February 22, 2019

UA Board of Regents to address budget reductions and reaccreditation when it meets February 28-March 1 in Anchorage
 

An unprecedented reduction in state funding and an accreditation failure at UAA’s School of Education will be the central topics of discussion at the University of Alaska Board of Regents meeting Feb. 28-March 1 at the Lee Gorsuch Commons, University of Alaska Anchorage campus.

The meeting agenda (https://www.boarddocs.com/ak/alaska/Board.nsf/Public) includes in-person testimony, a public gathering, discussion about workforce development and committee reports.
 
In his FY20 budget, the governor proposed a $134 million, or 41 percent reduction from the university’s current operating budget. If approved by the state legislature, or enacted as an outcome of a budget veto, the cut would be the largest in the university’s 100-year history, and UA would have $134 million less in state funds in the fiscal year beginning July 1.

President Jim Johnsen convened an emergency meeting with his executive team and the three chancellors to discuss strategic options, and will present those options to the board for its consideration on Feb 28.

Regents also will consider options for how the university should move forward with the UAA School of Education. Since Jan. 11 when UAA lost accreditation for early licensure programs, UAA officials and regents have been meeting with and talking to students about how best to meet their interests. Options range from seeking reaccreditation for the UAA School of Education to discontinuing teacher education programs to offering only post-baccalaureate programs at UAA and consolidating undergrad programs at UAF or UAS.

The board’s in-person public testimony session will be held from 8:15-9:15 a.m. on Feb. 28 in room 107 of the Lee Gorsuch Commons. Sign-up sheets will be available at 8 a.m. (For more information on providing public testimony, visit https://alaska.edu/bor/public-testimony/.) Those addressing the regents will have two minutes to share their input on any issue facing the university. The public also may submit written comments at any time to the Board of Regents and President Johnsen via email at ua-bor@alaska.edu.

Following public testimony, the board will hear reports from the president, chancellors and governance representatives. After the meeting, the public is invited to an evening gathering with the regents from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in room 106 of the Lee Gorsuch Commons.

The board meeting will be live streamed at http://www.alaska.edu/bor/live/.

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For more information, contact Roberta Graham, associate vice president of public affairs at 907-360-2416 (cell).

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