New Degree-in-Three Program Launched at UHMC

Students and UHMC staff from the college’s Weekend College program. Photo courtesy UHMC.

By Wendy Osher

The University of Hawai’i Maui College is offering a new “Degree-in-Three” program, designed for students working full-time while pursuing higher education.

Students who enter the program will take evening classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; complete online or Cable TV classes through the fall and spring semesters; and take one class during the summer semester.

The three-year plan and  supporting schedule enables students to complete coursework required to earn an Associate in Arts degree in Liberal Arts.

“This is a great opportunity for anyone who might have started college but didn’t finish, or didn’t have the support needed to complete a degree,” said D-3 counselor Linda Fujitani in a media statement.

“Through this program students will be part of a cohort or class of other working professionals, all focused on achieving their associate degree in three years. That way they have the support of their peers in addition to the support provided by our academic counselors,” said Fujitani.

Participants who already completed some requirements may graduate earlier than the scheduled three-year timeline.

Information sessions for the new D-3 program will be held March 14th and 19th at 5:30 p.m. at UHMC, Kaʻaʻike building, room 109. Topics will include financial aid, transferring college credits from other institutions, program and time requirements and information about student support services.

The D-3 program is a modified version of UHMC’s Weekend College program, which offered weekend-only classes. The new program offers evening-only and online/cable classes to accommodate students’ working schedules and quicken the time to complete coursework.

An associate degree in liberal arts is a first step towards achieving a baccalaureate or even a master’s degree in specified fields. University officials say students who participated in the prior Weekend College program have gone on to pursue baccalaureate degrees at other University of Hawaiʻi institutions through the UH Center on campus.