University of Hawaii Chancellor Clarifies Decision to Shutter Ombuds Office

In a letter to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, the UH Chancellor addresses the decision to close the Ombuds Office rather than continue with a reduced number of staff.

To the Editor:

As the Honolulu Star-Bulletin reported on August 13, the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa regrets that budget reductions necessitate the closure of our Ombuds Office. We wish to clarify that UHM had intended to continue the efforts of the Ombuds Office after Neal Milner's departure. Had the budgetary issues not arisen, it was anticipated that Susan Park, who currently serves as the UHM Ombuds, would have taken leadership of the Office. Unfortunately, as we have stated, current fiscal realities facing UH Mānoa limit our abilities to support the program.

Yours truly,
Virginia S. Hinshaw
UH Mānoa Chancellor

(Via email from Gregg Takayama, UH Manoa Director of Community and Government Affairs.)

Prior post: Budget Cuts Force Closure of University of Hawaii Ombuds Office.