Book Now: UHPA’s Disney Aulani Weekend!

Our very popular UHPA Disney Aulani Weekend returns for its 9th annual event on Oct 27 & 28, 2023.  Don’t miss out!

UHPA members love the Disney Aulani Resort. If you are an early bird planner, this is your chance to get the best rooms at our heavily discounted rates before they sell out as they do every year.

Start Earlier or Stay Later

Our special rates are in effect for Oct 27 & 28.  Want to stay longer? You can reserve dates up to 5 days before or after our special rate days.  As in previous years, it overlaps the Halloween weekend which should be extra fun for the whole family

First Come, First Serve Will Sell Out Quickly

Last year this sold out within weeks.  Early bird reservations are open now and we highly recommend you make your reservations as we only have limited availability and if previous years are an indication, this will sell out very quickly.

McDonalds Thanks All Educators With Free Items

UHPA received the following from authorized representatives of McDonalds and are passing it on unedited to our members:

FREE McDonald’s Hot or Iced Coffee & Two Cookies
For All Teachers/Educators: May 8 – 12

McDonald’s of Hawaii is thanking all educators statewide – during National Teacher Appreciation Week – for championing Hawaii’s youth and future leaders.

From May 8 (Monday) to May 12 (Friday), simply present your valid school I.D. at any McDonald’s for a FREE medium hot coffee OR medium iced coffee PLUS two chocolate chip cookies.

One redemption per person, per day. No purchase is necessary. The offer is available all day either at the drive-thru or at the front counter.

Dates: May 8 – 12, 2023

Times: All day (restaurant hours vary by location)  

Locations: All 73 McDonald’s on Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island and Kauai  

For more of your favorites and great deals all year-round, download the McDonald’s app and sign-up for the MyMcDonald’s Rewards program.

#McDonaldsLovesTeachers

UHPA Helps Member Erase $272,000 in Student Loans

University of Hawai‘i-West Oahu

Associate Professor of Community Health, Dr. Camonia Graham-Tutt, CHES

Gets $272,000 in Student Loans Erased through

Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

It pays to be a UHPA member! Dr. Camonia Graham-Tutt received valuable information and assistance from the special information sessions, offered as an exclusive benefit to UHPA members. The sessions were offered by UHPA, through a partnership with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) last year. Even though loan forgiveness falls outside the scope of services offered by a union, UHPA recognized it could help improve the quality of life for faculty. As Dr. Graham-Tutt’s story shows, loan forgiveness is like receiving a huge wage increase, or winning the lottery! 

Dr. Camonia Graham-Tutt, a University of Hawai‘i-West O‘ahu community health professor, has a noticeable pep in her walk these days now that a huge financial burden has been lifted off her shoulders. Her outstanding student debt totaling $271,785.49 has been zeroed out, thanks to the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

“This is my golden ticket,” she said, proudly holding up her official letter dated January 2, 2023, documenting the cancellation of her debt. “This is such a blessing.”

Dr. Graham-Tutt said she can now focus on “balancing life” by investing in her daughter’s education and well-being, planning for her retirement, and giving more to the community health scholarship fund she started to support for UH-West O‘ahu students who need help with covering the costs of tuition and textbooks for their courses. 

Unshackled from Student Debt

Gone are the days when Dr. Graham-Tutt had to set aside funds for loan repayments for tuition and living expenses incurred when she was earning her master’s degree in health science education at Baylor University, a private research university in Waco, Texas, and a doctorate degree in medical sociology from Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Before that liberating day, she had been diligently striving to lower the amount she owed. Ever resourceful, Dr. Graham-Tutt brought down her debt by a few thousand dollars by serving as a volunteer at health clinics in Kailua and Waimanalo through the AmeriCorps/VISTA program, which provides loan forgiveness in exchange for serving those in underserved communities.

“The loan forgiveness could not have happened to a more deserving faculty member,” said Christian Fern, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly executive director. “Dr. Graham-Tutt has given so much to her students and to Hawai‘i.”

