Position Specification
Hawai‘i Pacific University
Hawai‘i Pacific University
Chartered in 1965 as Hawai‘i Pacific College, Hawai‘i Pacific University (HPU) is the largest private university in the central Pacific. With a thriving scientific research institute, HPU provides its diverse student body with an education rooted in the liberal arts tradition. Home to more than 5,700
undergraduate students and 1,100 graduate students, representing over 80 countries, HPU is committed to educating global citizens and is committed to a population of students from three areas: Hawai‘i, U.S. sister states and other countries around the world.
HPU’s largest academic programs are in Biology, Business Administration, Communications, Diplomacy and Military Studies, Marine Sciences, Nursing (the largest program in the state), and Psychology. HPU has two main campuses in addition to the Oceanic Institute, a marine-focused research facility, and programs at seven military installations throughout Oahu. HPU’s downtown Honolulu campus serves most of the business, liberal arts, and other general programs while the Hawai‘i Loa campus on the windward side of the Ko‘olau Range houses the majority of the science programs and residential housing. In August, 2015, HPU opened the Aloha Tower Marketplace, a world-class center for higher education and dynamic community gathering space on the downtown campus.
The institution is a Private Not-for-Profit, Master’s L (Larger Programs) institution under the basic Carnegie Classification of Institutions. HPU is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission. Most professional degree programs are additionally accredited by discipline-specific accrediting bodies (including the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)). HPU is also a member of many nationally recognized groups including the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Position Specification Ref: President Hawai‘i Pacific University
Mission Statement
“Hawai‘i Pacific University is an international learning community set in the rich cultural context of Hawai‘i. Students from around the world join us for an American education built on a liberal arts foundation. Our innovative undergraduate and graduate programs anticipate the changing needs of the community and prepare our graduates to live, work, and learn as active members of a global society.”
Academics
HPU offers more than 50 acclaimed undergraduate programs and 14 distinguished graduate programs. Its online MBA program has received numerous accolades. HPU continues to be a best Regional
University in the West on the US News & World Report rankings. HPU’s graduate Nursing program has likewise been recognized by US News & World Report as nationally ranked for multiple years. College Faculty has ranked HPU as the most diverse university in the United States for the last three years.
According to Payscale’s 2014 College Return on Investment study, HPU ranked the best in Hawai‘i. It was also rated as one of the “Top West Coast Schools for Salary Potential.” In addition HPU has been repeatedly listed as one of Barron’s Best Buys in College Education.
Campuses and Locations
With three locations linked by shuttle, HPU combines the excitement of an urban downtown campus with the serenity of a residential campus set in the green foothills of the windward side of the island.
The main campus is located in downtown Honolulu, the State’s business and financial center. The Aloha Tower Marketplace on the downtown campus is a mixed-use development that converted a failing retail mall into a secure and modern residence for approximately 275 students, along with educational
support facilities, retail space, and gathering places for the entire community.
Eight miles away, situated on 135 acres in Kaneohe, the windward Hawai‘i Loa campus is the site of the Nursing, Marine Biology, Oceanography, and Environmental Science programs, as well as many general education courses.
The Oceanic Institute is an aquaculture research facility located on a 56-acre site at the picturesque Makapu‘u shoreline. The Oceanic Institute is the home of the Marine Science Program and is a global center for research and education in marine environmental and life sciences.
Military Programs
HPU consistently earns high marks for servicing military and veterans. U.S. News & World Report ranks HPU No. 27 on its Best Colleges for Veterans, Regional Universities (West) list for 2015 — the only Hawai‘i school ranked. These are the top schools that participate in federal initiatives helping veterans and active-duty service members apply for, pay for, and complete their degrees.
For seven years running, the Military Advanced Education (MAE) Guide to Colleges & Universities has named HPU as a Top School. This honor ranks HPU in the top 10 percent of military friendly schools,
based on academics and veteran support. G.I. Jobs magazine also recognizes HPU as a Military Friendly School, placing it in top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools nationwide, from 2010-2014.
The Council of College and Military Educators (CCME) Board honored HPU with its prestigious 2010 Institution Award, for significant contributions to the cause of military education. CCME recognized HPU as a university that supplies high quality education programs to the armed services and is directly involved in the support of voluntary off-duty education to the armed forces.
