After meeting with BYU-Hawaii administrators over the past several days, the executive board of trustees for the Church Education System gave its approval of BYU-Hawaii's progress and direction in a meeting with faculty and staff yesterday.
The board is comprised of Elder Richard G. Scott, chair, Elder Robert D. Hales, Elder Rolfe Kerr, Commissioner of Education, the presidents of the other church schools and many others.
In the meeting with faculty and staff held yesterday, Elder Kerr explained that the object of the visit was to for the board to become more acquainted with some of the major issues, concerns and initiatives currently facing BYU-Hawaii.
Among the programs considered by the board during its visit was the issue and concern of housing in the communities surrounding the university.
"We want you to know that we are very sensitive to those issues and concerns that many of you have regarding [housing]," he assured listeners. "We will monitor very carefully the progress and plans that are being developed."
"We want you to know that you have our absolute confidence," Elder Kerr continued. "We are very proud of what is happening here. We see a marvelous contribution being made to the building of the kingdom - the great influence that you are having and will continue to have on the lives of students that will literally spread around the world."
Elder Scott then fielded several questions from the faculty and staff. One such question addressed the concern that the housing situation demands a more immediate solution prior to the time it would take for a long term project to be enacted through Hawaii Reserves Incorporated.
"As far as the board is concerned, this is one of the very highest priorities that we have," Elder Scott said, reiterating Elder Kerr's previous remarks. "As long as we can coordinate those two efforts, meet the constraints and still make affordable housing, we want to support that."
Elder Scott concluded by giving his approval of the progress BYU-Hawaii has made in recent years and the direction it is taking.
"For a long time, I wasn't really sure how this campus was going to fit in to the overall objectives of Church Education," he said. "Now each one of our campuses has a very clear path .... I would like to express gratitude for how well you are accomplishing that.
"It seems somehow very satisfying that there is a clear direction that this campus knows the major things that you're working on," he continued. "Because of that, you'll enjoy the support of the officers of the board on those critical decisions that go to them."