HB 1320: UH; Higher Education; Graduate Outcomes; Reports; Appropriations

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that greater transparency is needed regarding graduate outcomes in higher education.  Publicly reporting data on educational institutions' post‑graduation employment rates, median incomes, and other metrics will allow students and their families to make informed decisions about the student's career path and which educational institution the student will attend.  Tracking and reporting this data will also help ensure institutional accountability and align higher education programs with the State's workforce development needs.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Require the university of Hawaii system to collect, analyze, and publicly report certain data on graduate outcomes;

     (2)  Require and appropriate funds for the development and maintenance of a graduate outcomes dashboard; and

     (3)  Appropriate funds for the establishment of positions with the university of Hawaii system's office of the vice president for academic strategy to support this work.

     The legislature declares that the purpose of this Act is a matter of statewide concern pursuant to article X, section 6, of the Hawaii State Constitution.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding three new sections to subpart A of part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§304A-A  Graduate outcomes; data collection and reporting requirements.  (a)  The university shall collect and publish data on the outcomes of its graduates within one year, three years, and five years of the student's graduation.

     (b)  Data sources for graduate outcomes may include:

     (1)  State workforce agency employment records;

     (2)  Graduate surveys;

     (3)  Federal databases, including the United States Census Bureau's post-secondary employment outcomes program; and

     (4)  Employer-reported data, where applicable.

     (c)  The following metrics on graduate outcomes shall be tracked and publicly reported:

     (1)  Employment rates;

     (2)  Median earnings;

     (3)  The percentage of graduates enrolled in a continuing education program; and

     (4)  Any other metrics the university deems relevant.

     (d)  When possible, the data tracked and reported pursuant to subsection (c) shall be disaggregated by:

     (1)  Degree level;

     (2)  Field of study; and

     (3)  Racial demographic.

     (e)  All publicly reported data shall be anonymized to prevent the identification of individual graduates and shall comply with all applicable state and federal privacy laws, including the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

     §304A-B  Graduate outcomes dashboard.  The university shall develop and maintain a centralized graduate outcomes dashboard, made publicly available on a website, that presents in a user-friendly format the university's graduate outcome data collected pursuant to section 304-A.  The dashboard shall include:

     (1)  Interactive tools for filtering data by institution, degree level, field of study, and racial demographic;

     (2)  Visualization tools, including charts and graphs, to compare outcomes across educational institutions and programs; and

     (3)  Resources for prospective students, including information on in-demand careers and average student debt levels.

     §304A-C  Reporting requirements.  (a)  The office of the vice president for academic strategy of the university shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, beginning with the regular session of 2027.  The report shall include:

     (1)  An annual summary evaluating institutional performance and workforce alignment;

     (2)  Any other metrics the university deems relevant; and

     (3)  Any proposed legislation."

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the development and maintenance of a graduate outcomes dashboard, including the establishment of the following positions within the office of the vice president for academic strategy of the university of Hawaii:

     (1)        full-time equivalent (      FTE) position focused on post-graduation workforce outcomes; and

     (2)        full-time equivalent (      FTE) position focused on data visualization.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  The university of Hawaii shall begin collecting data as required by this Act no later than one year after the effective date of this Act; provided that the graduate outcomes dashboard as required by this Act shall be made publicly available no later than two years after the effective date of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

     SECTION 6.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect on July 31, 2050; provided that section 3 of this Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

Report Title:

UH; Higher Education; Graduate Outcomes; Reports; Appropriations

Description:

Requires the University of Hawaii System to collect, analyze, and publicly report certain graduate outcome data.  Requires and appropriates funds for the development and maintenance of a graduate outcomes dashboard.  Appropriates funds for positions within the University of Hawaii's Office of the Vice President of Academic Strategy.  Requires annual reports to the Legislature.  Effective 7/31/2050.  (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that greater transparency is needed regarding graduate outcomes in higher education.  Publicly reporting data on educational institutions' post‑graduation employment rates, median incomes, and other metrics will allow students and their families to make informed decisions about the student's career path and which educational institution the student will attend.  Tracking and reporting this data will also help ensure institutional accountability and align higher education programs with the State's workforce development needs.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Require the university of Hawaii system to collect, analyze, and publicly report certain data on graduate outcomes;

     (2)  Require and appropriate funds for the development and maintenance of a graduate outcomes dashboard; and

     (3)  Appropriate funds for the establishment of positions with the university of Hawaii system's office of the vice president for academic strategy to support this work.

     The legislature declares that the purpose of this Act is a matter of statewide concern.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding three new sections to part I, subpart A, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§304A-A  Graduate outcomes; data collection and reporting requirements.  (a)  The university of Hawaii system shall collect and publish data on the outcomes of its graduates within one year, three years, and five years of the student's graduation.

     (b)  Data sources for graduate outcomes may include:

     (1)  State workforce agency employment records;

     (2)  Graduate surveys;

     (3)  Federal databases, including the United States Census Bureau's post-secondary employment outcomes program; and

     (4)  Employer-reported data, where applicable.

