Aloha mai kākou,If you or someone in your ‘ohana would like to go to UH Mānoa and doesn't have the 2.8 GPA or 510 SAT scores, if they don't fit that box that UH wants for guaranteed admission, please check out the College Opportunities Program (COP). Plenty of our alumni have gone on to the charter school movement and other parts of the community! It is a FREE PROGRAM - 6 FREE WEEKS IN THE DORMS IN THE SUMMER, then a 1st year freshman support program. If you pass the summer program, you enter UH Mānoa as a regular freshman in the fall. You truly get a big family to take care of you at UH - academic, financial aid, and other support. There is no age limit - anybody can apply who has a High school diploma (C/O 2010 seniors apply now), hawai'i residency, financial need, less than 12 credits in college above the 100 level, 2.0 high school gpa, and a desire and drive to go to UH but lacks the minimum requirements to get in. COP does not require SATs! The hardest part about getting in is just finishing the application process - so please push and get 'um done! They're due December 15th 2009! COP recruits people of all ethnicities that are underrepresented at UH, but there is a strong Hawaiian presence. We're going out to most schools, so ask your counselor or kumu. If you get questions or need help, please ask the COP program at 956-6186.Manawa Kūpono Native Hawaiian Scholarship is a grant-funded program that COP runs. It guarantees that half the spots in COP will be for Hawaiian students. We also wrote the grant to provide UHM tuition scholarships for students from our target schools: (O‘ahu Native Hawaiian Language/Culture focus charter/immersion schools) Ānuenue, Hālau Lōkahi , Hālau Kū Māna, Kamakau, Hakipu‘u Learning Center, (Maui County) Moloka‘i High, Hāna High, and (O‘ahu Public Schools) Nānākuli High, Kahuku High, Wai‘anae High, Kailua High, Castle High. The scholarship goes to Hawaiians going to UH both in and not in COP. Scholarship applications out in 2010.While COP and Manawa Kūpono prioritize certain communities and schools, everybody is encouraged to apply! Application link: www.hawaii.edu/copDETAILED INFORMATION BELOW:***********************************************************************************************COP INFO SHEETCOP provides an alternative pathway for individuals who desire to attend the UHM but who do not possess the minimum requirements for admission. Participants engage in an intensive 6-week summer academic and residential program focused on preparing individuals for a successful freshman year at the UHM. Participants live on-campus and enroll in classes designed to upgrade academic and social skills. There is no cost to participate in the program as room, board, textbooks, and instructional expenses are covered by COP. Participants who successfully complete the COP program requirements are admitted to the UHM in the fall semester and advance to the First-Year Academic Program.During the First-Year Academic Program, students enroll in classes on a full-time basis (12 credits), live in an on-campus residence hall, and attend group meetings and individual appointments with COP counselors. Participants benefit from “one-stop advising” at the COP office on issues related to coursework, career planning and exploration, financial aid, on-campus employment, and other concerns. The COP office also serves as a comfortable place on campus to do homework, use computers, meet friends, eat lunch, or just hang out. During the First-Year Academic Program, students are fully responsible for all of their college-related expenses.WHO CAN APPLY?Everyone is encouraged to apply; however, primary consideration will be given to applicants who meet the following criteria:1. A bona fide Hawai’i resident and U.S. citizen, national, or person holding a permanent visa,2. A high school graduate by the start of the 2010 Summer Program,3. An annual family income under 185% of the 2009 family income levels established by the Census Bureau for determining poverty status.To see if you qualify, go online to: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/09poverty.shtml4. A current high school cumulative GPA (all institutions attended) of at least a 2.00,5. Earned no more than 12 college credits above the 100-level,6. Lack the minimum requirements for guaranteed admission to the UHM,7. Represent a positive role model to communities underrepresented at the UHM.TO APPLY, SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING:1. A completed and signed COP Application Form, which may be downloaded from the COP website (www.hawaii.edu/cop). A completed application shall also include a Personal Essay and two (2) COP Recommendation Forms to be completed by a high school college preparatory class teacher and a high school grade level or college/career counselor.2. An official high school transcript with 1st quarter senior grades. If applicable, submit SAT/ACT scores and all college transcripts.3. A copy of your parent’s/guardian’s 2008 Federal Income Tax Return (Form 1040).4. A copy of your 2010-11 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Student Aid Report (SAR) by February 1, 2010. If your parents have not filed their 2009 Federal Income Tax by this date, use their 2008 Federal Income Tax information to complete the 2010-11 FAFSA. NOTE: You will need to update your SAR immediately after your parents file their 2009 taxes.APPLICATION DEADLINE: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2009Application documents must be received by the COP office, or be postmarked, by the deadline.Applications that do not comply with the deadline requirements will not be considered.FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT COP2600 Campus Road • Queen Lili’uokalani Center for Student Services, Room 308 • Honolulu, HI 96822-2205Phone: 956-6186 Fax: 956-6837 • Email: copuhm@hawaii.edu • Website: www.hawaii.edu/cop*****************************************************************************************COP 2010 Application Packet.pdfCOP Poster2.pdf
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  • Do you know how COP came about? It was during the model cities era when everyone was getting training and work under the ceta program in Waianae. The federal govenment cancelled the program, however Bill went to the university and saved the money and put it towards COP.

