HILO, Hawai'i – University of Hawai'i at Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin announced her official support for the passage of the federal Protect College Sports Act (PCSA).
Irwin, who is serving as chair of the Pacific West Conference Executive Board, highlighted the urgent need for consistent national standards to guide collegiate athletics through a rapidly shifting landscape.
"Because so many conferences, including the PacWest, have members from multiple states, it is important to have a national framework that provides stability and opportunity for the future of college sports, and most importantly, our student-athletes," Chancellor Irwin said. "As chair of the PacWest Conference Executive Board, I hear from all our campuses the need to support our broad-based athletics programs and to ensure our students can thrive both academically and competitively."
The Protect College Sports Act establishes a uniform federal structure for college athletics, providing essential protections, eligibility guidelines and revenue standards across all divisions. Chancellor Irwin strongly urged federal lawmakers to take action on the measure to protect student-athletes.
"I urge our state congressional delegation to vote in support of the Protect College Sports Act," Irwin stated. "By passing this legislation, Congress can help protect student-athletes, preserve athletic opportunities across Hawai'i and ensure that college sports continues to build character, community and educational pathways for generations to come."
The U.S. Senate took a step toward passing the Protect College Sports Act on Sept. 17 with 77 senators voting yes on a procedural vote — up from 74 on the first vote on Sept. 15. Additional procedural votes are expected over the next few days ahead of a final Senate vote projected for the week of Sept. 21. The bill would then move to the House.
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I AT HILO
The University of Hawai'i at Hilo is a comprehensive, regional university located on the Big Island of Hawai'i. UH Hilo offers high-quality undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a diverse supportive environment. The Vulcans Athletics department fields NCAA Division II teams as a proud member of the Pacific West Conference.
PACWEST CONFERENCE
The Pacific West Conference is one of 23 NCAA Division II athletic conferences nationwide, featuring member institutions across California and Hawai'i. The PacWest is committed to academic achievement, athletic excellence and community engagement. The conference sponsors all 12 of Vulcans Athletics sports: baseball, basketball (men's and women's), cross country (women's), golf (men's and women's), soccer (men's and women's), softball, tennis (men's and women's) and volleyball (women's).
Its 10 member institutions are Biola University, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Concordia University Irvine, Dominican University of California, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, Hawai'i Pacific University, Jessup University, Point Loma Nazarene University, Vanguard University and Westmont College.
