Transferring from WCC or any two-year college to the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa (UHM) can be a challenging and arduous process. Take it from this writer’s experience. Just when you think you’ve got everything done, there is always more. From submitting the proper health clearances, transcripts and transfer forms to registering for the right classes that fit your needs, if you follow these tips and suggestions, your transfer can be done with less stress and headache.
Tom Doi, WCC interim vice-chancellor for student affairs, said, “It is highly recommended to students planning to eventually transfer to discuss their goals with a Windward academic counselor that can help pick classes needed at the community college level prior to transferring. Taking classes at WCC can be much less expensive than the same classes offered at UH Mānoa.”
At WCC, it costs $128.50 per credit or $1,542 total for full-time (12 credits). At UHM, it costs $462 per credit or $5,544 for full-time. You’ll be saving a substantial amount on tuition and can apply that money to other things such as housing or books.
Pay attention to the Ka‘ie‘ie Program, which is designed to make the transition easier. Students who have at least one more semester remaining at WCC are eligible. By using this program, students can receive academic advising at WCC and UHM, early transfer credit evaluations, early registration upon transferring to UHM and the ability to take courses simultaneously at both campuses with the required $200 tuition deposit fee waived.
WCC student and Ka‘ie‘ie participant Autumn Hesia said, “Applying on time and being able to get accepted into the program before you start your last semester at WCC so that you are able to transition smoothly and not miss any deadlines is important.”
Lauren Prepose-Forsen, Ka’ie’ie Program coordinator at WCC, added that students should know when the transfer application is due and that they can see her early and she can walk them through the process. She also advised: “You’re going to need to contact your appropriate advisor. If you don’t know, come to me and I will tell you who you should be meeting with in regards to what your major is because the advising and counseling structure (at UHM) is very different from WCC. Also make sure your financial aid (FAFSA and any scholarships) is in place and you added UH Mānoa to the financial aid application.”
Even the small things like parking can pose challenges for those transferring to UHM. “Go down to the campus and take a look around because parking can be extremely difficult,” Prepose-Forsen said. “So if you don’t know where the shuttle stops are then that is something you need to learn, and it’s really hard to learn on the first day of instruction.”
If you don’t use the Ka‘ie‘ie Program, then you have to do things the hard way. The first thing you need to address is making sure you have the right health clearances. The State of Hawaiʻi mandates that certain health requirements be met for entrance to post-secondary educational institutions. That means all students enrolled at UHM must have a tuberculosis (TB) clearance.
A TB Risk Assessment Form must be completed and signed by a U.S. licensed healthcare provider within one year prior to your enrollment showing a negative TB skin test. If you have a copy of the original certificate, that is okay. The certificate must come from the State of Hawai‘i.
Documentation of immunity to measles, mumps and rubella (called a MMR) is also required. Your first dose must have been given on or after your first birthday. Your second MMR vaccine must have been given at least four weeks after the first vaccine.
It is important to note for non-traditional students that your MMR clearance may not predate 1968. Anything dated before then will not count and you must retake the test, which is a 30- to 45-day process as it requires two shots, the second of which must happen 30 days after the first.
Also if the vaccine was given prior to 1968, you will need to retake the vaccination. Many documents prior to 1970 were not digitized, and for older students this could be a problem. Without proper documentation, getting an original or facsimile can be a literal pain in the okole with any hospital in Hawai‘i. The University Health Services does offers the TB test as well as the MMR immunizations.
Without addressing the health criteria, you will not be able to register, which brings up the most important part of the process–registration. Make sure to pay attention to the UHM registration timetable, which can be found on the UHM website in MyUH Services under the “Get Ready for Registration” tab.
Registration assignments are based on the total number of credits you have earned in transfer. The more credits you have, the higher your priority will be.
Registration for continuing classified sophomores starts Friday, Nov. 16 and continues through Wednesday, Nov. 21.
The payment receipt deadline is Friday, Dec. 14 at 4 p.m. If you do not pay your tuition and fees or enroll in the four-month installment payment plan by then, your Spring 2019 classes may be cancelled. There is a $30 late fee to register from Jan. 7-15.
So spare yourself the anxiety and last-minute procrastination and get an early start on the next chapter of your education at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Don’t wait, BE READY!
by Ian Jenss, Ka ‘Ohana Staff Reporter