International Programs
Hawai‘i Pacific University, as part of its emphasis on international education, maintains various affiliations and exchange programs with academic institutions worldwide. HPU has over 300 program options in more than 65 different countries with dozens of partner schools all over the world. Students can delve into Diplomacy, Peace and Conflict Studies in Israel; Finance majors can pursue credit bearing internship in Shanghai; Environmental Studies majors can conduct field research in the Great Barrier Reef or study costal ecology in Tanzania.
Within the past year, five HPU students received the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Study Abroad Scholarship ranging from $3,000-$8,000.
This year HPU was selected by the Japan Foundation and Consulate General of Japan Office in Hawai‘i to participate in a fully funded 9-day study tour to Japan for 23 students and 2 chaperones.
HPU also has a highly acclaimed and diverse Model United Nations program with students from Myanmar, Canada, Pakistan, Germany and the United States. They have earned recognition for their efforts by earning an Excellent Delegation ranking at the National Model United Nations program in New York, N.Y.
Athletics
The Hawai‘i Pacific University Sharks compete in NCAA Division II (Pacific West Conference), offering 14 sports: Men's Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer and Tennis; and Women's Acrobatics & Tumbling, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
HPU Athletics brings excellence and visibility at the collegiate level, epitomized by its rallying cry of "Go the Distance." Since 1978, the program has won five national championships, with three national championships in women's volleyball (1990-NAIA, 1998-NCAA DII, and 2000-NCAA DII), one in men's basketball (1993-NAIA), and one in softball (2010-NCAA DII).
The program also contributes to the community. At the annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day community event, Sharks teach clinics to participating girls, while individual teams participate in community service projects throughout the school year.
Position Specification Ref: President Hawai‘i Pacific University
Candidate Profile
Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the new President will lead HPU into a new era of defining HPU’s aspirations, expanding its resource base, and fulfilling its promise of academic quality and excellence. The Board seeks an outstanding, inspirational and entrepreneurial leader who will lead HPU into and through a pivotal time in its history, will help create a unifying academic vision, and will build the academic credibility of HPU as it becomes a major institution of higher education in the region and beyond.
In terms of the performance and personal competencies required for the position, we would highlight the following:
Strategic Vision, Business Acumen, and Innovation:
The next President will be an outstanding leader who is able to set forth a strategic vision, gain buy-in to that vision, and lead an organization towards the fulfillment of that vision. She or he will have proven experience setting priorities and leading organizations to success, a demonstrated commitment to operational effectiveness, and a track record of successful resource stewardship. The next President will be an innovative leader, willing to take calculated risks in pursuit of HPU’s goals.
Management & Leadership Experience:
The new President will have experience leading a complex organization with multiple, diverse constituencies. She or he will actively engage and energize local and national stakeholders, board members, faculty, alumni, funding agencies, and donors. She or he will have a transparent and inclusive management style that empowers and informs, and, leading by example, will, encourage transparency, openness, and mutual respect amongst faculty, staff, and the Board. The next President will have a track record of attracting, retaining, and motivating top talent, as well as the ability to set priorities, delegate responsibilities, assure accountability, and allocate resources to ensure results.
Communication, Fundraising and Relationship Building:
The new President will be a dynamic and effective communicator, able to articulate HPU’s direction and strategy, both internally and externally, and to build commitment to the university and its mission. She or he will have a history of successful relationship building, friend-raising and fundraising, and be able to effectively engage one-on-one as well as with large audiences. Experience leading capital and
endowment campaigns would be beneficial.
Passion for the Mission:
The next President of HPU will be passionate about education and student success. She or he will have a knowledge of the trends in higher education and a desire to keep HPU “ahead of the curve.”
Cultural Sensitivity:
The next President should have experience working and living in a significantly multi-cultural
environment; be able to embrace the cultures prevalent in the state, including Native Hawaiian, Asian, Pacific Islander, and other cultures of the world.
Additional information on the HPU and the position may be found on the website: www.hpu.edu.
Contact
While applications and nominations will be accepted until the new President is selected, interested parties may submit their materials or nominations to HPU’s executive search consultant:
Mirah Horowitz
Russell Reynolds Associates 260 Homer Avenue, Suite 202 Palo Alto, CA 94301-2777 Tel: +1-650-233-2400 Direct: +1-650-233-2417 Fax: +1-650-233-2499 [email protected] Justus O’Brien
Russell Reynolds Associates 200 Park Avenue, Suite 2300 New York, NY 10166-0002 Tel: +1-212-351-2000 Direct: +1-212-351-2000 Fax: +1.212.370.0896
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations should contact Diana Niles-Hansen, Interim Associate
