(SitNews) Fairbanks, Alaska - The University of Alaska Board of Regents voted last week 9-0 to rescind its June 4th motion to prepare a conceptual plan for merging the University of Alaska Southeast and the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and passed new a motion directing the president to work with the chancellors and shared governance in a transparent and inclusive manner to:

• develop clarity and standards for administrative and instructional costs relative to student enrollment, and review structural options;

• analyze opportunities and costs associated with a greater presence of fisheries and ocean science programs on the Juneau campus;

• redouble efforts on collaboration across the system, program sharing, and partnerships with industry, communities, and tribal organizations; and,

• assure the Alaska College of Education has clear roles and responsibilities for program delivery that address the priority of teacher education that are transparent and well-integrated across the system.

Alaska Senator Jesse Kiehl (D-Juneau) commented on the Regents vote to keep the University of Alaska Southeast intact. “The Board of Regents got it right [Wednesday]. UAS is such a valuable part of Alaska’s higher education system, it would be a mistake to dissolve it. Today’s vote sets the board firmly back on the path of looking at the entire University system, to benefit all Alaskans.  

“Alaskans know the governor’s veto pen tipped UA into crisis. The Regents are now forced to save postsecondary education – from diesel mechanics to doctorates. I’m glad they’ll again do that with their eyes on our entire state," said Kiehl.

“What struck me in the last two weeks is seeing the amount of feedback from the University advocates not just in Juneau or southeast but across the state,” said UA Interim President Pat Pitney. She said, “...downsizing will continue due to the significant state budget reductions compounded by the impacts of COVID. Yes, the reductions have been and will be painful, however,  a stable core of quality programs will remain to serve students, industry, the state, and communities once achieved. Success of the University of Alaska system is dependent on our communities and businesses embracing their campuses and programs. Future actions will keep the trust of communities and businesses at the top of the list.” 

UAS works closely with its community partners including Sealaska Corporation, Sealaska Heritage Institute, the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Sitka Tribe of Alaska, First Alaskans Institute, Ketchikan Indian Community, and other Alaska Native organizations.  UAS also works with Juneau Economic Development Commission and Southeast Conference to address workforce development needs. 

Affordable Schools has placed the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) at #3 in its list of the 15 best affordable environmental studies Bachelor's degree programs of 2020. The affordable cost of in-state tuition, a low student-faculty ratio, close interaction with experienced professors, research involvement, and internship connections were all factors in the ranking. UAS has a strong Marine Biology and Fisheries program.  With facilities located on the ocean, UAS looks forward to exploring all opportunities to grow this program, and currently has a joint fisheries program between UAS and UAF and had the first graduate from that program this past spring. Faculty at UAS work closely with their colleagues at UAA and UAF on research and grants.

Chancellor Karen Carey remarked, “UAS has reduced programs, staff, and administration over the past five years and have managed to operate with a balanced budget.  We know we can continue to do so and make gains in our enrollment and student completion rates. UAS is open and we look forward to serving our students and communities for many years to come.”

This spring the Alaska College of Education at the Universtiy of Alaska Southeast received full accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), affirming that the College’s underlying structure is sound and that there is a cohesion among the programs to ensure consistency to the students’ experience. Quoting a news release, UAS looks forward to working with education faculty at the University of Alaska Anchorage and the University of Alaska Fairbanks to ensure that the “College of Education has clear roles and responsibilities for program delivery that address the priority of teacher education that are transparent and well integrated across the system,” as resolved by the Board of Regents at last week's meeting.

Regents also received an update on COVID-19 impacts and university plans for the fall the semester. The universities are developing testing contracts as needed and using a multi-pronged strategy to conduct small scale, quick turnaround testing and developing contact tracing procedures, which are limited in scope but supportive of the public health tracing activities. 

Each Chancellor provided specific plans for preventative measures, mitigation plans, housing, in-person and online course delivery, research activities, food service, and other details of onsite operations plans, as well as the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I want to say I'm so appreciative to faculty and staff for being flexible,” Pitney said. “Everyone is standing by to implement mitigation strategies midstream as we work through this. It's encouraging to see.”  

The University of Alaska Board of Regents is an 11-member volunteer board, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Alaska Legislature. Members serve an eight-year term, with the exception of the student regent who is nominated from his/her campus and serves a two-year term. The Board was established through the Alaska Constitution and is responsible for University of Alaska policy and management through the University President.

Edited By Mary Kauffman, SitNews

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University of Alaska
www.alaska.edu

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