The BHE have the crucial responsibility of selecting the ASCC President, and the Board also takes part in setting policies, approving budgets, approving or discontinuing programs at the College, and awarding degrees and certificates. Alongside HC Tauiliili and Dr. Togafau, the current BHE consists of Department of Education Director Malaetele Dr. Lui Tuitele, HTC Tiapula Imo Mamea, Rev. Dr. Leanavaotaua Sekuini Seva’aetasi, TC Fainuulelei L.F. Ala’ilima-Utu, HTC Uto’ofili Asofaafetai A. Maga, and Student Representative Faamoana Roe.

The BHE works in tandem with the ASCC administration to determine the priorities and overall direction of the College. Tauiliili stated that the current BHE seeks to strengthen programs that meet the needs of the community, such as Nursing, Trades & Technology, Teacher Education, and Samoan Language & Culture. The BHE also supports outreach programs such as College Bound, which help high school graduates avoid the need to take remedial courses in English and Math when they enter college.

Among the Board’s recent accomplishments, Tauiliili cited the establishment and subsequent hiring of a Dean for Vocation Education. “This fulfilled a long-term need to upgrade the teaching of many skills that the private sector desperately needs,” he said. The BHE also secured the land on which the College sits, and has enabled continuous upgrades to its facilities. “We consider the tremendous increase in ASCC student enrollment, from less than a thousand a few years ago to around 1600 today, as one of our biggest accomplishments,” said the Chairman, adding that credit should also go to the College’s administration, faculty and staff.

Asked about the challenges the BHE will face in the near future, Tauiliili explained, “The board has added an unwritten priority to find revenues to meet the growing needs at ASCC. While we greatly appreciate the support of the Governor, the Fono, Congressman Faleomavaega Eni and the Department of the Interior, the BHE would like to look for funds that will provide long term results, and have no programs attached. We intend to look more towards the private sector, who benefit from the trained manpower coming out of the College, and also to the many foundations that make donations for tax benefits.” He added that the BHE approved the establishment of a task force to review all the existing programs besides its current priorities for consolidation and streamlining. The BHE will select another set of priorities at the end of this long-term review.

 Tauiliili served in the US Navy from 1954 to 1958, then entered the University of Hawaii in 1959 and graduated with a bachelor degree in Agricultural Economics. He returned to Samoa in 1964 and worked at the Department of Agriculture in various areas before becoming its Director from 1971 to 1980. From 1981 to 1994, Tauiliili worked as the first director of the newly established Land Grant program. He started from the very beginning as the only Land Grant employee, and under his leadership the program steadily grew into one of the largest divisions of ASCC. While at Land Grant, Tauiliili also earned a masters degree from San Diego State University in Education and Management.

During Tauiliili’s tenure as Director, Land Grant added its existing office buildings, garage, piggery and greenhouses. He retired in 1994, after securing the funding and putting in place the plans to build the Land Grant research facility. These days, besides serving on the BHE, Tauiliili also writes books on Samoan language, culture and history. Last year he published his first book of Samoana stories and games for children, titled "Le Tu Manu ae Tu Logologo," and he has almost completed his second book, which he hopes to have published by early 2007. Tauiliili said his new book, "Anofale o le Gagana male Aganuu," will focus on traditional Samoan protocol and etiquette for adults.

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