    The money came from Waianae community and their loss of CETA program. So now it is spread throughout the state. Mike knows me he was very helpful when I was there at UH. Did you know that COP exist in different colleges on the mainland and they bring in the tribal students, I forgot what the name of the program that the tribes have.

    I did go on a National Student Exchange to Cal Poly Pomona in California. Had I not done that I would not have graduated. I took all my major courses at Cal Poly 3 semesters, its different there is 4 semesters in a year. I took 22 credits, 18 credits, and 16 credits all low grades ofcourse the stinky grades stayed at Cal Poly but I carried the credits back to UH. It was planned and set up by Mrs. Masuda. She knew I was not going to see my graduation had I not participate in the National Student Exchange. When I returned home I wanted to go to Russia (Soviet Union) on a student exchange, but my husband said no. There is so much politics in the field, counselors manipulate as to who they want to get in and sometimes I interfere, but I try not to. My niece went on an international exchange cause she heard my strategy, she went to Italy.

    I'm sad because there is so much that one needs to know about COP in order to survive and the goal is to graduate with a degree and move on to the next degree because a masters gets you a job in Waianae. Another problem is the financial part that needs to be addressed from 9th grade not wait till senior year, by then it's to late. I still suck at writing but I have the confidence to write and voice my opinion which is what I try to instill into my students. Mahalo for writing back 2013 sounds like a good party at Johnson Hall (only kidding) 70 to 150 mm need lots of strategies to get them to grad. Kaohi
  • Aloha e Kaohi,
    Awesome to hear from a COP grad! They seem to pop up everywhere. Bill Chambers retired a few years back. Mike Maglaya is the new director. Aunty Gina has been here the longest since the nineties. Yes, I graduated a few years ago and still remain in the college environment. Did you mean the summer program grad rates or graduation from college? This summer only 1 out of 70 didn't pass. As for graduation with a diploma - it's getting better - pretty good for folks that UH Manoa originally denied. That's pretty cool what you're doing now! Would you like to come visit our current COP class sometime? We have meetings every two weeks, usually thursdays 3-4pm. You can just drop by our office at QLCSS 308, too - it's usually packed with haumana and food. They're planning a huge reunion in 2013 (i think) to celebrate 40 years and help fundraise. This is a good year to try for COP because we're hoping to double it from 70 spots to 150!

    ke aloha no, kira
  • Aloha Kira,

    Who is the director? I'm a COP graduate of 1987 good to see this on Maoli world. Would you believe I lived at Hale Laulima and East West center for 10 years of my life. I enjoyed the life of a student as well as the opportunity to study 24/7. This program was so unbelievable--you are correct the hardest for me was the application process. I can remember Bill Chambers answering my questions for me because I was to scared. If you know me today, I'm the no fear person. Got to give COP some credit for that. How is the graduation numbers going. There was a huge number of drop outs, I have lots of theories for that problem. I teach at night and day, my night time classes are with drop outs and with low test scores. I use lots of strategies to leverage students from 3rd grade to 10.5 in 30 attended classes. It comes from my own experiences with COP. Kaohi
  • While I don't need this... I know that many people who do and could really use this so mahalo for posting this here.
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