For Immediate Release

The University of Alaska Board of Regents agreed Monday to rescind a retention incentive approved as part of the president's contract in June.

Before taking a vote, they individually voiced support for UA President Pat Gamble but many agreed with him that the incentive’s timing was unfortunate in light of current and expected budgetary constraints and could hurt his effectiveness.

Last week, President Gamble requested the board take another look at the retention incentive. He said now, more than ever, the university community must work together to tackle difficult challenges facing higher education in Alaska.

The board met in executive session Monday in Anchorage to discuss a number of fiscal and budgetary matters, but then went into open session to publicly vote on deleting the retention incentive from the president’s contract. The motion passed, 9-1. One regent, Gloria O’Neill, was absent. Regent Fuller Cowell voted against rescinding.

The board expressed support for President Gamble’s leadership, particularly on the Shaping Alaska’s Future initiative, an outcomes-based framework for more collaboration and continuous improvement within the UA System. It was adopted as UA policy in June.

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