June 12, 2006

To All Supporters of Educational Opportunities for Pacific Islanders,

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents is proposing to dramatically increase the cost of tuition for Pacific Islander students attending the University of Hawaii. This action, if implemented, will have devastating long term negative impacts upon the individuals seeking educational opportunities, to the Pacific Island families and communities, and to the economies of Pacific Island governments, and to the University itself, among other serious consequences. The following observations are made based upon more than 30 years of living in Micronesia and having an indigenous wife of 24 years and two daughters.

While many goodarguments can be made as to why this proposed action by the Board of Regents should not be implemented, six seem particularly compelling to me:

1. Using available statistics from U.S. Federal, local government, and private sector studies we know that more than 90% of all Pacific Islander families in Micronesia fall below the U.S. poverty line. In the CNMI for example, some 84% of all students qualify for Federally subsidized hot lunches under Federal poverty income guidelines. It is clear that Pacific Island families simply could not afford to send their sons and daughters to the University of Hawaii if this tuition increase, as proposed, in implemented. As it is there are a limited number able to do so;
2. There are very few financial aid grants, scholarships, and loans available to the vast majority of Pacific Island students to attend colleges or universities, even the very few lower cost postsecondary institutions which are located in Micronesia and Guam. This proposed tuition increase will make it impossible for these students to ever achieve their goals of a postsecondary education with all of the attending harmful consequences noted above;
3. The extremely few postsecondary institutions in Micronesia offer a very limited number of postsecondary programs and degrees. Most offer a few certification and Associate (A.A.) degree level programs. Northern Marianas College offers a B.A. in Elementary Education;
4. Through this action by the Board, if implemented, the University of Hawaii will likely see a reduction in its Pacific Island student population which will likely approach 100%. The University prides itself on being the premiere postsecondary institution in the Pacific Region, especially for the Micronesian population for reasons noted above. This proposed tuition increase, if approved, will effectively eliminate University 'pride' as the premiere postsecondary institution for Micronesia as there will likely be very few who can afford to attend;
5. Perhaps the most devastating impact of this action will be on the development of Micronesian communities and governments. The University of Hawaii action will mean that indigenous people will almost certainly not have access to a wide variety of postsecondary majors, areas of specialization, and advanced degree's which will allow them to return home and help improve their communities and governments. Instead, these Pacific Island communities and governments will continue to be forced to rely on outside, non local, non indigenous professionals who do not understand or appreciate the languages, customs, culture, or history of the people, and place in which they work. Worse, we will continue the long tradition of constantly having to recruit and replace non local professionals who come on limited term contracts and then leave after two or three years - or less. This in turn requires the economically challenged Micronesian governments to spend scarce funds recruiting expensive non local professionals, providing costly benefits such as airfare, repatriation, housing and other costs. A never ending vicious cycle; and
6. This enormous increase in tuition for Pacific Islanders, if approved, will change the make up of the student population of the University itself. It will change the diversity of the Pacific Island cultures represented by the students from these areas who can now afford to attend, but will be gone with the proposed increase. This loss will have a significant impact on the University institutions, organizations, courses, classes, other students, and the Mission ofthe University. It will mean that the input, the character, the insight, the variety and diversity of ideas, and related resources provided to the University and its students and programs by Pacific Island students will be lost. In the process the University will lose a great resource - the very diversity it says it wants, seeks, and needs.

Please feel free to use the ideas detailed above, and your own concerns in your own terms, to help the University of Hawaii Board of Regents make an informed decision. That decision if reached with well rounded, well thought out, and with a clear understanding of the consequences to the people of Micronesia and the University itself, will undoubtedly be to keep the tuition rates as they are. The benefits to both the Micronesian people, the University, and all of its parts will be unmistakably more important than the action they are contemplating with the attending devastating consequences- some of which are detailed above. You will undoubtedly be able to add your own input and pass that on to the appropriate University Board of Regents. Time is short, so please act as soon as possible. In addition, please pass this information to others who can help in assisting the Board to make the appropriate decision which will benefit everyone - keep tuition rates for Micronesian students at the present level.

Your immediate help in this effort is, to put it mildly, absolutely essential.

Sincerely,

Daniel H. Nielsen
Office of the Governor
Special Advisor for Education
Saipan, CNMI