November 25, 2003 NR 19-03

Regents of the University of Alaska will meet in Anchorage Wednesday and Thursday, December 3-4, 2003, to consider acceptance of the recently negotiated contract with the university’s oldest union and hold an election for board officers.

The meetings will be held at the University Commons on the campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, December 3. An executive session is scheduled for the first hour of the meeting, followed by the President’s Report. Public testimony is scheduled from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by a report from UAF’s College of Rural Alaska.

Members of the board will meet with staff and students for lunch at 11:30 a.m. in the Creekside Cafeteria of the University Commons. Topics will include MyUA project, UA Scholars Program, state room scholarships, super tuition and senior tuition waivers. In the afternoon, regents will hear a presentation on UA retirement programs and consider acceptance of the FY03 audited financial statements, then tour UAA’s Ecosystem/Biomedical Laboratory facility. Thursday evening, regents will participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Caravan Simulator and reception at the Aviation Technology Center, Merrill Field.

On Thursday, committees of the board will begin meeting at 9 a.m. following public testimony. The full board will reconvene at 3 p.m.

The terms of the current board officers expire this month and election of officers will be held. Current officers are Brian Rogers, Chair; Elsa Froehlich Demeksa, Vice Chair; Fran Rose, Secretary; and Joe Usibelli, Jr., Treasurer.

Other agenda items are listed here by committee of origin:

Academic & Student Affairs Committee

• Receive presentation on campus safety by representatives from each major campus.
• Discuss strategic development of agenda for the committee.
• Discuss UA joint Ph.D. programs.
• Hear presentation by UAA Chancellor Lee Gorsuch on UAA’s efforts to promote “Good to Great” progress in its academic and administrative endeavors.
• Receive updates on Student Services and Enrollment Management and accreditation activities.

Facilities & Land Management Committee

• Consider approval of the sale of a portion of UAF’s Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station land in Palmer to Triad Hospitals, Inc.
• Consider approval of the expansion project for Kachemak Bay Branch of the Kenai Peninsula College.
• Receive updates on UAA’s Integrated Science Facility planning, wayfinding efforts and the UAA campus facilities master plan process.
• Receive a status report on university investments in capital facilities, construction in progress and other projects.

Planning & Development Committee

• Receive updates on UA’s Strategic Plan 2009 and on development projects and capital campaigns.
• Hold a first reading of policy regarding naming opportunities when related to gifts.

Finance & Audit Committee

• Consider authorization of the sale of 2004 General Revenue bonds for acquisition of real estate, refinancing of deed of trust note, UAF Institute of Arctic Biology logistics facility, and the UAF Tanana Valley Campus Hutchison Career Center upgrade.
• Receive presentation on FY03 UA Foundation and Consolidated Fund annual financial statements.
• Hold executive session for external auditor comments.
• Review recently completed audits.
• Receive a status report on Internal Audit.
• Hold executive session regarding audit matters.
• Consider Audit Committee self-assessments and charters.

Human Resources Committee

• Consider acceptance of bargaining unit contract between UA and the Alaska Community Colleges Federation of Teachers AFT Local 2404, AFL-CIO.
• Receive updates on collective bargaining, dispute resolution, staff classification/ compensation study, UA health benefits issues, UA Academy 2004 and workflow analysis.

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

On the days of the meeting, messages can be left at the University Commons: phone 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