Serving the Local Community

Dr. Graham-Tutt originally had aspirations of being a pediatrician, but knew she could also make an impact through the field of community health as a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), focusing on the social determinants of health — all of the factors that affect a person’s whole health to improve health equity. She has successfully designed and implemented sustainable community health education programs that deliver positive benefits to vulnerable communities.

Stepping Forward in the Midst of the Pandemic

During the pandemic, after successfully completing certification programs in contact tracing from Johns Hopkins University and Harvard University, Dr. Graham-Tutt participated in a contact tracing program in Hawai‘i. She was a part of the efforts to educate roughly 159 individuals, including those who lost their jobs during the pandemic, had retired or were working with organizations in need of contact tracer education. She helped to equip them with knowledge on the basics of community health and epidemiology to prepare them to reach out to those who may have been exposed to COVID-19. The sessions were all taught by Zoom in the evenings, during the day, and on weekends to best accommodate people’s schedules over the course of a year.

“There were several aha moments when we realized that we had to quickly pivot and tailor our courses to suit an array of learning styles, ethnic groups and cultures. It was truly a humbling experience to teach so many of our community members simply wanting to be a part of the solution.”

Before her current position with UH-West O‘ahu, Dr. Graham-Tutt served as a postdoctoral fellow and researcher at the University of Hawai’i Cancer Center; a faculty fellow at the University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, Texas; and a research assistant for the  Black Women’s Health Imperative in Washington, D.C.

Early Influences

Dr. Graham-Tutt, born in Texas, grew up in a “home where education was always pushed.”  Her parents both received undergraduate degrees; however, they would often share: “You need to do better than us.” Dr. Graham-Tutt took their advice to heart and pursued a master’s degree and then her doctorate degree.  

Good Mentors and Friends

Dr. Florence B. Bonner, Professor Emeritus, past VP of Research and Compliance and chair of the Department of Sociology at Howard University, took Dr. Graham-Tutt under her wings, putting her in touch with organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and many nonprofit organizations.

“Dr. Bonner nudged me and gave me so many life-changing experiences. We were so close as mentor and mentee that people would think we were mother and daughter,” Dr. Graham-Tutt laughed, noting that the two have stayed in touch for the past 20 years and that even her parents have met with this mentor at her house as friends.

Doing the Same for Students

Dr. Graham-Tutt, or Dr. C., as she is affectionately known by her students, knows the power of having appropriate role models and she strives to give her students the same kind of positive experiences that she had as a student. Dr. C. will seek role models with similar cultures and backgrounds for her West O‘ahu students to emulate. She introduced the Student Research and Creative Works Symposium at UH-West O‘ahu to give students the same support she received as a student to help them achieve their research goals. 

The Story Behind the Story

The loan forgiveness program has definitely opened doors to a new life for those who worked for a government institution for at least 10 years. However, public servants may not have realized that this concession was made possible as a result of a lawsuit filed by Randi Weingarten, president of the 1.7 million member-American Federation of Teachers (AFT) union, against Besty DeVos, who had been serving as secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. The legal complaint was based on the U.S.’s failure to keep its promise to students about forgiving their loans after 10 years of public service.

Weingarten prevailed and the Biden administration was intent on implementing the program. (DevVos resigned from her position the day after the pro-Trump mob stormed the White House to attempt to stop Congress’ certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. She publicly denounced former President Donald Trump for inciting the insurrection violence.)

To ensure all public universities were aware of the benefits and eligibility requirements of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, AFT reached out to UHPA last year to partner together to host a series of informational sessions about the program for UH faculty.

Dr. Graham-Tutt was one of the first to sign up and attend the informational session held at UH West O’ahu. Dr. Graham-Tutt filled out the simple form and hoped for the best. To her surprise, she was notified a week later —with the good news about her loan.  She cautiously held off from celebrating until she received her official notification in writing at the beginning of this year.

Could Your Lucky Day Be on the Horizon?

For UHPA members who have missed out on the October 31st PSLF Limited Waiver deadline, there’s still more time to apply. Some provisions under the waiver have been extended through July 2023! Plus, it’s even better than before — now past payments on Parent PLUS loans are eligible to be counted under the waiver!

