September 25, 1998» NR 26-1998

Regents of the University of Alaska will meet Thursday and Friday, October 1-2, 1998, in Fairbanks at the Butrovich Building on the UAF campus. The meeting schedule has been revised to make it more convenient for the public to comment on university matters. The full board will meet at 8 a.m. Thursday to receive comments from university employee organizations and members of the general public. The board will recess from 10 a.m. for committee meetings until 5 p.m., when it will resume hearing public comment until 6 p.m. "This revised schedule will make it a little easier for people to let us know what they think about issues facing the board, especially people who have commitments that make it impossible for them to get away in the morning," said Anchorage Regent Michael J. Burns, president of the board. Committees of the board will meet between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Regents will meet from 4 to 5 p.m. in joint session with board members of the Alaska Science and Technology Foundation. The full board meeting will resume Friday morning at 8 a.m. and is scheduled to adjourn at 5 p.m. An executive session has been scheduled as the last item of business, and is expected to last about two hours. Sometime around noon on Friday regents expect to meet with Alaska Department of Education Commissioner Shirley Holloway, but no specific time has been set. Agenda highlights are listed here by committee of origin:

Academic & Student Affairs
Hear results of recent accreditation reviews on UAA and UAF engineering programs.

Consider approval of a policy on student rights and responsibilities, and continue discussion on the draft of a policy on student organizations.

Finance, Facilities & Land Management
Consider approval of an administration proposal to use the $80,000 in proceeds from the sale of a property easement to the City of Ketchikan for parking improvements and planning and design of remodeling projects for the UAS Ketchikan Technical Center, alongside which the easement runs. Policy provides that the proceeds from such easement sales be deposited into the land-grant endowment fund unless the board designates another purpose.

Consider authorizing the administration to proceed with the sale of the Homer Red Meat Facility for no less than $300,000. The former Red Meat Center was established in the early 1970s for use by the UAF Agricultural Experiment Station. It ceased operations in 1984, and university efforts to lease the center have been unsuccessful.

Consider approval of a resolution of appreciation for the members of the University of Alaska Heating Corporation, formed in 1962 to oversee construction of the UAF heating/power plant. All bonds issued by the Heating Corporation have now been redeemed or paid off, so trustees of the Heating Corporation are preparing to transfer all assets, rights and interests in the UAF heating plant to the university, and to dissolve the corporation.

Receive reports on the university/medical community land use options at UAA; on UAF's coal-water fuel project and on the university's construction projects now underway.

Committee of the Whole
Begin discussion of FY2000 tuition rates. Unless otherwise determined by the board, tuition will be increased by the 3-year Higher Education Price Index (HEPI) average percentage increase (3.2 percent). That would mean lower division tuition rates would go from $73 to $75 per credit hour; at Prince William Sound Community College, the rate would go from $62 to $64; and at Kodiak, the rate would go from $63 to $65 per credit hour. Upper division courses would go from $81 to $84 per credit hour; the graduate rate from $162 to $167; and the non-resident surcharge from $154 to $159 per credit hour. The administration has recommended that the board take no action on tuition until February 1999.

Consider approval of administration recommendations for the development of the university's FY2000 operating budget requests. University President Mark R. Hamilton is proposing that the university seek an additional $16.3 million in each of the next three fiscal years for operating needs. "Over a 3-year period, our goal is to secure the funding necessary to ensure high quality in core programs, keep pace with technology, and enhance high demand instructional and research programs and programs that support the state's employment and economic development needs," Hamilton said.

Consider approval of President Hamilton's 5-year capital request plan for FY2000 through FY2004 which calls for: two $50 million deferred maintenance packages to follow the current FY99 appropriation; $15 million increasing to $20 million annually for renewal and replacement to avoid deferred maintenance buildup; $7.5 million annually for instructional, telecommunications, and technology-based equipment; and new construction funding to meet program needs of the 21st century. The recommended capital budget request totals more than $253 million.

Hear presentations from the College of Rural Alaska Advisory Council, and from the Statewide Vocational-Technical Education Advisory Council.

Receive reports on labor relations, on employee survey results and on the public information campaign.

All meetings of the Board of Regents and its committees, except for executive sessions, are open to the public.

During the meeting, messages can be left at 907-474-7272 or 907-474-7908. The fax numbers are 907-474-6342 or 907-474-7273.

For more information: Bob Miller, 907-474-7272