Chaminade University of Honolulu

Press Release

Chaminade University Receives Maximum 10-Year Accreditation from APA for its Doctor of Psychology Program

Following a rigorous, months-long review, the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology degree program at the Hawaii School of Professional Psychology at Chaminade University of Honolulu has received full accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA) for ten years.

APA accreditation signifies Chaminade’s PsyD program meets the highest standards in psychology education, preparing students to successfully and ethically deliver psychological services to the community.

“APA’s 10-year accreditation is an affirmation of the quality, rigor, and academic support that we provide our students through Chaminade’s PsyD program, giving them the tools and resources that they will need to serve the mental and behavioral health needs of our communities,” said Chaminade President Lynn Babington.

“Chaminade University is proud to offer the only APA-accredited PsyD program in the state, and is committed to partnering with our graduates as they expand access to evidence-based, culturally attuned psychological care. Like our community partners, we know that mental health is critical to overall health.”

Babington added that the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical need for quality psychological services in Hawaii, especially in rural and under-resourced populations. “The PsyD program is built on Chaminade’s Marianist tradition of public service, and is part of a suite of academic offerings in mental health at Chaminade geared toward helping communities thrive,” Babington said.

As part of APA accreditation, Chaminade’s PsyD program faculty members and administrators underwent an extensive self-study process, highlighting areas of excellence and opportunities for further growth and innovation. An accreditation team of professionals from across the US also conducted a thorough program review to ensure the University’s PsyD program meets rigorous standards.

There are currently less than 70 PsyD programs in the US with full APA accreditation.

Chaminade’s PsyD stresses experiential learning and cutting-edge, community-focused practical application. Students complete a five-year course of study in preparation for licensed clinical practice, with a curriculum that integrates hands-on application with theory and research. Students are also mentored to serve as practitioner-scholars and leaders who seek to drive positive change.

Before graduation, students also complete at least 1500 hours of clinical practicum and  2,000 hours of  clinical internship held  in a variety of settings, including community mental health centers, nonprofits, hospitals, and psychiatric facilities.

In addition to APA accreditation, the PsyD program is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. Additional information on the program is available at chaminade.edu/psyd.

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Chaminade University of Honolulu provides a collaborative and innovative learning environment that prepares graduate and undergraduate students for life, service and successful careers. Established in 1955, the university is guided by its Catholic, Marianist and liberal arts educational traditions, which include a commitment to serving the Native Hawaiian population. Chaminade offers an inclusive setting where students, faculty and staff collectively pursue a more just and peaceful society.

Chaminade University Launches Economic Education Center

Chaminade University’s School of Business and Communication, in partnership with the Hawaiian Council for Economic Education (HCEE), has launched the Economic Education Center for Excellence. The Center’s vision is to create a higher quality of life in Hawai‘i through economic and financial education and research and through support of sustainable nonprofit organizations and projects.

“At Chaminade, we understand that in order to continue to offer an excellent and relevant education we must be able to rapidly respond to the needs of learners, the workforce, and statewide and global priorities,” said Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington. “Our new Economic Education Center for Excellence does all of that by supporting local and national financial literacy mandates and the state’s vision for a sustainable Hawai‘i.”

The Center’s mission is to train teachers and students in financial literacy and to provide meaningful research to aid upward social mobility and an economically healthy society. Initial activities are focused on the Spring 2021 Economics Challenge hosted by HCEE for Hawai‘i high school students and teacher training sessions in alignment with Hawai‘i Department of Education standards for K-5 economic education.

“We’re pleased to partner with Chaminade University on the Economic Education Center for Excellence to provide pathways to reach and equip public and private K-12 educators,” said HCEE Chair Jim Dixon. “The Center will foster economic educational leadership and establish measurable learning outcomes for economic and financial literacy education in the state.”

Future Center initiatives will include high school entrepreneurship camps, upward social mobility research and programming, collaborative curricular development with Chaminade’s School of Education and Behavioral Sciences, and interdisciplinary research in support of economic education, the economics of climate change and the support of sustainable and effective nonprofit organizations. 

