HIGHLIGHTS OF THE UA BOARD OF REGENTS MEETING • October 2000

University President Mark R. Hamilton told the regents that opening enrollment figures for this fall show that the University of Alaska has stopped the decline in enrollment, and is edging upwards. Student headcount systemwide is up 2%, and student credit hours are up 1.3%, he said. Student tuition revenue is up 4.4%.

Among the main campuses,

  • UAS in Juneau has the strongest showing with student headcount and student credit hours up 4% and 1.4% respectively;
  • UAF in Fairbanks' student headcount and student credit hours are also up 1.3% and 0.9% respectively;
  • UAA in Anchorage, however, showed a decline in both student headcount and student credit hours of 2.1% and 1% respectively.
When enrollment figures from the community campuses are included, each university showed an increase in student headcount.
  • UAF has the strongest community campus showing fueled by the College of Rural Alaska. Overall, UAF headcount is up 5.4% and student credit hours are up 3%.
  • UAS community campus headcount is up 1.2% but student credit hours are down 1.5%. This is due to a 20% decrease at the Ketchikan Campus in both headcount and student credit hours. Additionally, Sitka posted a 4% increase in student headcount but a corresponding decrease in student credit hours of 1.2%. This may be due to a higher proportion of Sitka students enrolling in distance courses offered from other campuses, Hamilton said.

The Board of Regents unanimously passed a resolution in opposition to the statewide property tax mill cap initiative facing Alaska voters on the general election ballot November 7 when they met in Anchorage on October 5-6. Just two days earlier, the Board of Trustees of the UA Foundation unanimously approved a motion in opposition to the measure. Members of both boards expressed concern that passage of the measure would have a devastating effect on education in Alaska at all levels. Particularly, they said, passage would reduce the ability of local governments to support the collaborative programs between the University and the communities it serves.

Regents approved an administration request to reallocate existing funds for six capital construction projects on the UAF campus. The projects involve the Rasmuson Library, the Fine Arts Complex, Brooks Building, Wood Center, the Power Plant and the Physical Plant. Construction should be underway within the next two years.

The first phase of construction on the William Egan Library Classroom Wing Addition at UA, was approved at a cost not to exceed $3.8 million, and UAS officials expect to award the first-phase construction contract by the end of the year.

Mike Shiffer, interim executive director of the Alaska Human Resource Investment Council (AHRIC), and Janet Mitson, an AHRIC consultant, reported to the board on the status of the development of a statewide vocational plan, required under SB289 which was passed by the legislature last year. The draft plan, entitled "Alaska's Future Workforce: Strategic Policies and Investment Blueprint" is available for review and comment on AHRIC's web site: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/ltgov/voced/main.htm.

Following a summer-long period for public review and comment, the revised University of Alaska mission statement was unanimously approved by the regents. The new statement is a concise, one-sentence declaration:

The University of Alaska inspires learning, and advances and disseminates knowledge through teaching, research, and public service, emphasizing the North and its diverse peoples.

The revised mission statement is also accompanied by value statements, which will be considered for approval at the November meeting. In the meantime, the value statements are available for public review and comment on the Board of Regents' web site: http://www.alaska.edu/bor/.

Jim Lynch, Associate Vice President for Finance, reported that the university's Advance College Tuition Plan would be expanded and integrated with the new Education Savings Trust to form a yet-to-be-named college savings program. He said the university would select a provider to manage and market the program on a national basis and to leverage the national program to make a high quality program available to Alaskans. More information on the status of the administration's plans will be reported at the November meeting.

Chair
Michael J. Burns (1997-2005)

Vice Chair
Elsa Demeksa (1997-2005)

Secretary
Mary Jane Fate (1993-2001)

Treasurer
Brian D. Rogers (1997-2007)


Chancy Croft (1995-2003)
Joshua B, Horst (1999-2001)
R. Danforth Ogg (1993-2001)
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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November 16-16, 2000
Fairbanks

March 7-9, 2001
Juneau

  • UAA headcount is up 0.9% and student credit hours are up 1%. UAA's enrollment boost is from strong increases at Kenai (6.8% increase in student credit hours at the Soldotna campus and 30% increase at Kachemak Bay in Homer) and Kodiak (student headcount increase of 14% and a 38% increase in student credit hours).

 

 

 

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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