UHPA, in collaboration with AFT, offers a student loan benefit through a free and secure online platform called Summer for UHPA members who have not yet taken advantage of this opportunity.  The program helps you manage your student loan debt with simple tools and a dedicated team of experts who are ready to offer support.

Summer specializes in helping employees earn Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) with complete coverage, from checking eligibility to submitting necessary forms online. It also assists you with yearly recertification after enrollment to ensure all requirements are met.

 

Not a member yet? Join now via this instant membership online form.. Are you already a member but can’t access the content? Click here to troubleshoot or just call our office.

 

Membership Card Going Green

UHPA’s traditional paper membership cards are being replaced with our new “Membership eCard” that will be sent electronically via email. 

The UHPA Membership eCard is designed for mobile phones, much like today’s airline or movie tickets.  Just use your phone and pull up the email with the Subject “UHPA Membership eCard Enclosed”.

Should you need your card for any reason and can’t easily find it, just contact us at any time and you’ll get a refreshed version in your inbox. 

Sample UHPA Member eCard

 

Huge Discount at Sea Life Park in January 2023

UHPA Members Qualify for Over 60% Off

From Sea Life Park:

Sea Life Park’s rebranded luau, Aloha Kai Luau, will be launching on January 2nd. To celebrate, we have an amazing offer for you! We are excited for you to experience the enhanced show with new cultural activities and dining options. Malu Productions will continue to provide our first class entertainment and our kitchen will still be serving up your favorite Hawaiian classics. The same great quality you’ve come to expect at Sea Life Park, just with a new name.

UHPA Members will pay only $60 on our Silver Package ($159 value) which includes:

  • Flower Lei Greeting
  • Two (2) Drink Tickets
  • Silver Seating
  • Cultural Activities
  • Buffet Dinner & Live Music
  • 5-Day Pass: Sea Life Park

Click this button for details on how to get your UHPA Member discounted rate

Not a member yet? Join now via this instant membership online form..

Are you already a member but can’t access the content? Click here to troubleshoot or just call our office.

Last Call for UHPA Professional Excellence Award Nominations

Nominations Close on December 7

The UHPA Board of Directors proudly announce the establishment of an annual Professional Excellence Award open to all UHPA faculty members that recognizes the outstanding and superior performance of University of Hawaiʻi faculty that significantly contribute their dedicated service and commitment to the UH system and its respective campuses.  The award proclaims and bestows the Boardʻs respect and appreciation for the accomplishment by its faculty members that is purely member driven as all nominations and selections are determined by their peers.

A Formal Recognition of UH Faculty Excellence

The award recognizes the key and essential role that all UH faculty fulfill in advancing the mission of the UH system in the areas of instruction, research, service and extension.  It also recognizes the service and commitment that all UH faculty provide to the UH system in serving its students, staff, community and citizens of the State of Hawaiʻi.

All Classifications To Be Recognized

The Board will recognize one faculty member for each faculty classification in instructional, research, specialist, extension agent, librarian, and lecturer.  There will be one awardee per each faculty classification for the entire UH system.

Submit Your Nominations Now Before the 12/7 Deadline

The call for nominations begins today Monday, October 31, 2022 and runs through Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. Use this online form to submit your nominations.

Evaluations Conducted by Our Board

A committee of faculty of the Board will review the nominees for instructional, research, specialist, extension agent, librarian, and lecturer, as applicable, and will make its recommendations to the Boardʻs Executive Committee for final confirmation.

Awardees Announced in Spring ‘23

At the April 2023 UHPA Annual Board Meeting all nominees will be announced and the Board will formally announce the awardees of the UHPA BOD Professional Excellence Award during its “Celebrating Excellence” event.

The Board looks forward to recognizing its outstanding faculty members and thank all of you for your heartfelt support of our member driven organization.

Order Your UHPA Polo Shirt Now Before the Deadline

We Must Receive Your UHPA Polo Shirt Order Before 12/9/22

If you want yours, you must place your order before the 12/9/22 deadline.  

