For Immediate Release
Tuesday Feb. 14, 2012

The University of Alaska Board of Regents this week will consider a certificate in baking and pastry arts and a proposal to officially name what’s currently called “west ridge” on the Fairbanks campus.

Members of the public may testify at 10 a.m. on either Wednesday, Feb. 15, or Thursday, Feb. 16. The meeting will be in Room 109 of the Butrovich Building.

The certificate in baking and pastry arts reconfigures an earlier certificate in culinary arts that featured one of three concentrations: culinary arts, baking and pastry and cooking. The UAF faculty recommended eliminating the concentrations and now instead offers a single certificate in culinary arts. With the expected approval of the baking and pastry certificate, a student interested in learning such skills would be able to obtain a certificate in either culinary arts or baking and pastry. The cooking concentration has been eliminated.

The certificate would translate directly toward a two-year associate degree, if the student so desires. On its own, such a certificate provides the workforce training needed for a graduate to work in a restaurant, hotel or other establishment that features baked goods and pastries.

The proposal to rename the West Ridge area of campus Troth Yeddha’ would then, if regents approve, be submitted to the Alaska State Board of Geographic Names.

Tanana Athabascans called the West Ridge area Troth Yeddha’ which translates roughly to “wild potato ridge.” Elders used to gather on the site to consider the state of affairs of Native nations in Alaska’s Interior. When the elders learned the land was to become the site of what later became UAF, they placed an eagle feather on a pole to let the Athabascan people know that the ridge would no longer be used for meeting or picking wild potatoes, but would instead be for a formalized type of education that would serve future generations of their own people.

At UAF’s request, the board several years ago officially named a piece of land between the Reichardt Building and the museum Troth Yeddha’ Park. This expanded proposal builds on that earlier recognition and, if approved, would give the name official status.

In other business, the board will consider resolutions of appreciation for two long-time staffers at the UA System Office: Pat Ivey and Jeannie Phillips.

Pat Ivey is executive officer for System Governance, a position that coordinates  meetings and maintains official records of a number of governance groups for faculty, staff and student groups across the UA System. Ivey, who recently became a great grandmother, has worked for the university for more than 36 years and will retire later this month.

Jeannie Phillips has worked for the university in numerous capacities for 31 years, the last 21 of which have been in the Board of Regents’ Office. Over the years, Phillips worked with 67 regents and attended more than 250 board meetings. She recently moved to semi-retirement, and is now working part-time on special projects for UAF.

Another highlight for board members and invited guests will be a ribbon cutting and reception at the UAF Alaska Center for Energy and Power at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. The ribbon cutting celebrates the completion of new energy technology labs off Tanana Loop. Members of the media are invited to attend as well.

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For more information call Kate Ripley at 907/450-8102 or email klripley@alaska.edu. To view the board agenda go to www.alaska.edu/bor/ and click on “agendas.”

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