For Immediate Release
Tuesday, April 13, 2010

The University of Alaska Board of Regents will visit the Bristol Bay Campus in Dillingham Thursday and Friday, April 15 and 16.

The 11-member board meets at least once a year at a rural campus based on a rotating schedule in an effort to visit as many campuses across the state as possible. The highlight of the April gathering will be the opportunity to meet with members of the Dillingham community, as well as Bristol Bay Campus students, faculty and staff, said Board Chair Cynthia Henry.

“It’s important for the board to visit our rural campuses on a regular basis because their needs are not the same as the needs of the urban campuses in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau,” Henry said. “We’d like to hear from folks in Dillingham, so we’re hoping for a good turn
out.”

The agenda kicks off Thursday morning with a campus tour. Faculty, staff and students will give a presentation on campus programs and services at 9 a.m. Thursday, followed by public testimony at 10 a.m. A reception for board members, university chancellors and staff, and members of the public will be held at the Dillingham Senior Center Thursday evening.

“It’s been over 10 years since the Board of Regents has made a trip to Bristol Bay Campus,” said Bristol Bay Campus Director Debbie McLean. “We’re excited to update them on new programs, such as new health programs being planned here in collaboration with UAA.”

The agenda includes various updates but relatively few action items.

Those action items include:

• Formal project approval of a $7.5 million federal grant to the Center for Alaska Native Health Research (UAF). The money would renovate and create space at the Fairbanks and Bethel campuses in support of research on behavioral and nutritional sciences of Alaska Natives;
• Formal project approval of air handling and ventilation system improvements at Mat-Su College in Palmer, at $2.4 million in previously approved funds. The improvements would occur at the Jalmar M. Kerttula Building;
• Consideration of emeritus status for retiring UA President Mark Hamilton;
• And ratification on a new contract with incoming UA President Pat Gamble.

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For more information, call Kate Ripley at 907/450-8102 or 907/388-3506.

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