     (c)  The following metrics on graduate outcomes shall be tracked and publicly reported:

     (1)  Employment rates;

     (2)  Median earnings;

     (3)  The percentage of graduates enrolled in a continuing education program; and

     (4)  Any other metrics the university of Hawaii system deems relevant.

     (d)  When possible, the data tracked and reported pursuant to subsection (c) shall be disaggregated by:

     (1)  Degree level;

     (2)  Field of study; and

     (3)  Racial demographic.

     (e)  All publicly reported data shall be anonymized to prevent the identification of individual graduates and shall comply with all applicable state and federal privacy laws, including the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

     §304A-B  Graduate outcomes dashboard.  The university of Hawaii system shall develop and maintain a centralized graduate outcomes dashboard, made publicly available on a website, that presents in a user-friendly format the university's graduate outcome data collected pursuant to section 304-A.  The dashboard shall include:

     (1)  Interactive tools for filtering data by institution, degree level, field of study, and racial demographic;

     (2)  Visualization tools, including charts and graphs, to compare outcomes across educational institutions and programs; and

     (3)  Resources for prospective students, including information on in-demand careers and average student debt levels.

     §304A-C  Reporting requirements.  (a)  The university of Hawaii system's office of the vice president for academic strategy shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, beginning with the regular session of 2027.  The report shall include:

     (1)  An annual summary evaluating institutional performance and workforce alignment;

     (2)  Any other metrics the university of Hawaii system deems relevant; and

     (3)  Any proposed legislation."

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the development and maintenance of a graduate outcomes dashboard, including the establishment of the following positions within the office of the vice president for academic strategy:

     (1)       full-time equivalent (     FTE) position focused on post-graduation workforce outcomes; and

     (2)       full-time equivalent (     FTE) position focused on data visualization.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by university of Hawaii system for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  The university of Hawaii system shall begin collecting data as required by this Act no later than one year after the effective date of this Act; provided that the graduate outcomes dashboard as required by this Act shall be made publicly available no later than two years after the effective date of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

     SECTION 6.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000; provided that section 3 of this Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

Report Title:

UH; Higher Education; Graduate Outcomes; Report; Appropriation

Description:

Requires the University of Hawaii system to collect, analyze, and publicly report certain graduate outcome data.  Requires and appropriates funds for the development and maintenance of a graduate outcomes dashboard.  Appropriates funds for positions within the University of Hawaii's Office of the Vice President of Academic Strategy.  Requires annual reports to the Legislature.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that greater transparency is needed regarding graduate outcomes in higher education.  Publicly reporting data on educational institutions' post‑graduation employment rates, median incomes, and other metrics will allow students and their families to make informed decisions about the student's career path and which educational institution the student will attend.  Tracking and reporting this data will also help ensure institutional accountability and align higher education programs with the State's workforce development needs.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Require the university of Hawaii system to collect, analyze, and publicly report certain data on graduate outcomes;

     (2)  Require and appropriate moneys for the development and maintenance of a graduate outcomes dashboard; and

     (3)  Appropriate moneys for the establishment of two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) positions with the university of Hawaii system's office of the vice president for academic strategy to support this work.

     The legislature declares that the purpose of this Act is a matter of statewide concern.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding three new sections to part I, subpart A, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§304A-     Graduate outcomes; data collection and reporting requirements.  (a)  The university of Hawaii system shall collect and publish data on the outcomes of its graduates within one year, three years, and five years of the student's graduation.

     (b)  Data sources for graduate outcomes may include:

     (1)  State workforce agency employment records;

     (2)  Graduate surveys;

     (3)  Federal databases, including the United States Census Bureau's post-secondary employment outcomes program; and

     (4)  Employer-reported data, where applicable.

     (c)  The following metrics on graduate outcomes shall be tracked and publicly reported:

     (1)  Employment rates;

     (2)  Median earnings;

     (3)  The percentage of graduates enrolled in a continuing education program; and

     (4)  Any other metrics the university of Hawaii system deems relevant.

     (d)  When possible, the data tracked and reported pursuant to subsection (c) shall be disaggregated by:

     (1)  Degree level;

     (2)  Field of study; and

     (3)  Racial demographic.

     (e)  All publicly reported data shall be anonymized to prevent the identification of individual graduates and shall comply with all applicable state and federal privacy laws, including the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

     §304A-     Graduate outcomes dashboard.  The university of Hawaii system shall develop and maintain a centralized graduate outcomes dashboard, made publicly available on a website, that presents in a user-friendly format the university's graduate outcome data.  The dashboard shall include:

     (1)  Interactive tools for filtering data by institution, degree level, field of study, and racial demographic;

     (2)  Visualization tools, including charts and graphs, to compare outcomes across educational institutions and programs; and

     (3)  Resources for prospective students, including information on in-demand careers and average student debt levels.

