March 2, 2001» NR 03-01

Regents of the University of Alaska will meet Wednesday through Friday, March 7-9, at the Baranof Hotel in downtown Juneau.

The regents will meet individually with legislators and other state officials on Wednesday, and the full board will convene Thursday at 8 a. m. to hear University President Mark Hamilton's report, and to hear public testimony beginning about 10 a. m. Board committees will meet Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. On Friday, the full board will meet from 1:30 p. m. until 5 p. m. A two-hour executive session is scheduled for the late afternoon.

President Hamilton will speak at the Juneau and State Chamber of Commerce Business Roundtable luncheon at noon Thursday at the Hangar at the Wharf. On Thursday evening, in the Baranof's Treadwell Room, there will be a reception honoring Regent Joshua B. Horst, the student regent whose term expires in May.

The board's agenda items are listed here by committee of origin:

Academic & Student Affairs

• Receive reports on academic quality measures, electronic student services, accreditation activities, the process to be followed for use of bequests from the late Elmer Rasmuson, the Regents' Scholarship program and discussions on a possible for-credit independent study course for student regents and on possible tuition waivers for former regents.
• Consider approval of Master's degree program in cross-cultural studies and deletion of education specialist degree program in cross-cultural studies at UAF.
• Consider approval of a Bachelor of Science degree program in health sciences at UAA.

Finance, Facilities & Land Management

• Consider approval of FY03 operating and capital budget request guidelines.
• Consider approval of the 2001 Land Management Development Plan.
• Consider approval of the schematic design for the UAF Power Plant Code Corrections Phase I project.
• Receive a report on the status of UA investments in capital facilities, and a report on construction in progress and other projects.
• Discuss proposed modifications to board policies on facility and land management operations.
• Consider approval of abrogation and release of restrictions agreement, Bender Mountain.
• Consider approval of land acquisition plan for UAF's Poker Flat Research Range.

Human Resources

• Consider approval of a 1.5 percent increase to the university's non-union staff salary schedule. Non-union staff last received a salary grid adjustment in January 1994 in the amount of 3 percent. The administration has recommended a 1.5 percent adjustment that would go into effect July 1, 2001, contingent upon legislative funding.
• Review the human resources policy revision schedule.
• Review a draft of proposed changes to the university's salary administration policy. No action is scheduled for this meeting.

Committee of the Whole

• Receive a status report on the University of Alaska College Savings Program, and consider authorization to proceed with matters related to implementation, including the adoption of a related Board of Regents' policy.
• Consider approval of the newly revised UAS mission statement.
• Consider approval of the proposed spending plan for Natural Resources project proposals.
• Consider approval of a revised policy on Tuition and Student Fees.
• Receive a report on the Alaska Student Loan Program from Diane Barrans, executive director of the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, and Joe Beedle, UA vice president for finance.
• Receive a report on the University of Alaska's missions and measures as outlined in state legislation approved last year. 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 the Baranof Hotel, 907-586-2660, fax: 907-586-8315. Messages should indicate that they are for participants attending the Board of Regents' meeting.

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