Regents will meet in Fairbanks this month

December 2, 2015

Carla Browning



The December meeting of the University of Alaska Board of Regents will be held in the Butrovich Building on the Fairbanks campus Dec. 10-11. The board will take public testimony from 9-10 a.m. Thursday and 10-11 a.m. Friday.

President Jim Johnsen will lead a discussion on the contingency budget process, which will describe how the university reduce spending should the Legislature not cover the Board of Regents’ request. The revised budget would be in place by the time the Legislature adjourns next spring. The revised budget will target a total reduction of $40.6 million, enough to cover the state’s potential 4.5 percent ($15.8 million) reduction in addition to the expected $24.8 million increase in fixed costs and unfunded mandates. UA leadership will update the board and seek periodic guidance on this reduced budget at future board meetings.

President Johnsen’s focus on campus safety and Title IX compliance will set the stage for a presentation of how campuses comply with the federal law and a discussion with the three chancellors and Vice President of Student and Enrollment Services Saichi Oba. The discussion will focus on meeting expanded federal mandates related to campus safety, victim support and investigation protocols, as well as Title IX investigation staffing, especially at rural campuses.

Dan White, vice president of academic affairs and research, will present an update on Shaping Alaska’s Future theme two: Productive Partnerships with Alaska’s Schools. Steve Atwater, associate vice president for K-12 outreach, will update the regents on UA’s Revitalizing Teacher Education Plan.

Calendar year-end information, including audit, risk analysis and e-learning reports, will be presented to the full board. Committee discussions, including facilities progress, deferred maintenance, enrollment management, program cost analysis, audit and budget items, round out the two-day agenda.

A full agenda and link for a live streaming video of the meeting will be posted online at www.alaska.edu/bor/agendas/.