HIGHLIGHTS OF THE °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±appBOARD OF REGENTS MEETING
October 2000
|
||
University President Mark R. Hamilton told the regents that opening enrollment figures for this fall show that the University of Alaska has stopped the decline in enrollment, and is edging upwards. Student headcount systemwide is up 2%, and student credit hours are up 1.3%, he said. Student tuition revenue is up 4.4%. Among the main campuses,
|
The Board of Regents unanimously passed a resolution in opposition to the statewide property tax mill cap initiative facing Alaska voters on the general election ballot November 7 when they met in Anchorage on October 5-6. Just two days earlier, the Board of Trustees of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±appFoundation unanimously approved a motion in opposition to the measure. Members of both boards expressed concern that passage of the measure would have a devastating effect on education in Alaska at all levels. Particularly, they said, passage would reduce the ability of local governments to support the collaborative programs between the University and the communities it serves. Regents approved an administration request to reallocate existing funds for six capital construction projects on the UAF campus. The projects involve the Rasmuson Library, the Fine Arts Complex, Brooks Building, Wood Center, the Power Plant and the Physical Plant. Construction should be underway within the next two years. The first phase of construction on the William Egan Library Classroom Wing Addition at UA, was approved at a cost not to exceed $3.8 million, and UAS officials expect to award the first-phase construction contract by the end of the year. Mike Shiffer, interim executive director of the Alaska Human Resource Investment Council (AHRIC), and Janet Mitson, an AHRIC consultant, reported to the board on the status of the development of a statewide vocational plan, required under SB289 which was passed by the legislature last year. The draft plan, entitled "Alaska's Future Workforce: Strategic Policies and Investment Blueprint" is available for review and comment on AHRIC's web site: . Following a summer-long period for public review and comment, the revised University of Alaska mission statement was unanimously approved by the regents. The new statement is a concise, one-sentence declaration: The University of Alaska inspires learning, and advances and disseminates knowledge through teaching, research, and public service, emphasizing the North and its diverse peoples. The revised mission statement is also accompanied by value statements, which will be considered for approval at the November meeting. In the meantime, the value statements are available for public review and comment on the Board of Regents' web site: Jim Lynch, Associate Vice President for Finance, reported that the university's Advance College Tuition Plan would be expanded and integrated with the new Education Savings Trust to form a yet-to-be-named college savings program. He said the university would select a provider to manage and market the program on a national basis and to leverage the national program to make a high quality program available to Alaskans. More information on the status of the administration's plans will be reported at the November meeting.
|
|
Chair Vice Chair Secretary
Board of Regents Office Jeannie Phillips
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±apppage: |
||
The University of Alaska Board of Regents is the governing body responsible for university policy and management through the president. Regents are appointed by the governor for eight year terms, subject to legislative confirmation. A student regent is appointed for two years from cantidates nominated on each campus. (Regents' terms of office shown in parentheses) Click for a PRINTABLE copy |
||
November 16-16, 2000 March 7-9, 2001 |
||
|
Published after each Board of Regents' meeting by the Office of Public Affairs, 206 Butrovich Building, P.O. Box 755340, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5340. (907) 474-7272. E-Mail: syserve@orca.alaska.edu. Written by Director or Public Affairs Bob Miller, Electronic Layout by John Hall, Original Layout by Kate Wattum. |