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Gov. Sean Parnell signed five education bills into law June 21, 2010 in Fairbanks including legislation that encourages more private-sector investment in educational and vocational programs and facility construction in order to improve training for Alaska’s workforce, particularly in preparation for a natural gas pipeline.� MORE...

President Gamble held a “Coffee with the President” with all Statewide staff on July 16 with packed audiences in both Butrovich 109 and Bragaw Office Building 205.

President Gamble shared some thoughts on institutional values, the university’s mission, the strategic plan and the economic climate ahead. He also took time to answer questions. Here’s a brief overview of the event: FULL STORY.

The dedication of the Ginger and Dennis Steffy Mining and Petroleum Center of Excellence was highlighted by special recognition from the U.S. Department of Labor Mine and Safety Health Administration. In a letter from Joseph Main, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health, Dennis and Ginger Steffy were recognized for their committment to Alaska's miners and presented wirh a Certificate of Appreciation for their 25 years of service.

Recognition letter
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For those statewide staff working at the Fairbanks campus, parking renewal is just around the corner. In order to receive your decal(s) in the mail, prior to September 1, 2010, renewal request both online and hard copy forms must be received in the Parking Services office by August 13, 2010.

Hard copy form => http://www.uaf.edu/files/fs/parkingdecalrenewal2010.pdf
Online submission form => https://uafparkweb.uaf.edu/eb/cmn/index.aspx
(You'll need your authserve credentials to use this.)

Also, Parking Services has combined their two offices into one. The new location is Room 114, 803 Alumni Drive (Facilities Services, Physical Plant).

DECAL PLACEMENT
When you get your decal, PUT IT ON YOUR CAR. Just because you have been issued a decal will not save you from a citation if it is not placed in your car properly. That's a $25 citation for not having your decal properly affixed!

GOLD LOTS/SPOTS ON WEST RIDGE
Effective Fall 2010, Parking Services will offer "Gold Space in West Ridge lots, Arctic Health, East, West, Elvey, O’Neil and Sheenjek.� Space would only be sold if there is sufficient demand in an area to create a manageable area of Gold Space. Space would be reserved via an online waitlist process." This could mean a few choice real estate spots reserved in the Butrovich parking lot if there are folks who are interested. The cost for a Annual Gold Decal is $743 and a 9 month Fall/Spring Gold Decal is $635.
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Come one come all! The 2010 Annual Family Picnic will be held Monday, Aug. 16 at President Gamble's home. If you are new to Statewide, please go online to see what this event is all about in past issues of the Statewide Voice. The picnic is a Statewide favorite since 2004 and features lots of things to keep the kidlets busy!

Food will be catered by Tubby's BBQ and you will not be disappointed! It is fabulous food including pulled pork and barbecue beef, yummy marinated right-off-the-grill chicken, hot dogs and hamburgers with all the fixings including dessert. Everything is provided for this event, so just bring your family, sing "The Wheels on the Bus" and leave the rest to Bess.

We contracted two buses this year so getting everyone over and back to the Butrovich will be faster.� Please, please unless you have a question regarding an exception to using the bus, plan on meeting at the front doors of the Butrovich Building starting @ 4:45 - 5 p.m. until whenever. It will continuously do the loop from here to the picnic until 8:30 p.m., so no worries getting a ride back when you are ready to go.
There is virtually no parking at the house.

Please direct any and all questions to Bess Rounds. More information will be coming soon.

The last meeting of the Statewide Administration Assembly was July 14. For a complete recap please read the July SAA Highlights HERE. The next meeting will be 10 a.m., Aug. 11, in� Butrovich 208. The public is welcome.