“I applaud Chaminade University for establishing its Economic Education Center for Excellence,” said Rich Wacker, president & CEO of American Savings Bank. “Improving education, and especially financial literacy, is incredibly important for the future of our island community.”

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Chaminade University of Honolulu provides a collaborative and innovative learning environment that prepares graduate and undergraduate students for life, service and successful careers. Established in 1955, the university is guided by its Catholic, Marianist and liberal arts educational traditions, which include a commitment to serving the Native Hawaiian population. Chaminade offers an inclusive setting where students, faculty and staff collectively pursue a more just and peaceful society. For more information, visit chaminade.edu.

Chaminade University Welcomes Jeff Scofield as Dean of Financial Aid

Jeff Scofield, Dean of Financial Aid

Chaminade University has named Jeff R. Scofield as Dean of Financial Aid, where he will oversee operations of the financial aid office. He brings more than 30 years of experience to the position.

“We’re excited to welcome Jeff to the Silversword team,” said Dr. Lynn Babington, president of Chaminade University. “His expertise will prove invaluable as he leads our experienced team of financial aid professionals in helping to guide students and their families through our many scholarships and financial aid opportunities available.”

Scofield most recently served as Assistant Vice President, Student Financial Services for Seattle University. Prior to that, he was Director of Financial Aid at University of Hawaii at Hilo. He also held financial aid positions with Longwood University in Virginia, Our Lady of the Lake University in Texas and Schreiner College in Texas.

Active in professional organizations, Scofield is a member off the Pacific Financial Aid Association, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, Western Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and The College Board. He received his master’s degree in higher education administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Coe College in Iowa.

Chaminade University’s Financial Aid Office offers numerous financial aid opportunities, including merit aid, scholarships, grants, federal loans, alternative loans and federal work study. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 97 percent of undergraduate students received some form of financial aid; more than $15.8 million was awarded in undergraduate aid; and an average of $15,340 in grants and scholarships was awarded to each student.

To learn more about Chaminade’s financial aid program, visit Chaminade.edu/financial-aid.

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Chaminade University of Honolulu provides a collaborative and innovative learning environment that prepares graduate and undergraduate students for life, service and successful careers. Established in 1955, the university is guided by its Catholic, Marianist and liberal arts educational traditions, which include a commitment to serving the Native Hawaiian population. Chaminade offers an inclusive setting where students, faculty and staff collectively pursue a more just and peaceful society.

Chaminade University Names Pamela Smith as Associate Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions

Dr. Pamela Smith (Associate Dean, School of Nursing and Health Professions)

Chaminade University has named Pamela D. Smith, EdD, APRN-Rx, FNP-BC, as Associate Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions. She will lead Chaminade’s Community and Public Health program and the planned Doctorate of Nursing Practice* (DNP) program. The DNP program was developed in response to student demand for health-related professional degrees and will help nurses advance their careers.

“We are pleased to welcome Pamela to our Silverswords ‘ohana,” said Dr. Lynn Babington, President of Chaminade University. “Her extensive expertise and diverse background will prove invaluable to our students working toward careers in the health care.”

Smith brings more than 20 years of nursing, health sciences, and administrative experience to the position. Most recently, she served as chief nursing administrator, chair of Nursing Department at Hawai‘i Pacific University. She also held a number of other positions within the university, including family nurse practitioner coordinator, director of clinical facilities, faculty, and associate chief nurse administrator. She has worked as a nurse practitioner at various clinics and hospitals on O‘ahu in primary care and surgical practice.

Active in professional and community organizations, Smith serves in the Hawai‘i Medical Reserve Corp to assist with COVID response and vaccine administration. She also serves on state-wide committees and task forces with the Hawai‘i State Center for Nursing.

Smith received her Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of New England; Master of Science in Nursing from Hawai‘i Pacific University; Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Johns Hopkins University; and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Bastyr University.

