University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen told Anchorage community leaders in his annual State of the University address that Alaskans should have confidence in the university to deliver on its promise to meet the state ’s future workforce needs and take pride in the students who are working to populate that future workforce.

Speaking at Commonwealth North’s monthly luncheon, Johnsen emphasized the university’s important role in innovation and entrepreneurship, announcing that the University of Alaska Fairbanks will launch a new business incubator aimed at linking entrepreneurs and inventors to university researchers who can assist by developing prototypes to move ideas into the private sector.

Johnsen said Alaskans should be confident in the university because it is developing these innovative programs along with middle colleges for high school students and programs focused on science, math and engineering for Alaska Native students.� MORE....

University employees and students should be aware of a recent data breach and actions taken by the university to protect your personal and university information.

Earlier this month, several users of the university’s online systems began reporting an inability to access their password-protected Alaska.edu accounts. This issue impacted most services including Blackboard Learn, Google mail and UAOnline.

To date, 50 current and former employee and student accounts have been compromised throughout the University of Alaska system. Those individuals were notified and their accounts were locked.

Hackers may be looking for W-2 information to file fraudulent tax returns. OIT reported one case of a fraudulent filing.�� What to do and MORE....

The University of Alaska Board of Regents will discuss the proposed framework for establishing the Alaska College of Education and hear an update on the university’s FY19 budget when it meets in Fairbanks March 1-2.

The revised structure for the Alaska College of Education, with administrative leadership from the University of Alaska Southeast, will feature Schools of Education at UAA and UAF. Students will continue to earn their degree from any of the three universities.

The board also will discuss the university’s FY19 budget. Regents approved an FY19 state operating request of $341 million and a capital request of $50 million at the November board meeting. These requests currently are being considered by the Alaska Legislature.

Regents also will receive an update on development plans for the Troth Yeddha’ Indigenous Studies Center and Park at UAF, updates on Strategic Pathways implementation and Title IX compliance process, and will discuss the university’s alcohol policies and regulations.

The Board of Regents will hold a public gathering from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 1 in the Globe Room, 215 Elvey Building on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. All Board of Regents agendas and documents are available at www.alaska.edu/bor/agendas. The meeting livestream is available at www.alaska.edu/bor/live with the exception of any executive session.

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Last week was a very busy week for the university, including five committee hearings in Juneau and President Johnsen’s State of the University address in Anchorage.