June 2, 2000 NR 14-2000

Regents of the University of Alaska will elect new officers and deal with a multitude of issues, ranging from academic programs to the construction of the new consortium library at UAA when they meet Thursday and Friday, June 8-9, at the UAA Commons in Anchorage.

The incumbent Board of Regents chair, Michael J. Burns, is standing for re-election, and Regent Chancy Croft has also been nominated for the top spot. Regent Elsa Froehlich Demeksa has been nominated for re-election as vice-chair, and Regent Mary Jane Fate has been nominated for re-election as secretary. Regent Brian Rogers has been nominated for treasurer. Other nominations can be made from the floor.

University President Mark R. Hamilton and the regents will host a reception Thursday evening for Alaska legislators and other invited guests in the Quarterdeck Room in Tower A of the Captain Cook Hotel.

The full board will meet Thursday morning, beginning at 8 a. m. for President Hamilton's report, a legislative summary and the election of officers. Public testimony is scheduled from 10 a.m. until noon. Committee meetings are scheduled for Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. The full board will meet again on Friday from 2:30 p. m. until 5:30 p. m. An executive session is scheduled as one of the last items of business and is expected to last approximately two hours.

Friday at noon the regents and invited guests will attend a luncheon for Dr. Carlyle Haaland, president of Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka. The luncheon will be in the Canary Room at the UAA Commons.

Regents will address the following agenda items, which are listed here by committee of origin:

Academic & Student Affairs

• Consider approval of a Center for Community-based Service, Learning and Research at UAA.
• Consider approval of a Master of Science Degree program in Global Supply Chain Management at UAA.
• Consider approval of a Master of Arts Degree program in Rural Development at UAF.
• Consider approval of an Accounting Technician Certificate program at UAF.
• Consider deleting the Master of Arts in Teaching Program in Geology at UAF. This program was recommended for deletion in the university-wide program assessment process in 1994. No students are currently enrolled in the program.
• Consider approval of the Reorganization of Schools and Colleges at UAF. As one of the recommendations of program assessment, the College of Natural Resource Development and Management was established. The college consisted of the existing School of Agriculture and Land Resources Management, School of Management and School of Mineral Engineering. The reorganization would eliminate the College of Natural Resource Development and Management, and return the three schools to independent status. The administration has recommended the action because the establishment of the college has led to neither administrative efficiencies nor demonstrated cost savings.
• Discuss a request to consider providing coed rooms or suites in university housing.
• Discuss providing special consideration for Alaska high school graduates who enrolled at the University of Alaska prior to the institution of the UA Scholars Program, and have remained enrolled.
• Discuss recent campus enrollment trends.
• Hear a report from President Hamilton on his meeting with community campus directors.
• Discuss spring 2001 commencement dates for UAA, UAF and UAS.

Finance, Facilities & Land Management

• Consider project approval for the UAA library project, including authorization to bid and award contracts for the library parking garage and walkway, and to proceed with the design of the library renovation and addition. The first phase (parking garage and walkway) is estimated at $9,268,000. Total project cost is estimated at $43,980,000.
• Consider approval of increased total project costs for the UAF Rasmuson Library deferred maintenance and renovation project from $11.8 million to $18 million.
• Consider project approval for the UAF Geist Road/Loftus Road entrance project. The state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities will fully fund the design and construction of the project. The university will provide the necessary right-of-way at no cost to the state but will maintain ownership of the property. In addition the university will provide maintenance for the new road and railroad overpass.
• Consider project approval for increased funding of the UAF/Fairbanks North Star Borough Hutchison Career Center Renovation and Addition project. The total project cost is now estimated at $23.6 million. The university's commitment to this project is now fully funded at $9.6 million. The borough anticipates selling bonds to fund its $14 million portion of the project.
• Consider authorizing the administration to proceed with implementation of the Alaska Higher Education Savings Trust and modification of the Advance College Tuition program. The intent is to form an integrated college savings program consistent with the requirements of state law and the Internal Revenue Service Code.
• Receive a status report on construction in progress and other university projects, such as the Lena Point fisheries facility and the coal-water fuel project.

Human Resources

• Consider revisions to Regents' policies on nondisciplinary terminations and financial exigency, and on recruitment and staffing. Audit
• Review recently completed audits, review the audit status report and review committee reporting and audit ratings.
• Consider approval of the FY2001 annual audit plan, review audit policies and procedures and discuss the process for selecting an audit firm for the five-year period FY2001 through FY2005.

Planning & Development

• Review UA mission and vision statements, and discuss implementation. Committee of the Whole
• Consider approval of an administration recommendation to table further consideration of tuition rate adjustments for the year beginning in the summer of 2001 through spring 2002 until the October 2000 meeting of the board. The delay will enable the administration to complete its review of student fees, and develop recommendations for policies and procedures to provide for ongoing review and approval processes for the creation and maintenance of such fees.
• Consider approval of the FY01 student government budgets.
• Consider approval of the distribution plan for the FY01 operating budget.
• Receive a status report on the new Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corp program being developed at UAA.

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

During the two-day meeting, messages can be left at the UAA Commons, 907-751-7200, FAX 907-751-7281. Messages should indicate that they are for participants in the Board of Regents' meeting.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Bob Miller, 907-474-6311