Students Plan to ‘Fight the Hike’ with Tuition-Opposing Rallies

The University of Hawaii at Hilo campus. File courtesy photo.

University of Hawai’i at Hilo and Hawai’i Community College students who oppose tuition increases plan to have their voices heard on Thursday when UH officials host two public hearings to discuss proposed tuition increasse.

The Hilo meetings are scheduled to take place at the Hawai’i CC campus at 12 p.m. and at 4 p.m. at UH-Hilo.

Students have organized what they are calling “Fight the Hike” rallies on both campuses to show opposition to the increases.

Associated Students of the University of Hawai’i-Hawai’i Community College passes a resolution that opposed the tuition increase on April 22.

On April 22, the Associated Students of the University of Hawai’i-Hawai’i Community College passed a resolution that opposed the tuition increase. The resolution noted increasing student debt and tuition.

“These tuition increases are making public education too expensive for the public. We need affordable higher education,” said ASUHawCC Member Asia Olsen.

Proposed changes would go into effect for Fall 2017 through Spring 2020.

UH officials say the meetings will explain the rationale for the tuition proposal and what the increases would be used for.

University of Hawai’i proposed tuition increases.

The tuition meetings are open to the public and testimony, both oral and written, will be accepted.

Input gathered through the state-wide meetings will be considered when making a final recommendation to the UH Board of Regents in June.

Meetings began across the state on March 28 and will run through May 5. A meeting at the Hawai’i Community College–Palamanui campus was held on April 12.