HIGHLIGHTS OF THE UA BOARD OF REGENTS MEETING • NOVEMBER 1999

University of Alaska regents voted unanimously to request $191.9 million from the governor and legislature for the university's FY2001 operating budget. The amount is $16.9 million more than the university received from the state last year.

The $16.9 million increment in state general fund dollars will enable the university to obtain another $32.2 million from tuition revenue, federal grants and other non-state general fund sources. General fund support of this request is expected to increase tuition revenue by three percent.

University President Mark R. Hamilton said the budget request positions the university to begin advancing Alaska's economic development by focusing on program initiatives directed at the highest priority needs of Alaska's workforce requirements and economic growth opportunities.

"We're continuing the phased approach we started last year to putting the university back on track," Hamilton said. "The University of Alaska is where Alaska's future begins, and we're seeking the financial means to be the instrument of Alaska's economic growth well into the 21st Century."


  • Diversifying Alaska's Economy: This last component is an investment in Alaska's future. With additional funding provided for logistics, information technology (including data retrieval and analysis) and natural resources management and development, the university can help develop industries that capitalize on Alaska�s unique location and resources.
Regents also approved a capital budget request which essentially lists the university's most pressing capital needs, beginning with deferred maintenance ($104.2 million), and followed in priority order by renewal and replacement of facilities ($17.1 million); instructional equipment and telecommunications upgrades ($7.5 million); new construction and major renovation ($102.2 million).

Joyce Helens, director of UA Corporate Programs, reported to the regents on the status of the new program. She said the purpose of Corporate Programs is to provide a means by which the resources of the entire university system can be utilized to provide workforce training and education programs required by business and industry in order to prepare Alaskans for jobs in the state.

Specifically the program is designed:

  • To provide a single point of contact for business and industry.
  • To systemize the workforce training function.
  • To maximize business/industry investment in education.
  • To develop employability of Alaska's workforce.
Helens had just returned from a conference on the importance of investing in human capital where 500 people representing business and industry met. She was the only representative of a higher education institution at the conference.

"It appears that the University of Alaska is the first higher education institution to establish a Corporate Program," she told the regents. "Several people at the conference told me that UA can be the mentor university to demonstrate how it's done," she said.

In other actions,

the board approved a Regents' scholarship program . . .

okayed the university's annual land management development plan...

received a presentation on Partners in Science, a project which links K-12 students and teachers with math and science professionals at UAF. The program is a partnership between UAF and the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District...

heard a report on the new Alaska Process Industry Careers Consortium, an industry-led partnership with education to help develop a skilled Alaska workforce.


Chair
Michael J. Burns (1997-2005)

Vice Chair
Elsa Demeksa (1997-2005)

Secretary
Mary Jane Fate (1993-2001)

Treasurer
Chancy Croft (1995-2003)

Joshua B, Horst (1999-2001)
Robert Malone (1999-2007)
R. Danforth Ogg (1993-2001)
Brian D. Rogers (1997-2007)
Frances H. Rose (1999-2007)
Joe J. Thomas (1995-2003)
Joseph E. Usibelli, Jr. (1999-2007)

Board of Regents Office

Jeannie Phillips
202 Butrovich Building
P.O. Box 755300
Fairbanks, AK 99775-5300
(907) 474-7908

Homepage:
http://www.alaska.edu/bor

The University of Alaska Board of Regents is the governing body responsible for university policy and management through the president. Regents are appointed by the governor for eight year terms, subject to legislative confirmation. A student regent is appointed for two years from cantidates nominated on each campus. (Regents' terms of office shown in parentheses)

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February 17-18, 2000
Juneau
April 20-21, 2000
Juneau/Ketchikan

The university is requesting the increment funding in four components:
  • Maintaining a Solid Foundation: Meeting contractual salary obligations and fixed cost increases in equipment, services, utilities and facility maintenance and repair are the first funding requirements in this category. The second is ensuring academic quality through phased replacement of core faculty positions lost to the retirement incentive program, restoration of library holdings and rebuilding the Cooperative Extension.

  • Developing Alaska's Leaders: This component funds additional advising, counseling, student assessment, mentoring and bridge programs, all necessary to attracting and retaining Alaska students

  • Meeting Alaska's Employment Needs: This component is aimed squarely at three specific programs, all designed to produce graduates who will be able to fill jobs in fields where the state has identified worker shortages: teaching, health care (especially nurses), and vocational/technical fields. The university jump-started programs in these areas this year, but more and expanded programs are required to meet the demonstrated needs.
Published after each Board of Regents' meeting by the Office of Public Affairs, 206 Butrovich Building, P.O. Box 755340, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5340. (907) 474-7272. E-Mail: syserve@orca.alaska.edu. Written by Director or Public Affairs Bob Miller, Electronic Layout by John Hall, Original Layout by Kate Wattum.
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