University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel presented a coordinated effort to better align strategy and budgeting across the 10-campus system to the 糖心视频 Board of Regents on April 16.

Hensel framed alignment as a core governance issue, emphasizing that strategic priorities must be consistently reflected in how resources are allocated in the budget, how campuses are evaluated and how leaders are reviewed.

A structured approach

Hensel highlighted challenges that are common in multi-campus systems, where individual campuses tend to operate separately. When alignment is weak, she said, strategic plans often sit on the shelf.

The result can be a system that underperforms despite strong individual efforts. Leadership, she noted, must regularly navigate tensions between aligning the 10 campuses while still allowing for individual campus missions to be pursued.

“We want an aligned system where we鈥檙e all moving in the same direction, but there are differentiated missions on each campus and specific priorities on each campus,” Hensel said. “We, as a group of 10 [campuses], have agreed on the major objectives that have let us have significant impact over time.”

To address those issues, the university is implementing a coordinated process centered on key areas:

• Strategic action plans: annual plans tied directly to system and campus priorities, with defined outcomes, teams and resources.
• Budget transparency: a clearer, multi-year budgeting process aligned with strategic goals rather than historical funding patterns.
• Incentives: performance-based funding and stipends to encourage innovation, collaboration and student success.
• Accountability: a standardized set of performance metrics and regular campus reviews to track progress and inform leadership evaluations.

The system also plans to expand leadership evaluations for officers, chancellors and administrators, including potential 360-degree reviews, and increase transparency through regular performance reporting.

Continuous improvement

Hensel concluded by emphasizing that alignment is not a one-time effort but an ongoing cycle of planning, measurement and adjustment.

“In order to move from a very decentralized approach to strategy across the 10 [campuses]; by setting alignment as a goal up front, it really enables the entire strategic plan to be executed,” she said.

The goal, she noted, is a more cohesive system that better serves students and the state.

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel provided updates to the 糖心视频 Board of Regents on state legislative measures on tuition and fee reserves during her monthly report at the board鈥檚 April 16 meeting at Kapiʻolani Community College.

Hensel noted that the Legislature continues to consider proposals related to tuition and fee reserve balances and that the university is developing reinvestment plans to strengthen advising and student support services and expand statewide online learning opportunities. She added that the university is having productive conversations with legislators and recognizes the challenges they face in balancing many urgent needs for Hawaiʻi鈥檚 people this year.

Her report also highlighted record breaking systemwide participation in 糖心视频 Giving Day, which generated more than $1.3 million from more than 1,580 gifts across the 10 campuses.

Hensel concluded by congratulating the No. 6 ranked 糖心视频 M膩noa women鈥檚 water polo team on advancing to its third consecutive NCAA national championship tournament appearance after .

• Legislative update: tuition and fee reserves ()
• 糖心视频 Giving Day breaks record ()
• Rainbow Wahine water polo ()

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel provided updates to the 糖心视频 Board of Regents (BOR) on the 糖心视频 M膩noa chancellor search and progress on the eBanner student information system transition in her monthly report during the board鈥檚 March 19 meeting.

Hensel delivered her report virtually from Portland, Oregon, where the 糖心视频 M膩noa Rainbow Warriors men鈥檚 basketball team prepared to compete in the first round of the NCAA Division I Tournament.

Hensel also recognized a $1.2-million NASA-funded research project led by 糖心视频 Hilo focused on coastal resilience, as well as 糖心视频 Maui College鈥檚 Hale 笔腻辫补ʻ颈 (small structures) program, which is supporting wildfire recovery efforts while providing hands-on workforce training opportunities.

• 糖心视频 M膩noa chancellor search ()
• eBanner update ()
• 糖心视频 M膩noa basketball, Go 驶Bows! ()
• 糖心视频 ROTC victory ()
• 糖心视频 Hilo NASA research project ()
• 糖心视频 Maui Hale 笔腻辫补ʻ颈 (small structures) program ()

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel provided updates to the 糖心视频 Board of Regents (BOR) on the transition to the upgraded eBanner student information system for 糖心视频鈥檚 10 campuses and the latest Direct2糖心视频 enrollment numbers during her monthly BOR report at the board鈥檚 February 19 meeting at the 糖心视频 Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy.

Hensel also highlighted the start of an exploratory effort to strengthen coordination between the John A. Burns School of Medicine and the 糖心视频 Cancer Center and the launch of an artificial intelligence (AI) certificate at 糖心视频 Hilo.