     §304A-     Reporting requirements.  (a)  The university of Hawaii system's office of the vice president for academic strategy shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, beginning with the regular session of 2027.  The report shall include:

     (1)  An annual summary evaluating institutional performance and workforce alignment;

     (2)  Any other metrics the university of Hawaii system deems relevant; and

     (3)  Any proposed legislation."

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the development and maintenance of a graduate outcomes dashboard, including the establishment of the following positions within the office of the vice president for academic strategy:

     (1)  One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position focused on post-graduation workforce outcomes; and

     (2)  One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position focused on data visualization.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by university of Hawaii system for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  The university of Hawaii system shall begin collecting data as required by this Act no later than one year after the effective date of this Act; provided that the graduate outcomes dashboard shall be made publicly available no later than two years after the effective date of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 3 of this Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

Report Title:

UH; Higher Education; Graduate Outcomes; Appropriation; Report

Description:

Requires the University of Hawaii system to collect, analyze, and publicly report certain graduate outcome data.  Requires and appropriates moneys for the development and maintenance of a graduate outcomes dashboard.  Appropriates moneys for 2.0 FTE positions within the University of Hawaii's Office of the Vice President of Academic Strategy.  Requires annual reports to the Legislature.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1795

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1320

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1320, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a database on graduate outcomes in higher education.

     More specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Requires the University of Hawaii System to collect, analyze, and publicly report certain data on graduate outcomes;

     (2)  Requires, and appropriates moneys for, the development and maintenance of a graduate outcomes dashboard; and

     (3)  Appropriates moneys for the establishment of positions in the University of Hawaii System's Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System.

Your Committee finds that publicly reporting data on educational institutions' post-graduation employment rates, median incomes, and other metrics will enable students and their families to make informed decisions about student career paths and which educational institution a student will attend.  Your Committee additionally finds that tracking and reporting this data will also help ensure institutional accountability and align higher education programs with the State's workforce development needs.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1320, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1136

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1320

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1320, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require the University of Hawaii System to collect, analyze, and publicly report certain data on graduate outcomes;

     (2)  Require and appropriate funds for the development and maintenance of a Graduate Outcomes Dashboard; and

     (3)  Appropriate funds for the establishment of positions within the Office of the Vice President of Academic Strategy of the University of Hawaii System.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System.

     Your Committee finds that greater transparency is needed regarding outcomes in higher education.  Your Committee further finds that requiring the University of Hawaii to publicly report data on postgraduate outcomes will provide prospective students and their families the ability to make more informed decisions about the student's education and possible career path.  Your Committee also finds that requiring the University of Hawaii to publicly report this data will allow the University to adjust and refine its programs to better serve the community and contribute to the State's economic development.  This measure will ensure greater institutional accountability and align higher education programs with the State's workforce development needs.

     Your Committee notes that the Office of the Vice President of Academic Strategy of the University of Hawaii has requested funding to establish new positions within the Office specializing in data visualization to assist in the development and maintenance of the Graduate Outcomes Dashboard.  Your Committee further notes that the University of Hawaii System is an extensive organization that employs many skilled individuals across its various departments, including those proficient in data visualization.  Therefore, your Committee believes that it is more cost-effective for the Office of the Vice President of Academic Strategy to leverage the expertise of individuals already employed by the University rather than establish new positions.

     Your Committee additionally believes that the Office of the Vice President of Academic Strategy should explore implementing an internship program to employ students with expertise in data visualization to assist in the development and maintenance of the Graduate Outcomes Dashboard.

     Your Committee further notes that the Graduate Outcomes Dashboard as proposed may provide students with inadequate or potentially duplicative information available through other resources that may obscure other potential career pathways students may want to consider.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an effective date of July 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1320, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1320, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  919

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 1320

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1320, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require the University of Hawaii System to collect, analyze, and publicly report certain data on graduate outcomes; and

     (2)  Require and appropriate funds for the development and maintenance of a graduate outcomes dashboard, including the establishment of two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) positions with the University of Hawaii System's Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy to support the development and maintenance of the graduate outcomes dashboard.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1320, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  184

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 1320

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1320 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require the University of Hawaii System to collect, analyze, and publicly report certain data on graduate outcomes; and

     (2)  Require and appropriate funds for the development and maintenance of a graduate outcomes dashboard, including for the establishment of two full-time equivalent positions with the University of Hawaii System's Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy to support the development and maintenance of the graduate outcomes dashboard.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System.

     Your Committee finds that publicly reporting data on certain metrics of educational institutions, including post‑graduation employment rates and median incomes will enable students and their families to make informed decisions about the student's career path and which educational institution the student will attend.  Your Committee further finds tracking and reporting this data will help ensure institutional accountability and align higher education programs with Hawaii's workforce development needs.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the amount of positions to be established to an unspecified amount;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to determine the appropriate number of positions to be established to support the development and maintenance of the graduate outcomes dashboard as required by this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1320, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1320, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,