Brigham Young University–Hawaii facts for kids
 |
|
|
Former names
|
Church College of Hawaii (1955–1974) |
|---|---|
| Motto | Enter to learn, go forth to serve |
| Type | Private college |
| Established | September 26, 1955 |
|
Parent institution
|
Church Educational System |
| Accreditation | WSCUC |
|
Religious affiliation
|
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
| President | John S. K. Kauwe III |
|
Academic staff
|
183 |
| Students | 3,203 (Fall 2020) |
| Location |
,
,
United States
21°38′29″N 157°55′31″W / 21.64139°N 157.92528°W |
| Campus | Rural, 100 acres (40 ha) |
| Newspaper | Ke Alaka'i |
| Colors | Crimson, Gold |
| Mascot | Seasiders |
 |
|
Brigham Young University–Hawaii (BYU–Hawaii) is a private college located in Laie, Hawaii. It is owned and run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. BYU–Hawaii started in 1955. It focuses on helping students earn their first college degree.
This college is part of the Church Educational System. This system also includes sister schools in Utah and Idaho. Most students at BYU–Hawaii are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All students follow an honor code. This code asks students to act in ways that match the church's teachings. For example, it includes being honest in school and following certain rules for how you dress. Going to BYU–Hawaii costs less than other private colleges. This is because the church helps pay for a lot of the tuition.
The college works with the Polynesian Cultural Center. This center is also owned by the church. It is the biggest living museum in Hawaii. About one-third of the students at BYU–Hawaii work there.
Contents
College History: How BYU–Hawaii Started
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began in Hawaii in 1850. In 1919, the church built a temple in Laie. Two years later, a church leader named David O. McKay said a school would be built there. In 1951, McKay, who was then the church president, started planning the school. Construction began in 1955.
Classes at BYU–Hawaii started in September 1955. Back then, it was called the Church College of Hawaii. It was built to help the growing number of church members in Hawaii get an education. The first classes had 153 students and 20 teachers. They met in old buildings from World War II. The first school buildings were officially opened in December 1958. At first, it was a two-year college. But in 1959, it became a four-year college. By 1961, the college was approved to offer four-year degrees.
The Polynesian Cultural Center was started in 1963. Its goal was to save the cultures of the Pacific Islands. These were cultures that church missionaries had learned about. In the 1970s, the school also taught Pacific languages and cultures to missionaries. The center also gave jobs to students at the college. In 1974, the Church College of Hawaii changed its name to Brigham Young University–Hawaii. It then became part of the larger Brigham Young University system in Utah.
The school was run as a branch of BYU until 2004. Then, it became its own separate school. It started reporting directly to the Commissioner of Church Education.
BYU–Hawaii Campus Life
BYU–Hawaii is in Laie, on the north shore of Oahu. This is about 35 miles (56 km) north of Honolulu. The campus covers 100 acres (0.40 km2) between the mountains and the ocean. Student dorms, called 'Hales', can house over 1,200 students. There are also apartments for married students. These apartments are right next to the Laie Hawaii Temple. The school's library is the two-story Joseph F. Smith Library.
Academics and Learning at BYU–Hawaii
Admissions and Student Body
Students who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pay less for tuition. Students who have served church missions or attended church classes are also considered. However, you do not have to be a church member to attend. Students usually need good grades from high school. They also need good scores on tests like the ACT or SAT. If English is not your first language, you need to show you can speak it well.
BYU–Hawaii has many international students. About 65% of all students come from other countries. They come from over 70 different nations. About 97% of the students are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Degree Programs and Study Areas
BYU–Hawaii offers 50 different bachelor's degree programs. There is one teacher for every 15 students. The school also has some special majors. These include Hawaiian Studies, International Business Management, and Pacific Islands Studies. You can also study how to Teach English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
In 2018, BYU–Hawaii changed how its academic programs were organized. Instead of four main colleges, it now has seven faculty units. These units include:
- Arts & Letters: For subjects like Communication, English, Film, and Visual Arts.
- Business & Government: For Accounting, Business Management, and Political Science.
- Culture, Language & Performing Arts: For Anthropology, Hawaiian Studies, History, Music, and Theatre.
- Education & Social Work: For Teacher Education and Social Work.
- Math & Computing: For Computer Science, Information Systems, and Mathematics.
- Religious Education: For studying religious topics.
- Sciences: For Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology.
BYU–Hawaii Athletics: The Seasiders
BYU–Hawaii used to compete in college sports. Their teams were called the "Seasiders." They were part of the NCAA Division II. They played sports like basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. The school won many championships. This included two women's volleyball titles and eleven tennis championships. In 1967, the rugby team also won a national championship. Games were held in the George Q. Cannon Activities Center. The campus also has tennis courts, a swimming pool, and fields for soccer and softball.
In 2014, the college announced a big change. They decided to stop their sports program over the next three years. The money saved from sports would be used to help 500 more students get an education. All 11 sports teams were affected. College sports at BYU–Hawaii officially ended in the spring of 2017.
Student Life and Community
The LDS Atmosphere
BYU–Hawaii aims to help students grow and learn. It also wants to help them work towards peace around the world. This idea came from church president David O. McKay in 1955.
All students must take religion classes. They are also encouraged to attend Sunday church meetings. The school plans class schedules so students can attend weekly devotionals. Students from all backgrounds are encouraged to learn from each other. There are many clubs and groups for students to join.
Understanding the Honor Code
All students and teachers must agree to follow an academic honor code. This is known as the CES Honor Code. It is sometimes called the BYU Honor Code. This code has been around for a long time. It started at Brigham Young Academy.
The Honor Code was officially created in 1940. At first, it was mainly for cases of cheating. Later, in 1957, it was expanded to include other school rules. When you apply to the school, you promise to live by this code. This applies to all students, teachers, and staff. If someone breaks the rules, they might get a warning. In rare cases, students or teachers could be asked to leave the school.
Notable Alumni
Many people who went to BYU–Hawaii have done great things. These include George E. Wahlen, who received the Medal of Honor. Also, Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin Faleomavaega, Jr. '64, who was a delegate to the Congress from American Samoa. And Mike Wilton '72, who was a national volleyball coach of the year three times.