UA President Pat Gamble, Associate Vice President for Workforce Programs Fred Villa and Lolly Carpluk, coordinator of the Alaska Native Teacher Preparation Project, are UA’s three representatives on the state’s Higher Education and Career Readiness Task Force, which met last week in Anchorage.
The task force was created by Senate Bill 221, which also established a performance scholarship program for the state of Alaska. The task force is charged with looking at college and career readiness in Alaska, as well reviewing the remedial (sometimes called development) courses necessary for many Alaska students pursuing education after high school.� The group is expected to present findings and recommendations to the legislature and governor. See President’s Comments for more information on the task force. Read more about the task force members HERE.
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In June, President Obama appointed Mary Pete, director of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Kuskokwim Campus in Bethel, to the indigenous people’s seat on the Arctic Commission. Other Alaskans include Helvi Sandvik, president of NANA Development Corp. and UAF researcher Buck Sharpton.� MORE...

Members of the UAS Campus Community Emergency Response Team, C-CERT, had a chance to test their emergency response skills during an active shooter simulation on the Auke Lake campus. The training the team received focused on helping as many people as possible before professional emergency responders could make it on scene. The exercise started off with a mock gunman patrolling the Mourant Building and firing at people in a fit of rage before taking his own life. C-CERT members' jobs were to tend the wounded while waiting for medical personnel.� Read the Juneau Empire story HERE.

In the event of a major disaster, such as an earthquake or terrorist attack, UAF fire and police services can count on the assistance of the newly certified Campus Community Emergency Response Team (C-CERT). The 20-hour program was offered through the System Office of Risk Services. Participants learned about fire safety, medical triage and first aid, terrorism, search and rescue, disaster psychology and general disaster preparedness. C-CERT is designed to train campus employees to take important actions following an emergency, until professional responders are able to arrive. In a serious disaster like an earthquake, emergency service workers could be quickly overwhelmed and will need to prioritize their responses. Citizens trained in CERT or Emergency Watch programs can help reduce the amount of death, injury and damage while professional responders are busy elsewhere. PHOTOS

Although the peak peony season has passed in Fairbanks, the flowers were the sole focus of a conference July 21-24 at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Experts at a University of Alaska Fairbanks conference say that international demand and the unique northern growing season could make the showy flower Alaska's next cash crop. MORE...

Eleven trainees graduated this June from the Entry Level Underground Miner training program in Juneau, a new program that is preparing Alaskans to compete for good jobs in the mining industry.

The miner training program is a collaborative effort of the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development's Employment Security Division, the University of Alaska's Mining and Petroleum Training Service (MAPTS) and the mining industry.

Alaska mining companies helped develop the training curriculum, which was held at the University of Alaska Southeast and the AJ Mine in Juneau.
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Follett Bookstores will take over complete management of the UAF Bookstore in time for a grand reopening this fall.

Students, staff and faculty will return to a full-service bookstore with a selection of new, used and eBooks on site. In addition, the bookstore will have a fully stocked general merchandise department with an assortment of products ranging from computer products to logo merchandise.

Students will have access to used books and in many cases be able to save money by renting texts instead of buying them. Customers will be able to shop online and either have books sent to them or pick them up in the store.

Some of the expanded services offered by Follett are expected to provide faculty with options designed to make books more affordable to students. Please watch for upcoming communications from Follett.

The timeline is as follows:

July 21 - Bookstore is closed for inventory transition
July 22 - Aug.16 - Bookstore is open. Textbook department will be closed to the public, but staff will fill online orders from that location
Aug. 2 -16 - Store remodel of main floor and text department in lower level. The bookstore will remain open for business, but will be under construction
Aug. 16 - Text area is open to public for purchases
Aug. 23 - 26 Final preparations for students' return to campus

If you have questions about the bookstore including textbooks, visit the website at http://www.uaf.bkstr.com

Social media is a rapidly growing means of communication and outreach. If you are on Facebook we would like you know about some of the different UA departments, campuses and groups that you can join.

University of Alaska System

UA College Savings Plan

University of Alaska Fairbanks

UAF Community and Technical College

Freddie Fish (FAFSA Frenzy)

University of Alaska Museum of the North

University of Alaska Anchorage

There are many more out there for specific colleges, student groups, bookstores and more. Please take a moment to become a "Fan" of the University of Alaska and put another great avenue of communication at your fingertips.