Sept. 22, 2026

Service With the Community, Not To the Community - with Dr. Bonnie Irwin, Chancellor, University of Hawai'i - Hilo

Key Takeaways

Dr. Bonnie Irwin highlights how the University of Hawai'i at Hilo functions more like a rural, Pell-heavy, broadband-starved college rather than the tropical postcard image many people picture.
Higher education institutions must focus on service with the community rather than just service to the community to truly drive local impact.
Addressing island fever and the urge to leave requires intentional strategies that give local students compelling reasons to start their education at home.
Innovative academic pathways, such as asynchronous degrees built in partnership with local police departments, unlock opportunities that traditional programs simply cannot provide.

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Dr. Bonnie Irwin, Chancellor, University of Hawai'i - Hilo

This episode, President Series #511, is powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠ - Higher Ed's AI-Enriched Platform!

This episode is sponsored by the InsightsEDU 2027 Conference - focused on attracting & retaining the modern learner - where we will be podcasting live from February 23-25 in Phoenix, AZ! Use code EDUP & save $100! Early-bird pricing ends December 15, 2026!

This episode is also sponsored by 2026 Arizona Community College Administrators Conference where we will be podcasting live from October 7-9 on the campus of Yavapai College!

This episode is brought to you by Beyond Survival: Reporting from the Front Lines of Higher Education’s War for Relevance is a documentary account from the front lines of the most consequential upheaval in higher ed in generations!

YOUR host is ⁠Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Why does a Hawaii campus look more like a rural, Pell heavy, broadband starved college than the postcard people picture?
How do you turn island fever & the urge to leave into a reason for local students to start at home?
What does an asynchronous degree built with the police department unlock that a traditional program cannot?

Listen in to #EdUp

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Dr. Bonnie Irwin?

Dr. Bonnie Irwin is the Chancellor at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, where she leads initiatives focused on community engagement and serving local student populations.

What unique challenges does the University of Hawai'i at Hilo face?

Despite its tropical location, the Hilo campus faces challenges typical of rural, Pell-heavy, and broadband-starved colleges, along with addressing 'island fever' among students.

How is the University of Hawai'i at Hilo innovating its degree programs?

The university is creating flexible options like asynchronous degree programs designed in collaboration with the police department to better serve working professionals and non-traditional learners.