Brigham Young University Hawaii
Encyclopedia
Brigham Young University–Hawaii (BYU-H) is a private university
located in Laie, Hawaii. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
BYU-H was founded in 1955 and offers programs in mathematics
, liberal arts
, and management
. The university is broadly organized into four colleges, and its parent organization, the Church Educational System
, sponsors sister schools in Utah
and Idaho
. The university's sole focus is on undergraduate education
.
Approximately 97% of the university's 2,800 students are members of the LDS Church. BYU-H students are required to follow an honor code
, which requires behavior in line with LDS teachings (e.g., academic honesty, adherence to dress and grooming standards, and abstinence from extramarital sex
and from the consumption of drugs and alcohol
). A BYU-H education is also less expensive than at similar private universities since approximately 70% of tuition is funded by LDS Church tithing
funds.
The university partners with the LDS Church owned Polynesian Cultural Center
, the largest living museum
in the State of Hawaii
, which employs roughly one third of the student body. Its athletic teams compete in Division II of the NCAA
and are collectively known as the BYU-H Seasiders. They are members of the Pacific West Conference
and have won 19 national titles.
The LDS Church was established in the islands in 1850 following the Edict of Toleration
promulgated by Kamehameha III
, giving the underground Hawai‘i Catholic Church
the right to worship while at the same time allowing other faith traditions to begin establishing themselves. By 1919, the Church was prominent enough in the area for the church to build a temple
in Laie
. Two years after the temple was dedicated then-apostle for the LDS Church David O. McKay
stated that the Church would build a school in the area in the future. In 1951, McKay, now President of the Church, began preliminary plans on the school, and in 1954 ground was broken for the new university.
BYU-H was founded in September 1955 as Church College of Hawaii to accommodate the burgeoning LDS population in the Territory of Hawai‘i
. This was largely a result of McKay's views on both education and strengthening the Church outside of its longtime inter-Mountain West U.S. base. The original class consisted of 153 students and 20 faculty meeting in old World War II
buildings, with Reuben D. Law
as the school's first president. The school's first buildings were dedicated on December 17, 1958. The college was at first a two-year college but was reorganized in 1959 to become a four-year college. By 1961 the College had been granted four-year accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
. Dormitories, a cafeteria, and other buildings had also been constructed.
LDS Elders established the Polynesian Cultural Center
in November 1963 as a means of preserving the Pacific cultures that the Latter-day Saints had encountered in their missionary
work. In the 70s, the school was also used to teach LDS missionaries pacific languages and cultures before going out to the islands. The center also provided jobs for students of the college. In 1974, the Church College of Hawaii was elevated to the rank of university by the Church Board of Education and renamed.
In September 2001 BYU Hawaii formed its School of Computing with Robert Hayden as its first dean.
The school was governed as a satellite campus of Brigham Young University
in Provo, Utah until 2004, when it was announced that the school would report directly to the Church Educational System
's Board of Trustees. In 2007, Steven C. Wheelwright was announced as the University's most recent president.
Library.
and have attended LDS seminary or institute
classes are also given special consideration. However, LDS church membership is not a requirement. Students are typically expected to have had at least a B average in high school, and an ACT score of 26 or SAT
score of 1130 or above. Non-native English speakers must receive a 61 or higher on the IBT TOEFL
(500 on the paper test), or a 5.5 on IELTS or 75+ on the Michigan language test.
BYU-H has a higher percentage of international students than any other baccalaureate institution in the United States, with 1,039 international students or 43 percent of total enrollment. Approximately 95% of the student body is LDS.
listed the school as the #1 best value among private universities in the U.S.
(NCAA
) Division II as a member of the Pacific West Conference
. The "Seasiders" compete in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross-country, men's and women's golf, softball, men's and women's tennis, volleyball, and men's and women's soccer. The school has won two women's volleyball and nine tennis championships (two men's and seven women' men's volleyball championships, along with two women's tennis championships. In its early days, BYU-H also won a National Rugby Championship in 1967, as declared by the Los Angeles
Rugby Union. Basketball and volleyball games are held in the George Q. Cannon
Activities Center. The campus also holds nine tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool, and soccer and softball fields. Most conference home games in volleyball and women's basketball as well as additional home games in men's basketball are broadcast live around the world on BYU Television
.
and in their efforts to influence the establishment of peace internationally."
