbr> Maui College and Kauaʻi<\/span> Community College reinforced the strong sense of community and pride of place that makes each campus unique.<\/p>\n

Akitake also highlighted the Board’s responsibility to keep sight of who it serves.<\/p>\n

“The University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> is one of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>‘s extraordinary public assets,” she said. “It belongs to the people of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, changes lives and strengthens communities, and we have a responsibility to ensure it remains strong, innovative and prepared to serve Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> for generations to come.”<\/p>\n

Akitake also called on the Board to “prepare for the future, not simply manage the present,” citing artificial intelligence, demographic shifts, workforce needs, cybersecurity, technology and a changing economy.<\/p>\n

“We need to be asking what Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> will need from UH<\/abbr> five, 10, and 20 years from now—and making decisions today that prepare us for that future,” Akitake said.<\/p>\n

Committee priorities<\/h2>\n

She is working closely with committee chairs and vice chairs to understand their priorities and vision and align their work with the Board’s broader goals. Akitake also outlined the work ahead for the BOR<\/abbr>‘s six committees:<\/p>\n

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  • Committee on Independent Audit & Risk:<\/strong> Continue oversight of UH<\/abbr>‘s internal and external audit functions with increased emphasis on enterprise risk management. The BOR<\/abbr> has approved 16 internal audit projects, including systemwide reviews of construction project management, information security and Title IX<\/abbr>.<\/li>\n
  • Kuleana & Community Engagement Committee:<\/strong> Advance the Kuleana Imperative’s 18-month action plan and metrics and further develop the BOR<\/abbr>‘s new community engagement responsibilities. The committee, chaired by Regent Keola Whittaker, begins its work October 1.<\/li>\n
  • Governance Committee:<\/strong> Oversee implementation of the BOR<\/abbr>‘s April 2026 committee restructuring, including confirming the committees’ new charges and completing remaining bylaws work. The committee will also establish a regular process for reviewing bylaws and policies and follow up on the 2025 Board self-assessment.<\/li>\n
  • Student Success Committee:<\/strong> Focus on the full student journey, from recruitment and enrollment through graduation and beyond. The committee will also look at opportunities to further support UH<\/abbr> Athletics and student-athletes, building on strong support among Regents and the new leadership of Chair Keith Amemiya and Vice Chair Makai Freitas.<\/li>\n
  • Committee on Facilities & Long Range Planning:<\/strong> Chaired by Regent Neil Abercrombie, the committee will focus on UH<\/abbr>‘s long-term infrastructure and capital priorities, including developing strategies to address the deferred maintenance backlog and planning for future campus facility needs.<\/li>\n
  • Finance & Investment Committee:<\/strong> Continue oversight of UH<\/abbr>‘s financial position, investments and long-term financial sustainability while also engaging with Hensel’s planned investment of more than $100 million and a new financial policy approach that connects budget decisions with strategic priorities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    “These committees give us a way to take the broader questions we are asking as a Board and turn them into focused oversight, decisions and action throughout the year,” Akitake said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    “Our role as Regents is to set strategic direction, provide oversight, ask questions and support President Hensel as she leads the University.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":239530,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1193],"tags":[72,61,62,63,64,65,71,14,9,60,947,59,66],"class_list":["post-239595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-administrative","tag-board-of-regents","tag-hawaii-community-college","tag-honolulu-community-college","tag-kapiolani-community-college","tag-kauai-community-college","tag-leeward-community-college","tag-uh-community-colleges","tag-uh-hilo","tag-uh-manoa","tag-maui-college","tag-uh-system","tag-uh-west-oahu","tag-windward-community-college","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t