Windward Community College students, faculty, staff and community members want to persuade the governor to release design money for a new library/learning resource center and are organizing a petition drive to do that.

The petition asks for the release of $2.6 million to design the project and an appropriation of $43.2 million to build it.

Anyone wishing to help can get a copy of the petition and fact sheet online at http://library.wcc.hawaii.edu/newbuilding.

The goal is to get 2,500 signatures.

The current library was built in the 1930s.

BYUH HEAD GOING TO TONGA

Brigham Young University-Hawai'i President Eric B. Shumway will leave that post to lead a temple in Tonga, the university said in a statement.

Shumway will be president of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' temple in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. He will assume the new post after BYU-Hawai'i's June commencement.

UH COMMUNITY COLLEGES PASS

All seven of the University of Hawai'i community colleges have been reaccredited by the community college accrediting arm of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Windward Community College was also removed from warning status by WASC's Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

In a report to UH, the commission commended efforts by the administration to bring the community colleges into alignment with accreditation standards. However, the commission did recommend that the university evaluate the "institutional effectiveness of its strategic planning processes" for the community colleges.

The next regular accreditation review will be in 2012.

FOSTER YOUTH TO GET COLLEGE HELP

Foster youth who are thinking about going to college will get free help navigating the process at a workshop for high school juniors and seniors from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Leeward Community College, Room BS 105.

The Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition will present "Better Start," featuring speakers, financial aid advisers and college application information. Two sessions are offered.

To register, call 255-8365.

SCHOLARSHIPS BY FILIPINO JAYCEES

The Honolulu Filipino Junior Chamber of Commerce will award college scholarships totaling more than $5,000 to deserving Hawai'i high school seniors. The scholarship program strives to identify a well-rounded and diverse recipient group.

The deadline to apply is Feb. 14. Information may be obtained at www.filipinojaycees.org.

UH ENROLLMENT OFF 84 STUDENTS

Preliminary numbers show a decrease of 84 students at the University of Hawai'i's 10 campuses for the spring semester.

The opening enrollment figures were released by the university last week and show 46,308 students are registered for classes, a decline of 0.2 percent compared with spring 2006 — the first year of a decrease in spring headcount enrollments after four years of steady growth.

UH-Manoa's enrollment of 18,959 is 122 fewer students, or a decrease of 0.6 percent than at a comparable date in spring 2006.