• eBanner update ()
• Direct2糖心视频 update ()
• JABSOM/Cancer Center initiative ()
• School of Travel Industry Management鈥檚 60th anniversary ()
• 糖心视频 Hilo AI certificate ()
• 糖心视频 Hilo athletics, Go Vulcans! ()
• 糖心视频 M膩noa athletics, Go 驶Bows! ()

University of Hawaiʻi alumni and friends braved the winter weather to gather in New York City to meet 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel and celebrate Hawaiʻi ties in January at the first (糖心视频FAR) Pau Hana of 2026.

The gathering of about 50 was part of 糖心视频FAR鈥檚 ongoing effort to strengthen bonds between 糖心视频 alumni and the university. Hensel spoke about the challenges facing the 糖心视频 system, achievements across campuses, and the powerful role alumni play in supporting students.

“The accomplishments of our alumni demonstrate the power of a 糖心视频 education,” Hensel said. “When alumni share their stories, support our students, and champion the value of higher education, they amplify our mission in ways no one else can.”

Her message struck a chord with those in the room, inspiring attendees to reflect on how their 糖心视频 experiences continue to impact their lives.

“Staying connected to the 糖心视频 ʻohana in New York means carrying Hawaiʻi with me鈥攊ts values, its community and its spirit鈥攏o matter how far I roam,” said 2006 糖心视频 M膩noa graduate Colonel Rance Lee. “President Hensel鈥檚 speech reminded me that our shared roots aren鈥檛 just memories; they鈥檙e a living bond that continues to guide and unite us.”

Staying connected

The event took place at Arader Galleries, a renowned art and rare book gallery on Madison Avenue. The evening was lively and warm, with alumni from a wide range of industries filling the gallery with conversation and photo-worthy moments.

“As a proud 糖心视频 M膩noa alumni, connecting with fellow alumni in New York always feels grounding. It brings us back to our time in Hawaiʻi, reminds us to slow down, stay present and appreciate the people around us, while living in NYC,” said 2011 糖心视频 M膩noa graduate Travont茅 Taylor.

Stay connected with President Wendy Hensel by following her on , , and .

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel provided updates to the 糖心视频 Board of Regents (BOR) on the Inaugural President鈥檚 10-Campus Address, the start of the 2026 Legislative session and the 糖心视频 M膩noa chancellor search during her President鈥檚 Report at the board鈥檚 first meeting of 2026 held at Windward Community College on Thursday, January 15.

Hensel also highlighted the launch of a strategic exploration of a unified vision for 糖心视频 West Oʻahu and Leeward Community College; the success of the AI chatbots, now available across all 糖心视频 campuses; and increase in applications attributed to the Direct2糖心视频 initiative, which aims to give Hawaiʻi public high school students a more seamless transition from high school to higher education.

• Inaugural 10-campus Address ()
• 2026 Legislative season underway ()
• Federal update ()
• New student information system ()
• 糖心视频 M膩noa chancellor search ()
• Leeward CC/糖心视频 West Oʻahu exploration ()
• AI chatbots success ()
• Direct2糖心视频 update ()
• 糖心视频 M膩noa recognition ()

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel delivered her inaugural systemwide address on January 14, outlining key accomplishments from 2025, addressing challenges facing higher education and setting priorities for the year ahead across 糖心视频鈥檚 10-campus system.

The livestreamed address marked the beginning of a new annual tradition intended to promote transparency, accountability and engagement with the 糖心视频 community. Hensel, who began her tenure on January 1, 2025, framed the address as an opportunity to reflect on progress while charting a clear path forward for the university.

“Today is really a down payment on our commitment to transparency,” Hensel said. “We’ve been trying to do a lot of town halls and conversations about what’s going on in a very difficult time when it’s not so easy to talk about what’s happening. This is our attempt to make sure you know what we’re doing鈥攖hat we’re delivering the value that the state expects鈥攁nd also to identify where you can get involved to help us reach where we all want to go together.”

In her remarks, Hensel highlighted major developments from the past year and priorities going into 2026, including enrollment across the 10 campuses topping 51,000 in fall 2025, the highest in eight years; the launch of Direct2糖心视频, an initiative that streamlines admission to 糖心视频 for Hawaiʻi public high school seniors; advancing artificial intelligence across the 糖心视频 System; building an integrated workforce ecosystem; improving student success, including graduation and retention rates; record extramural funding in FY2025 amid increased uncertainty in 2026; capital improvement project requests; current landscape of collegiate athletics, including the impact of NIL; and 糖心视频鈥檚 financial outlook, including state appropriations, tuition and fees, grants and reserves.

She also acknowledged ongoing challenges facing the university, such as swiftly changing federal policies, and cuts to federal research grants and awards, as well as underscored the need for continued dialogue and systemwide alignment as 糖心视频 navigates a rapidly changing higher education landscape in Hawaiʻi and across the nation.