Chaminade University’s School of Nursing and Health Professions offers a variety of learning opportunities. The curriculum of both the nursing program as well as the community and public health program prepares students for the unique challenges they’ll face in the healthcare sector, with hands-on preparation, state-of-art tools, and a robust mentorship component. For more information, visit chaminade.edu/nursing-health-professions/.

* Chaminade’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program is pending WSCUC approval

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Chaminade University of Honolulu provides a collaborative and innovative learning environment that prepares graduate and undergraduate students for life, service and successful careers. Established in 1955, the university is guided by its Catholic, Marianist and liberal arts educational traditions, which include a commitment to serving the Native Hawaiian population. Chaminade offers an inclusive setting where students, faculty and staff collectively pursue a more just and peaceful society.

Chaminade Receives Grant in Support of Distance Learning

Chaminade University of Honolulu recently received a $20,000 grant from the G. N. Wilcox Trust, Bank of Hawaii, Trustee to provide educational technology packages to high-need students. The packages will include a laptop computer, headphones with a microphone, and an external flash drive for secure data storage.

“This generous grant from G. N. Wilcox Trust will help us meet some of our students’ critical technology needs and allow for continued student success,” said Dr. Helen Turner, Chaminade’s Vice President for Strategy and Innovation. “Even as face-to-face classes have resumed, ensuring our students have the proper equipment will provide resiliency against future lockdowns, and provide for those students who have elected to stay online because they or their family members have compromised immune systems.”

Across the nation, the transition to distance education in response to COVID-19 has exposed a digital divide. The Technology Package program reflects Chaminade’s continuing mission to serve low income students with an exceptional college education.

G. N. Wilcox Trust provides support for programs that better the lives of individuals and families in Hawai‘i. It was created by George Norton Wilcox, who began his career growing sugar at Hanalei, Kauai in 1863 and later became owner of Grove Farm plantation. He also served as a representative for Kauai from 1887 until annexation of the Islands in 1898. As a philanthropist, Wilcox’s interests centered largely around religious and educational work and expanded to include arts & culture, community, environment, health and human services.

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Chaminade University of Honolulu provides a collaborative and innovative learning environment that prepares graduate and undergraduate students for life, service and successful careers. Established in 1955, the university is guided by its Catholic, Marianist and liberal arts educational traditions, which include a commitment to serving the Native Hawaiian population. Chaminade offers an inclusive setting where students, faculty and staff collectively pursue a more just and peaceful society.

Chaminade University Receives Grant from Arthur and Mae Orvis Foundation

Chaminade University of Honolulu has received a $15,000 grant from the Arthur and Mae Orvis Foundation to support its Performing Arts Program. The grant will provide professional music training to Performing Arts students participating in Chaminade University’s annual Summer Theatre Festival.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Arthur and Mae Orvis Foundation for this generous donation,” said Chris Patrinos, the new director of Chaminade’s Performing Arts Program. “Though the future for performing arts is uncertain, we are still hoping to hold a festival in the summer of 2021. This gift will allow us to offer the best possible musical support for the student performers and help us to bring first-rate theatre performances to Hawai‘i audiences.”

Chaminade’s Summer Theatre Festival began four years ago to give college students from Hawaiʻi an opportunity to participate in performing arts during the summer. The 2020 festival was cancelled due to COVID-19.

The Arthur and Mae Orvis Foundation was founded in 1967 by talented opera singer, Mae Orvis. Mae created the foundation in memory of her husband, financier and philanthropist, Arthur. The two loved the arts very much, and were each great supporters of the arts in Hawai‘i. Their legacy of generosity lives on through their Foundation.

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Chaminade University of Honolulu provides a collaborative and innovative learning environment that prepares graduate and undergraduate students for life, service and successful careers. Established in 1955, the university is guided by its Catholic, Marianist and liberal arts educational traditions, which include a commitment to serving the Native Hawaiian population. Chaminade offers an inclusive setting where students, faculty and staff collectively pursue a more just and peaceful society.