All students and faculty, regardless of religion, are required to agree to adhere to an honor code
. Early forms of the BYU Honor Code are found as far back as the days of the Brigham Young Academy and educator Karl G. Maeser
. Maeser created the "Domestic Organization," which was a group of teachers who would visit students at their homes to see that they were following the schools moral rules prohibiting obscenity, profanity, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
The Honor Code itself was created in 1940 at BYU and was used mainly for cases of cheating and academic dishonesty
. Ernest L. Wilkinson
expanded the Honor Code in 1957 to include other school standards. (At this time, Wilkinson, as President of BYU, had some authority over BYU–Hawaii as well.) This led to the Honor Code today: rules regarding chastity, dress, grooming, drugs and alcohol. A signed commitment to live the honor code is part of the application process and must be adhered by all students, faculty, and staff. Students and faculty found in violation of standards are either warned or called to meet with representatives of the Honor Council. In rare cases, students and faculty can be expelled from the school or lose tenure. One significant difference between BYU's Honor Code and BYU–Hawaii's is BYU-H's prohibition of the drinking of kava
by students and faculty. Kava is a traditional Polynesian drink with some drug-like side-effects.
recipient George E. Wahlen, delegate to Congress from American Samoa
Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin Faleomavaega, Jr.
'64, and three-time national volleyball coach of the year Mike Wilton
'72.
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
located in Laie, Hawaii. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
BYU-H was founded in 1955 and offers programs in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
, and management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
. The university is broadly organized into four colleges, and its parent organization, the Church Educational System
Church Educational System
The Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consists of several institutions that provide religious and secular education for both Latter-day Saint and non-Latter-day Saint elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and adult learners...
, sponsors sister schools in Utah
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
and Idaho
Brigham Young University–Idaho
Brigham Young University–Idaho is a private university located in Rexburg, Idaho. Founded in 1888, the university is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and transitioned from a junior college to a four-year institution in 2001, known for the greater part of its...
. The university's sole focus is on undergraduate education
Undergraduate education
Undergraduate education is an education level taken prior to gaining a first degree . Hence, in many subjects in many educational systems, undergraduate education is post-secondary education up to the level of a bachelor's degree, such as in the United States, where a university entry level is...
.
Approximately 97% of the university's 2,800 students are members of the LDS Church. BYU-H students are required to follow an honor code
Brigham Young University Honor Code
The Brigham Young University Honor Code is a set of standards by which students and faculty at Brigham Young University, a school owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are required to live. The standards derive in many ways from codes of conduct of the LDS Church,...
, which requires behavior in line with LDS teachings (e.g., academic honesty, adherence to dress and grooming standards, and abstinence from extramarital sex
Chastity
Chastity refers to the sexual behavior of a man or woman acceptable to the moral standards and guidelines of a culture, civilization, or religion....
and from the consumption of drugs and alcohol
Word of Wisdom
The "Word of Wisdom" is the common name of a section of the Doctrine and Covenants, a book considered by many churches within the Latter Day Saint movement to consist of revelations from God...
). A BYU-H education is also less expensive than at similar private universities since approximately 70% of tuition is funded by LDS Church tithing
Tithe
A tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural products...
funds.
The university partners with the LDS Church owned Polynesian Cultural Center
Polynesian Cultural Center
The Polynesian Cultural Center is a Polynesian-themed theme park or living museum located in Laie, on the northern shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Dedicated on October 12, 1963, the PCC occupies owned by nearby Brigham Young University–Hawaii....
, the largest living museum
Living museum
A living museum is a type of museum, in which historical events showing the life in ancient times are performed, especially in ethnographic or historical views, or processes for producing a commercial product in terms of technical and technological developments are shown, especially the craft...
in the State of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, which employs roughly one third of the student body. Its athletic teams compete in Division II of the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
and are collectively known as the BYU-H Seasiders. They are members of the Pacific West Conference
Pacific West Conference
The Pacific West Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with NCAA Division II...
and have won 19 national titles.
History
Edict of Toleration
An edict of toleration is a declaration made by a government or ruler and states that members of a given religion will not be persecuted for engaging in their religious practices and traditions...
promulgated by Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III was the King of Hawaii from 1825 to 1854. His full Hawaiian name was Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa and then lengthened to Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa Kalani Waiakua Kalanikau Iokikilo Kiwalao i ke kapu Kamehameha when he ascended the throne.Under his...
, giving the underground Hawai‘i Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu
The Catholic Diocese of Honolulu, officially in Latin Dioecesis Honoluluensis, is an ecclesiastical territory or particular church of the Catholic Church in the United States...
the right to worship while at the same time allowing other faith traditions to begin establishing themselves. By 1919, the Church was prominent enough in the area for the church to build a temple
Temple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...
in Laie
Laie Hawaii Temple
Laie Hawaii Temple is a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located on the northeast shore of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The temple sits on a small hill a half-mile from the Pacific Ocean in the town of Lāie, from Honolulu...
