Today, Governor Walker released his Fiscal Year 2019 operating budget and proposed a $317 million state appropriation for the University of Alaska as well as a proposal to fund $70 million toward our deferred facility maintenance.

I appreciate that the Governor is addressing our extensive deferred maintenance backlog, however I am concerned about the prospect of a status quo operating budget. A status quo budget will compound the negative impacts of four straight years of budget cuts, and limits our ability to make much needed investments in student education, training programs, and the economic development our state needs.

The Board of Regents’ operating budget request of $341 million would restore a portion of these recent cuts and fund a strong strategic plan focused on economic development, workforce development, research, and educational attainment. The simple truth is that, in state after state and nation after nation, a growing university is required for a strong economy, higher incomes, better health at a lower cost, less crime, and lower cost of incarceration. The University of Alaska—in partnership with our K-12 and industry partners—is the single best investment we can make in our state’s future.

This is just the first step in the appropriation process, and we will continue to engage with legislators and the governor throughout the session. We will work to highlight our success, provide timely information, activate our key stakeholders, press our message and keep you updated often on our progress.

Jim Johnsen

Last month we announced the launch of a new enrollment marketing campaign to promote the university. Radio and television ads encourage visiting the new website www.alaska.edu/starthere to find out how to enroll at each of our universities.

The television ads are also playing in theaters before some of the season's biggest movies. To view the ad click�HERE.

The University of Alaska has worked to implement dramatic changes this year in the way we respond to, track, and train our community about sexual harassment prevention and sexual violence. Guided by the terms of the Voluntary Resolution Agreement with the United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, the university system is addressing and correcting Title IX compliance issues. The VRA outlined specific steps to improve safety and the campus climate throughout the University of Alaska system. Title IX staff and campus leadership have made those changes, and are implementing systemic improvements in many critical areas. MORE....

The UA College Savings Plan launched a new, online gifting portal! Participants can use this portal to easily create a customized gifting website for each beneficiary. Once you’ve set up the page, you can share it with friends and on social media to encourage the gift of college savings. Anyone using the free, gifting website can transfer funds from their bank account directly into the designated college savings account. �All gifts given through the portal may be used for tuition, room, board and all other eligible expenses. Log into your account today to create your gifting profiles!

It is now possible to automatically save 100% of your Permanent Fund Dividend! Prior to completing the dividend application, fill out and mail in the PFD Direct Deposit Form. Then, when you fill out your PFD application, answer “yes” to question six, to contribute the first half of your PFD. To contribute the second half, enter the routing and account number provided on the PFD Direct Deposit Form into the direct deposit section of your PFD application. After completing this process once, the second half of the PFD will go into the college savings account every year, or until you change your direct deposit information. If you have any questions, please contact us at (907) 474-5671.