Hawaiʻi CC Welcomes New Chancellor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34YtvmJyBXs&feature=youtu.be

A kīpaepae welina (Native Hawaiian welcoming ceremony) was held for new Hawaiʻi Community Colleges Chancellor Rachel Solemsaas on Monday, Aug. 15, 2016, at HCC Hilo.

Chancellor Solemsaas, who started on July 1, has 27 years of progressive public service experience that includes 12 years at community colleges. She most recently served as the vice president of finance and administration at Truckee Meadows Community College in Nevada.

In attendance were Vice President of Community Colleges John Morton, Hawaii CC faculty and staff, and community members.

Kīpaepae Welina is a traditional Native Hawaiian welcoming ceremony developed at Hawaiʻi Community Colleges that including chants, hula, sharing of ʻawa and presenting of lei.

Hawai‘i CC is one of seven community colleges in the UH system and is based in Hilo with a new branch campus, Hawaiʻi Community College – Pālamanui, in West Hawaiʻi.

Hawaiʻi CC provides access to affordable, high-quality education, offering 26 degree and certificate programs including liberal arts, natural science, Hawaiian studies, electronics, carpentry, auto body and culinary arts.

Hawai‘i CC has an average enrollment of approximately 3,000 students each year.

The UH Community Colleges were recently named the most affordable in the country according to a study by the University of Pennsylvania.