Exclusive for UHPA Members Only

We can now proudly wear our union’s solidarity in these Kahala polo shirts custom designed for UHPA members! There is no charge – these shirts come with your UHPA membership.

How to Order

  • Use this order form (opens in new window) to place your order.
  • Do it now – order deadline is December 9, 2022.

Details and Conditions:

  • Each Member may order 1 shirt. There is no charge.
  • You or a designated proxy must pick up your product on campus in the fall of 2023 – exact dates and times TBD
  • Additional shirts are not available – these are exclusively for members of UHPA and cannot be purchased.
  • You can only order your shirt using the order form.
  • Order deadline is December 9, 2022. We cannot assure fulfillment if deadline is missed.

Illustrations

Actual product may vary from depicted images.

Last Chance to Rate Administrators in 2022

Last Chance; Survey Closes This Week

If you haven’t yet participated in the  “Rate My Administrator” survey, this week is your last chance. 

Search your email to find the invitation so you can participate. It will be addressed from “UHPA@claritykit.com” and the subject line will be “Rate My Administrator Survey Invitation”. 

The invitation was sent to the email address we have on file. For most of you, that means your non-@hawaii.edu address so please check that email inbox. If you have not supplied us with an alternate email address, your @hawaii.edu inbox will have the invitation. Either way, the invitation should be in your email. 

If you do not believe you have received this invitation, please reach out to our office via email or you can just reply to any News Flash email. 

Don’t postpone your participation!  

Make your voice heard via this survey tool.

The UHPA Board of Directors has authorized Market Trends Pacific to conduct the survey and report the results.  All submission data will be kept confidential. Only anonymous, summarized information will be published. 

As a participant in the survey, you will have the opportunity to rate any administrator(s) at any level relevant to your campus, i.e. Dean, Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Vice-President, and President. 

The anonymous, summarized results of the survey will be shared with UHPA members, the Board of Regents, and UH President David Lassner.

Notice on Confidentiality

No personally identifiable information will be collected or stored by UHPA, and the process does not utilize any University of Hawaii computers or equipment. This survey is independent of any 360 evaluations being distributed by the UH administration. All results will be structurally anonymous and no one will be able to determine the identity of respondents (including UHPA).

Check your inbox: “Rate My Administrator” 2022 Edition

Starting on October 17, 2022 all UHPA members were invited via email to rate their administrator(s). If you are not a member of UHPA, get your membership started right now so you can participate. 

The invitation was sent to the email address we have on file.  For most of you, that means your non-@hawaii.edu address so please check that email inbox.   If you have not supplied us with an alternate email address, your @hawaii.edu inbox will have the invitation.  Either way, you should have received the invite by now.     It will be addressed from “UHPA@claritykit.com” and the subject line will be “Rate My Administrator Survey Invitation”.

The UHPA Board of Directors has authorized Market Trends Pacific to conduct the survey and report the results and how those results have changed over time.  All submission data will be kept confidential. Only anonymous, summarized information will be published. 

As a participant in the survey, you will have the opportunity to rate any administrator(s) at any level relevant to your campus, i.e. Dean, Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Vice-President, and President. 

The anonymous, summarized results of the survey will be shared with UHPA members, the Board of Regents, and UH President David Lassner.

Notice on Confidentiality

No personally identifiable information will be collected or stored by UHPA, and the process does not utilize any University of Hawaii computers or equipment. This survey is independent of any 360 evaluations being distributed by the UH administration. All results will be structurally anonymous and no one will be able to determine the identity of respondents (including UHPA).

From HomeStreet Bank: Home Equity vs. HELOC

 

Our UHPA member benefits partner HomeStreet Bank has published its October message: 

Home Equity vs. HELOC

Deciding whether or not to use the equity in your home to
pay off unsecured debt and/or make home
improvements can be a difficult financial decision.
Second mortgages come in two basic forms: home equity
loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) – both of
which offer the potential for low APRs and streamlined
monthly payments. Click here to learn if one of these is
right for you!

 

Not a member yet? Join now via this instant membership online form.. Are you already a member but can’t access the content? Click here to troubleshoot or just call our office.