Our Vision
The School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene (SONDH) vision is to be the leader in nursing and dental hygiene education and research in Hawaii with outreach to Asia and the Pacific Basin.
Our Mission
The School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene (SONDH) mission is to provide an innovative, caring and multicultural environment in which faculty, students and staff work together to generate and transmit knowledge, wisdom and values to promote quality of life and health for present and future generations. To better reflect Hawaii’s unique cultural diversity and heritage, SONDH is committed to increasing the representation of Native Hawaiian and other underserved people in all nursing and dental hygiene programs.
Strategic Plan Executive Summary
2023-2029
Our mission is to provide an innovative, caring, and multicultural environment in which faculty, students, and staff work together to generate and transmit knowledge, wisdom, and values to promote quality of life and health for present and future generations.
To better reflect Hawaiʻi’s unique cultural diversity and heritage, the school is committed to increasing the representation of Native Hawaiian and other underserved people in all nursing and dental hygiene programs. We are focusing on growth, innovation, and cultural stewardship, with a strong emphasis on enhancing education, research, and community health. Our strategic plan will achieve this mission through four objectives:
Objective 1: Health Care Workforce Development
Respond to the health care workforce needs in Hawaiʻi and nationwide by educating the next generation of nursing and dental hygienist providers and leaders. Teaching and learning will be provided in a healthy and culturally safe environment that supports a targeted increase in student enrollment of the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Nursing Degree Program by 100%, Bachelor of Science (BS) in Dental Hygiene Degree Program by 25%, and Nursing Graduate Programs by 25% between 2023 to 2029.
- Student Growth and Well-Being Initiatives
- Student Enrollment and Engagement: Develop a plan that highlights educational excellence and leadership opportunities and fosters a strong sense of lifelong learning and engagement.
- Student Connection and Well-Being: Enhance mentorship, service, and internships to build community and connection while also celebrating student achievements and promoting well-being and safety.
- Innovative Curricula and Clinical Training Enhancement
- Curricula Development: Hone competency-based curricula that prepare students to address today’s complex health care challenges and integrate use of innovative technology and multimedia teaching methods.
- Global Impact and Innovation: Create opportunities for students to engage locally and globally, enabling them to apply their knowledge in professional service and leadership roles.
- Collaboration and Team-based Environment: Promote collaboration among students, faculty, and community experts, incorporating team-based, interprofessional learning to prepare graduates for today’s workforce.
- Student Clinical Experiences: Expand and enhance clinical training partnerships to support enrollment growth, offering diverse, non-traditional sites and flexible scheduling for clinical rotations.
Objective 2: Faculty and Staff Development
Cultivate a dynamic and inclusive workforce by attracting top-tier talent, enhancing professional development opportunities, and prioritizing the well-being of faculty and staff, ensuring our institution thrives as a leader in education and research.
- Faculty and Staff Recruitment and Development: Create an inclusive system to recruit, retain, and promote diverse faculty and staff, supporting professional growth, recognition, and advancement for all.
- Well-Being of Faculty and Staff: Cultivate an inclusive environment that promotes belonging, connectivity, respect, transparency, and continuous growth for faculty and staff that promotes work-life balance, social, emotional, and physical health.
Objective 3: Research and Innovation
Develop and maintain an environment for faculty, staff, and students that fosters innovative research and scholarship to address pressing health issues, reduce health disparities, and develop interventions to improve health outcomes for the communities we serve.
- Infrastructure for Research: Expand research opportunities in nursing and dental hygiene. Strengthen research infrastructure by funding start-up and seed grants, endowed professorships, and additional faculty and staff hires. Develop fellowships and scholarships to support student engagement in research.
- Mindset for Innovation: Encourage innovative research among faculty, staff, and students to address shortcomings of the current health care system. Support bold and transformative ideas to improve health delivery and create opportunities to address the pressing health issues facing our society and planet.
- Research Focus Areas: Focus research on addressing health disparities and improving health outcomes for the communities we serve. Lead nursing and multidisciplinary teams to integrate new knowledge into practice and create policy change for the betterment of society.
Objective 4: Embracing Native Hawaiian Culture
Embrace Hawaiʻi and Native Hawaiians as the host culture and strive to create and maintain a healthy, Native Hawaiian Place of Learning that aligns with the UH System and UH Mānoa strategic plans. Integrate indigenous knowledge into curriculum, nursing research and practice to foster the health of our community.
- Safe and Accessible Cultural Learning Environment: Create a safe, inclusive learning environment that celebrates diversity of genealogy, identity, and viewpoints. Enhances pathways for Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Native American students to become health care leaders in their communities, in alignment with the IKE AO PONO program.
- Indigenous Beliefs and Practices: Ensure programs, curricula, and learning environments enhance faculty and student’s cultural knowledge and ability to integrate indigenous health and healing practices into clinical care.
- Mālama our Host: Embrace our kuleana to aloha ‘āina by respecting traditions, stewardship, and Native Hawaiian knowledge to cultivate future nursing and dental hygiene leaders, improving community health. Strengthen connections and engagement with the communities we serve, promoting equity and collaboration.