For Immediate Release
Nov. 25, 2009

The next operating and capital budget tops the agenda for the University of Alaska Board of Regents when the 11-member panel gathers Nov. 30-Dec. 1 in Anchorage.

Regents are expected to vote on the budget after delaying action at the October meeting. University officials have had several meetings with Gov. Sean Parnell and his budget staff since then.

Members of the public may testify at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 30, and again at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1. Testimony is limited to three minutes; signup sheets will be available. The meeting will take place
at the Lee Gorsuch Commons on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus.

The preliminary UA budget for operation of the 15-campus system emphasizes programs in energy, science, technology, engineering and math; climate research; high-demand job training; and student success initiatives.

The capital budget request, as currently drafted, puts a top priority on annual maintenance needs throughout the system; construction of the UAF Life Sciences facility; planning and design money for engineering facilities at UAA and UAF; a feasibility study for community campus facility needs; and money to help shrink  the university system's list of deferred maintenance projects.

In addition to the budget work, regents will hear a number of updates, including a report on the highly successful nursing program at UAA, in which nursing graduates have more than doubled compared to 2002 levels. Regents will review the university's performance for the past year, including graduates from high-demand degree programs; undergraduate retention rates, currently at an all-time high for the
UA system; and the number of student credit hours delivered, also at an all-time high.

Regents will hear updates on master plans for the UAF campus and Tanana Valley Campus;  the previously approved UAA Kachemak Bay Campus classroom project; ongoing UAA community campus master planning; and the UAA sports arena project. In addition, UAA will host a reception for regents at the new ConocoPhillips Integrated Sciences Building on Monday night.

-30-

For more information, call Kate Ripley at 907/388-3506 or go to www.alaska.edu/bor/ to find the complete agenda.

NR20--09