Institutional Profile

UH System Overview

The University of Hawai’i (UH), established in 1907, is a land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant university, with the mission of serving the public by creating, preserving, and transmitting knowledge in a multi-cultural environment, supporting the values and goals of a democratic society and improving quality of life for present and future generations.

The UH system includes three university campuses and seven community colleges, conferring associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees; plus a number of university and education centers, and research facilities, across the Hawaiʻian Islands. All campuses of the UH system are accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and is the only state-supported institution of higher learning in Hawai’i. Numerous professional programs offered by UH campuses are also separately accredited by their appropriate professional accrediting body.

UH is positioned to take advantage of the islands’ unique location, physical, and biological environment, and rich cultural setting. As the only public higher education institution in Hawai’i, the UH system bears a special responsibility to prepare a highly educated citizenry. In addition, the system supports the creation of quality jobs and the preparation of an educated workforce to fill them. Building on the strong liberal arts foundation, the UH system prepares the full array of workers from engineers, scientists, physicians, to artists, teachers, technicians, to marketing specialists who are needed in a technologically advanced and culturally diverse island state.

Profile

Title III and Title V Programs of the Higher Education Act of 1965

Each campus of the University of Hawaiʻi System may apply annually for eligibility under the US Department of Education’s Title III and Title V programs as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiʻian-serving institutions and/or Asian Americans and Native American Pacific Islanders-serving institutions. Eligibility status is approved or denied by U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education.

Current eligibility letters by campus are linked here:

Qualifying UH campuses may be described as a “Minority Serving Institution”, which is a general term that includes specific designations such as “Native Hawaiʻian-serving Institution” and “Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution”.

UH does not qualify as a “Minority Institution” as defined by Section 365(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067k), and when the definition of “minority” is limited to “American Indian, Alaskan Native, Black (not of Hispanic origin), Hispanic (including persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central or South American origin), Pacific Islander or other ethnic group underrepresented in science and engineering.”

The term “Minority Institution” is often used in federal science and engineering solicitations, and sometimes as a limited submission restriction. This term should not be confused with “Minority Serving Institution”. Principal investigators looking to apply to solicitations using these terms are encouraged to read the eligibility requirements carefully. If eligibility requirements are unclear, please seek guidance from the solicitation’s program officer or administrative contact, or contact your assigned ORS Specialist for assistance.

Title III Program Descriptions

Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian (ANNH)

The ANNH program helps eligible institutions of higher education increase their self-sufficiency and expand their capacity to serve low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen the academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability of eligible applicants.

Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPISI)

The purpose of the AANAPISI program is to support institutions of higher education in their effort to increase their self-sufficiency through two-year grants to improve academic programs, institutional management, and fiscal stability.

Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP)

SIP helps postsecondary schools expand their capacity to serve low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen their academic quality, institutional management and fiscal stability, as well as build a framework to help students complete college.

More information on these and other Title III programs may be found on the U.S. Department of Education website at: https://www.ed.gov/programs/landing?src=ln.

FICE or OPEID Code