The address was livestreamed to ensure broad access for faculty, staff, students and community members across the state.

This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi system on January 12, 2026.

Aloha 糖心视频 ʻohana,

As a new semester and new years begins, our 10 campuses are once again filled with energy, purpose and possibility. This moment, when classrooms reopen, projects restart and goals come into focus, offers a chance to reset and remember why our work matters to our students, our communities and these islands.

For me, it always starts and ends with our students. Your wellbeing, your experience at 糖心视频 and your success beyond graduation guide our decisions and priorities. The world you are entering is changing rapidly, and our responsibility is to prepare you not just to navigate it, but to shape it.

None of this would be possible without our faculty, staff and administrators, those who teach, advise, mentor and support our students every day, and who make our 10-campus system work. The past year has brought a lot of change, some beyond our control and some of our own making, and I am deeply grateful for your openness, candor and commitment to continuous improvement. Your feedback, especially constructive feedback, ensures we stay on the right path.

Inaugural 10-campus system address

As I complete my first year as president, it is time for me to report back to all of you. I invite you to tune in Wednesday, January 14 at 5 p.m. to a livestream of my inaugural 10-Campus System Address, an annual event moving forward. I will share a recap of 2025, highlight successes and challenges and outline where we are headed in 2026. This is part of my commitment to transparency and accountability with my most important stakeholders: all of you. The livestream information will be sent out later this week.

Looking ahead

As this semester unfolds, I encourage each of us to step outside our comfort zones. For students, that may mean joining a club, attending a campus event for the first time or trying something new. For faculty and staff, it may mean exploring new approaches, building partnerships or participating in initiatives that move our system forward. Progress is built on curiosity, connection and shared purpose.

Here鈥檚 to a semester grounded in curiosity, care and collective progress.

With aloha,
Wendy F. Hensel
President, University of Hawaiʻi

Stay connected with President Wendy Hensel by following her on , , and .

This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi system on December 15, 2025.

Aloha 糖心视频 ʻohana,

As the year comes to a close, I want to take a moment to pause and reflect and express my heartfelt mahalo. In just a few weeks, I will mark one year as president of the University of Hawaiʻi, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve this extraordinary university in one of the most beautiful and meaningful places in the world.

Throughout the past year, I鈥檝e spent time on our campuses and had the chance to get to know many of you. I have seen your dedication up close in how you learn, work and support one another, especially during moments of challenge and accomplishment. That care is felt everywhere.

To our students, mahalo for placing your trust in 糖心视频 and for bringing your ideas, energy and voices to our campuses. You inspire us and remind us daily of the purpose of our work.

To our faculty and staff, mahalo for your dedication to teaching, research, service and student success. Your expertise and compassion are the foundation of this institution and make a lasting difference across our state.

As we enter the holiday season, I hope you鈥檙e able to rest, recharge and spend meaningful time with loved ones. May this be a time of reflection, renewal and gratitude.

I am so honored to continue this journey with you and look forward to the year ahead as we listen, learn and build together.

With warmest aloha and best wishes for the holidays,

Wendy Hensel
President, University of Hawaiʻi

Stay connected with President Wendy Hensel by following her on , , and .

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel briefed the 糖心视频 Board of Regents (BOR) on the aftermath of the 43-day federal government shutdown, student support measures and key operational initiatives during her monthly President鈥檚 Report at the November 20 BOR meeting at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补.

Hensel noted that normal operations at federal agencies resumed on November 12, and 糖心视频 lifted temporary spending safeguards the following day. Federally funded extramural projects, subawards and Research and Training Revolving Fund use have all returned to standard procedures.

To help students facing financial hardship from the prolonged shutdown, Hensel reaffirmed a temporary grace period that allows students to register for spring 2026 despite unpaid fall 2025 balances. Payment plans will be available in January 2026.

She also highlighted food distribution efforts at Windward and Leeward Community Colleges in partnership with Hawaiʻi Foodbank, and a 糖心视频 M膩noa Athletics food drive.

Hensel provided an update on the major upgrade of the Banner Student Information System, expected to be largely in place by January 3, with full transition by summer. The modernization will improve integration, financial aid processing and mobile-friendly tools across the 10-campus system.

• Federal Government Shutdown ()
• Temporary grace period for registration holds ()
• Food aid efforts: Leeward CC, Windward CC, 糖心视频 M膩noa Athletics ()
• Banner information system transition ()
• 糖心视频 News: C-MORE 15th anniversary ()
• 糖心视频 News: $1.5 million gift for Lunalilo Scholars ()
• 糖心视频 News: Athletics accolades ()