Supreme Court Issues Decision on Higher Education Investment Fund
May 3, 2022
Dear 澳门六合彩开奖appCommunity,
Today, the Alaska Supreme Court regarding the Higher Education Investment Fund [HEIF] -- the source for Alaska Performance Scholarships, needs-based grants and WWAMI funding. Although the Court did not reverse the lower court鈥檚 decision, we are proud of the strong case our students made. They are to be commended for the pursuit of justice on behalf of all University of Alaska students, and for fighting for their future and the future of fellow students.
We are not giving up. We have been simultaneously working to provide stability for HEIF funding and the programs it supports through legislative action. HEIF is too important, and must be protected for future students.
We must ensure that our students have certainty for scholarships, grants, and loans going forward. We will dedicate our efforts to solving this issue by supporting HB 322, a bill that would effectively remove the fund from the state treasury so that it can鈥檛 be emptied by the end-of-session legislative sweep that emptied it last year.
Protecting HEIF is truly what鈥檚 best for Alaska. Our state鈥檚 future is inextricably linked to the success of our people and their access to high-quality workforce training and higher education. Assuring predictable financial support for our students will position the university to meet Alaska鈥檚 future opportunities.
Pat Pitney
President, University of Alaska