President Obama announced that UAA Chancellor Fran Ulmer will serve as one of the seven members on the newly formed National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. The commission is charged with investigating the causes of the explosion and oil spill, and recommending changes to prevent future disasters.� MORE....

University of Alaska President Pat Gamble lauded the choice of University of Alaska Anchorage Chancellor Fran Ulmer to serve on a national independent panel to investigate the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

“This high level commission will have a tough job. Their report has the potential to influence future national energy policy. The president picked Fran because she is a very intelligent woman and brings her specific experience in energy and the environment to the table,” Gamble said. “Her service to the nation will make Alaska, UAA and the UA system all very proud.”

Statewide staff are invited to chat with President Gamble

Friday, July 16, 2010
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Bragaw Office Building Rm 205 (Anchorage - video conference)
Butrovich Building Rm 109 (Fairbanks)

Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, please contact Bess Rounds at 450-8001 or barounds@alaska.edu

The June 2010 issue of the Regents' Recap is available. Visit of the Board of Regents' website for a great picture of ALL the regents and UA President Gamble.

The Regents' Recap is produced by the office of Public Affairs after each Board of Regents' meeting.

This month's edition of the SAA Highlights features a summary of the annual meeting. In preparation for the annual meeting, a number of statewide vice presidents, chief officers, associate vice presidents and others were invited to address the group with an update on their department or work. For members it is much like an annual “State of the University” address. Read the Highlights HERE.

On Friday May 28, 2010, the Statewide employees in the Bragaw Office Building in Anchorage hosted a retirement luncheon for former President Hamilton and his wife Patty. Lunch of Moose's Tooth pizza and salads was funded by donations from BOB employees. It was an enjoyable time of socialization and words of wisdom from President Hamilton. Even though it was the Friday before a holiday weekend, it was a great turnout!� Click to view PHOTOS.

President Gamble already has made important decisions since taking office on June 1. One decision that Statewide staff and families will appreciate is Gamble's support of hosting a staff picnic this August. The dates aren't concrete yet, but Public Affairs will send out information soon. The President's house is undergoing renovation this summer, but by August the front part will be ready, and the picnic can progress as usual. Let your colleagues and families know the tradition lives on!

All University employees, including regular, term, temporary, student and full and part-time faculty and staff are responsible for complying with the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act (Alaska Statute 39.52). The Act governs how you do your University job, and to some extent, limits what you can do in your personal life. See the attached “Ethics Act Quick reference" or visit the web sites listed below for more information.
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Employees also must disclose any work they perform outside of their University employment.� Examples of outside activities that must be disclosed are self-employment, independent contracting, or consulting.� In addition, any volunteer or uncompensated work performed outside of the University must be disclosed if there is any possibility that the work might involve the same issues or people as your University duties.� All employee and employee family member interests in contracts with the University must be disclosed and pre-approved using the Interest in Contracts form, not the Outside Employment form.� In case of doubt, be on the safe side and disclose.� If you have no outside activities, you are not required to submit a form.� MORE.....

Disclosure of Outside Employment

Ethics Act Quick Reference

Darrin "Bear" Edson, head of Facilities and Grounds at UAF, was told by a co-worker that he overheard former UA President Mark Hamilton say he wished he had been able to get a flagpole in front of the Butrovich Building while he was still president. The grounds crew worked quickly to try and make it happen- missing Hamilton by only one day. The flags are now up and a plaque thanking Hamilton for his service to the university will be installed soon.

A new bench has been installed at the West driveway to the Butrovich Building. The overlook and bench is dedicated as a memorial for the late Phil Rounds, husband of Bess Rounds. A plaque has been ordered and grounds crews will plant irises and lilies to fill out the area.

The Butrovich parking lot also will receive attention this summer. Work is beginning with the storm drains and will include repairs to other parts of the parking lot. The tiered flower beds will be weeded and filled in with new plants once the greenhouse crew gets caught up.

The biggest item on the list this summer is repair work on the retaining wall to both the East and West of the building.

Effective July 1, 2010, the University of Alaska College Savings Plan program fee will be cut by nearly one-third, to 0.20 percent.� In addition, the annual account fee will be reduced by $5, to $20.

These reductions represent the UA College Savings Plan's continuing long-term commitment to help Alaska families save for college. By reducing the plan's costs, account holders will have more money invested toward their college savings goals.

"We want to make it as easy as possible for Alaska families to save for college and we're dedicated to offering strong, professionally-managed investment options at a low-cost," said Linda English, executive director of UA College Savings Plan.

While the annual account fee has been reduced to $20, the fee is waived altogether for customers who:

• Invest regularly with payroll deductions or automatic monthly contributions, or;
• Have $25,000 or more invested for one child, or;
• Have a total of $75,000 or more invested for multiple children.

Additionally, account holders in the ACT Portfolio, which allows participants to purchase tuition now for use in the future, do not pay an annual account or program fee.
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The creativity and talents of local community members is being harnessed to find imaginative ways to assist the Georgeson Botanical Garden at UAF. Created 3 1/2 years ago, the Georgeson Botanical Garden Society plans festive events which bring additional funding opportunities and awareness of the value of the GBG to the attention of residents. The fund-raising event for summer 2010 is “A Celtic Garden Tea Party,” from 1 - 4 PM on Sunday July 11th.� MORE....

UAF Parking Services says parking fee changes are on the way over the next three years, including increases to the cost of parking permits, ticket prices, and permit structural changes. Operational changes to minimize costs will occur. MORE...

A group of Outdoor Studies students and staff made University of Alaska Southeast history recently climbing North America’s highest peak, Denali ("The High One" in Koyukon Athabaskan) at 20,320 ft.� The accomplishment was part of the final capstone course for the ten month certificate in Outdoor Studies program.� MORE....

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

Tanana Valley Campus

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.