. Two years after the temple was dedicated then-apostle for the LDS Church David O. McKay
David O. McKay
David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church...
stated that the Church would build a school in the area in the future. In 1951, McKay, now President of the Church, began preliminary plans on the school, and in 1954 ground was broken for the new university.
BYU-H was founded in September 1955 as Church College of Hawaii to accommodate the burgeoning LDS population in the Territory of Hawai‘i
Territory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
. This was largely a result of McKay's views on both education and strengthening the Church outside of its longtime inter-Mountain West U.S. base. The original class consisted of 153 students and 20 faculty meeting in old World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
buildings, with Reuben D. Law
Reuben D. Law
Reuben Deem Law was the first president of the Church College of Hawaii which was later renamed Brigham Young University–Hawaii .-Biography:Law was born in Avon, Utah and raised on a ranch and farm...
as the school's first president. The school's first buildings were dedicated on December 17, 1958. The college was at first a two-year college but was reorganized in 1959 to become a four-year college. By 1961 the College had been granted four-year accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is one of six official academic bodies responsible for the accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in the United States and foreign institutions of American origin. The Western Association of...
. Dormitories, a cafeteria, and other buildings had also been constructed.
LDS Elders established the Polynesian Cultural Center
Polynesian Cultural Center
The Polynesian Cultural Center is a Polynesian-themed theme park or living museum located in Laie, on the northern shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Dedicated on October 12, 1963, the PCC occupies owned by nearby Brigham Young University–Hawaii....
in November 1963 as a means of preserving the Pacific cultures that the Latter-day Saints had encountered in their missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
work. In the 70s, the school was also used to teach LDS missionaries pacific languages and cultures before going out to the islands. The center also provided jobs for students of the college. In 1974, the Church College of Hawaii was elevated to the rank of university by the Church Board of Education and renamed.
In September 2001 BYU Hawaii formed its School of Computing with Robert Hayden as its first dean.
The school was governed as a satellite campus of Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
in Provo, Utah until 2004, when it was announced that the school would report directly to the Church Educational System
Church Educational System
The Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consists of several institutions that provide religious and secular education for both Latter-day Saint and non-Latter-day Saint elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and adult learners...
's Board of Trustees. In 2007, Steven C. Wheelwright was announced as the University's most recent president.
Campus
BYU-H is located in Laie on the north shore of Oahu, about 35 miles (56.3 km) north of Honolulu. The campus covers 100 acre (0.404686 km²; 0.156250138152179 sq mi) between the mountains and the ocean shore. Dormitories capable of providing room and board for over 1,200 students in the Hale buildings located on the south end of campus. The Temple View Apartments provide housing for married students. The school's library is the two-story Joseph F. SmithJoseph F. Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
Library.
Admissions and demographics
LDS students are required to pay less for tuition than non-LDS students. Students who have been on LDS missionsMissionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
and have attended LDS seminary or institute
Institute of Religion
Institutes of Religion provide religious educational classes for young single adult and university students who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
classes are also given special consideration. However, LDS church membership is not a requirement. Students are typically expected to have had at least a B average in high school, and an ACT score of 26 or SAT
SAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
score of 1130 or above. Non-native English speakers must receive a 61 or higher on the IBT TOEFL
TOEFL
The Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL , evaluates the ability of an individual to use and understand English in an academic setting....
(500 on the paper test), or a 5.5 on IELTS or 75+ on the Michigan language test.
BYU-H has a higher percentage of international students than any other baccalaureate institution in the United States, with 1,039 international students or 43 percent of total enrollment. Approximately 95% of the student body is LDS.
Rankings
For 2012, U.S. News and World Report ranked BYU-H #23 in the region. The school was also listed as the #1 "best value" in the region in 2006, and was the only Hawaiian school to make a top-tier listing. 2006 marked the eighth such year BYU-H had been listed as among the top ten in value its region. In 2004, Consumers DigestConsumers Digest
Founded in 1960 and published by Consumers Digest Communications, LLC, Consumers Digest is an American magazine. The magazine is a horizontal-based consumer products review periodical. Commentary and editorial features are published as well. This includes items of consumer interest, new products,...
listed the school as the #1 best value among private universities in the U.S.
