The Alaska Statewide Mentor Project, a successful research-based mentoring program administered through K-12 Outreach, is once again offering University of Alaska distance-delivered coursework to teachers across the state. The engaging online classes, F593P: Mentored Early Career Teaching I or II, or AK Teaching III (for all educators), have been very well received by past participants. The UAF School of Education approved delivery again for the 2015-16 year.� MORE....

Web-based reporting has replaced paper incident and accident forms system-wide. Any UA employee or student is able to make use of�Online Incident Reporting�by logging in with their UA Username and password. Incidents that must be reported through this system include:

• UA Employee Injuries
• Non-Employee Injuries (Including Students)
• Unsafe Conditions
• Damaged Property
• Damaged Vehicles

Examples of Unsafe Condition Reports include:

• ADA: Lack of accessibility/accommodation, disability issues, etc.
• Public Safety: Inadequate lighting in common areas, foot or vehicle traffic safety concerns, fire hazards in dorms, etc.
• General Safety: Damaged walking surfaces, broken handrails, lack of personal protective equipment available for lab operations, indoor air quality concerns, blocked exits, exposed wiring, inoperable emergency eyewash/showers, etc.

Both incoming and outgoing SAA members joined together in Fairbanks June 10 for the annual onboarding and strategic planning meeting. Guests from administration, including President Gamble, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Research Dan White, AVP of Academic Affairs and Strategic Direction Paula Donson, and Chief Human Resources Officer Erik Seastedt addressed the group and provided updates on current issues. SAA committees gave year-end reports and determined new membership. The group established strategic goals for the year and introduced new members to the governance process.

Officers were elected with the folowing results:

• Tom Langdon, president
• Monique Musick, vice president
• Sam Phillips, secretary

It's not too late to elect a voluntary reduction in compensation to help manage expenses during this period of deep funding reductions. One option is to voluntarily offset the FY16 compensation increase with a furlough of the same value. The year-long pay reduction options listed on the form will not be available after July 1, so please act now if you are interested.� Voluntary time off without-pay options will be available if signing up after July 1. �

Anyone considering this option should carefully review the implications to their benefits and retirement (on page 5 of the form linked below).

Statewide Human Resources has created a form in order to facilitate the decision-making process and to provide employees and managers with templates that clearly establish the length and provisions of any voluntary reduced contract. VOLUNTARY REDUCTION FORM.

In all cases any reduced contract must be agreed upon between an employee and their supervisor and ensure continued operations in the department.

Please contact SW HR at 450-8200 with any questions.

The campus visit dates for presidential candidate finalist Jim Johnsen are set and the scheduling is quickly shaping up!

• UAS - Juneau Tuesday, July 7
• UAA - Anchorage Wednesday, July 8
• UAF - Fairbanks Thursday, July 9
• SW - Butrovich Building Friday, July 10

Campus visit information will be available on the UA Board of Regents web site when the schedules are finalized.
http://www.alaska.edu/bor/presidential-search/

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources has banned�burning in�much of the state due to dry conditions and high wildfire danger. The ban applies to�the following areas:

• The Tanana and the Copper River valleys (Game Management Units 11, 12, 20, 24 and 25)
• Western Alaska (Game Management Units 9, 17, 18, 19 and 21)
• The Kenai Peninsula, Municipality of Anchorage and Mat-Su Borough (Game Management Units 7, 13, 14, 15 and 16)

The ban applies to all open fires and flame sources that are not immediately extinguishable, including campfires and charcoal barbecue grills and covers state, federal, municipal and private lands. Gas grills and backpacking or camp stoves that use fuel or compressed canisters are still permitted.

For additional information, visit DNR online at dnr.alaska.gov.

Keep track of current wildfires and smoke prediction: http://smoke.arsc.edu/current_fires.html