PUHI, Kauai >> University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood attended a community forum in which she said she remains confident that federal funding will remain a source of support for Kauai Community College.

Many in Hawaii are worrying about the impact of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye’s recent death on federal funding sources. But Greenwood said she’s confident federal funding, as well as other sources of funding for the university, can be maintained.

During Monday’s forum, Greenwood praised Kauai Community College staff and students, while pointing out that the college with 1,512 students has the largest enrollment in its history.

Greenwood said KCC is looking to increase lab supplies in several areas, including science and technology. Priorities also include maintenance of the school’s ceramics kiln and creating more work stations for the digital media program.

“Every campus has different needs,” Greenwood said. “We give leaders flexibility to make the best use of funding.”

She added that UH also is looking at ways to “network” programs to better serve the students.
Greenwood said students are showing an increased interest in agriculture. The university needs “to teach the business of agriculture to position us better in the market,” she said.

Kauai Community College Chancellor Helen Cox said the college is pursuing federal funds to help in these endeavors.

The UH system would like to increase the mixture of students, including adding to the number of international students, Greenwood said. But John Norton, UH’s vice president for community colleges, said KCC is too small to offer more classes at the moment.