Organization
BYU-H offers more than 40 bachelor degree programs, with a 17:1 student/faculty ratio. The school also offers a few unique majors, including Hawaiian Studies, International Business Management, Pacific Islands Studies, and TESOL. The four main academic divisions at BYU-H include the following:- College of Language, Culture & Arts - English, Fine Arts, History, International Cultural Studies, Hawaiian Studies, ICS
- College of Math and Sciences - Mathematics, Biology, EXS, Psychology, Biochemistry
- College of Business, Computing & Government - Business, CIS, Political Science, Accounting/Finance
- College of Human Development - Education, Religious Education, Social Work, TESOL & EIL
Athletics
BYU-H competes in the National Collegiate Athletic AssociationNational Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
) Division II as a member of the Pacific West Conference
Pacific West Conference
The Pacific West Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with NCAA Division II...
. The "Seasiders" compete in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross-country, men's and women's golf, softball, men's and women's tennis, volleyball, and men's and women's soccer. The school has won two women's volleyball and nine tennis championships (two men's and seven women' men's volleyball championships, along with two women's tennis championships. In its early days, BYU-H also won a National Rugby Championship in 1967, as declared by the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
Rugby Union. Basketball and volleyball games are held in the George Q. Cannon
George Q. Cannon
George Quayle Cannon was an early member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and served in the First Presidency under four successive presidents of the church: Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow...
Activities Center. The campus also holds nine tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool, and soccer and softball fields. Most conference home games in volleyball and women's basketball as well as additional home games in men's basketball are broadcast live around the world on BYU Television
BYU Television
__NOEDITSECTION__Brigham Young University Television is a cable/satellite television channel operated by Brigham Young University...
.
LDS atmosphere
According to BYU-H's Mission Statement, the school "exists to assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal lifeEternal life (Christianity)
In Christianity the term eternal life traditionally refers to continued life after death, rather than immortality. While scholars such as John H. Leith assert that...
and in their efforts to influence the establishment of peace internationally."
Honor code
Honor code
An honour code or honour system is a set of rules or principles governing a community based on a set of rules or ideals that define what constitutes honorable behavior within that community. The use of an honor code depends on the idea that people can be trusted to act honorably...
. Early forms of the BYU Honor Code are found as far back as the days of the Brigham Young Academy and educator Karl G. Maeser
Karl G. Maeser
-Brigham Young Academy:When Maeser arrived at Brigham Young Academy in 1876 it was dying. Enrollment had declined since Warren N. Dusenberry had started the school a few months before. There were only 29 students at the time of Maeser's arrival....
. Maeser created the "Domestic Organization," which was a group of teachers who would visit students at their homes to see that they were following the schools moral rules prohibiting obscenity, profanity, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
The Honor Code itself was created in 1940 at BYU and was used mainly for cases of cheating and academic dishonesty
Academic dishonesty
Academic dishonesty or academic misconduct is any type of cheating that occurs in relation to a formal academic exercise. It can include* Plagiarism: The adoption or reproduction of original creations of another author without due acknowledgment.* Fabrication: The...
. Ernest L. Wilkinson
Ernest L. Wilkinson
Ernest Leroy Wilkinson was an American academic administrator and prominent figure in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was president of Brigham Young University from 1951 to 1971 and also oversaw the entire LDS Church Educational System. Prior to this, Wilkinson was a lawyer...
expanded the Honor Code in 1957 to include other school standards. (At this time, Wilkinson, as President of BYU, had some authority over BYU–Hawaii as well.) This led to the Honor Code today: rules regarding chastity, dress, grooming, drugs and alcohol. A signed commitment to live the honor code is part of the application process and must be adhered by all students, faculty, and staff. Students and faculty found in violation of standards are either warned or called to meet with representatives of the Honor Council. In rare cases, students and faculty can be expelled from the school or lose tenure. One significant difference between BYU's Honor Code and BYU–Hawaii's is BYU-H's prohibition of the drinking of kava
Kava
Kava or kava-kava is a crop of the western Pacific....
by students and faculty. Kava is a traditional Polynesian drink with some drug-like side-effects.
Alumni
Alumni of BYU-H include Medal of HonorMedal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient George E. Wahlen, delegate to Congress from American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin Faleomavaega, Jr.
Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin Faleomavaega, Jr.
Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin Faleomavaega, Jr. is the non-voting Delegate to the United States House of Representatives from American Samoa's At-large congressional district.-Personal life:...
'64, and three-time national volleyball coach of the year Mike Wilton
Mike Wilton
Mike Wilton former head coach of the Warrior Volleyball team for the University of Hawaii at Manoa.-Career:Served in the United States Marine Corps after high school....
'72.