HPU Receives Grant to Support Native Hawaiian Education
HPU has received a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to support the education of Native Hawaiian and first-time freshman from underserved communities. The $50,000 grant will protect and preserve HPU’s Hawaiʻi and Pacific art collection, expand its online library collection, and deliver library information literacy programs.
“The pandemic has highlighted the importance of expanded distance learning resources, including eBooks, streaming video, and online literacy workshops,” said HPU Senior Vice President and Provost Jennifer Walsh, Ph.D. “We have students identified in this project who are overcoming obstacles in their pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. This grant will provide significant support for these students and for all students at HPU.”
The grant will be split into 3 activities. The first will be to preserve and protect its Hawaiʻi and Pacific art collection. This collection houses rare books, tapa cloth, shells, textiles, art, pottery, mats, and other artifacts that require consultation with a preservationist.
The second activity will be to expand HPU’s eBook collection. This will ensure that incoming freshman who are studying online or in remote locations can access a wide variety of electronic publications. The university will supplement its eBook collection with streaming videos that support the content and delivery of academic courses.
The third activity will be to create information literacy workshops that will introduce new students to the availability of all library resources, including HPU’s Hawaiʻi and Pacific art collection, eBook holdings, and streaming video titles to enhance first-year students’ awareness of Hawaiʻi and Pacific cultures.
“I am excited to receive this grant, which with greatly benefit our students, particularly those Native Hawaiian and other minority students who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic,” said HPU Assistant Provost Valentina M. Abordonado, Ph.D., principal investigator of the grant.
HPU enrolls many dual-credit students who attend high school in rural, under-resourced communities and who may lack access to online library resources. The dramatic expansion of HPU’s eBook collection and online library instruction will help to prepare its dual-credit students for the transition to college.
IMLS is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government, and states on its website the mission to, “Advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development.”