February 22, 2019
Feb. 22, 2019
UA Board of Regents to address budget reductions and reaccreditation when it meets
February 28-March 1 in Anchorage
An unprecedented reduction in state funding and an accreditation failure at UAA’s
School of Education will be the central topics of discussion at the University of
ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ Board of Regents meeting Feb. 28-March 1 at the Lee Gorsuch Commons, University
of ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ Anchorage campus.
The meeting agenda () includes in-person testimony, a public gathering, discussion about workforce development
and committee reports.
In his FY20 budget, the governor proposed a $134 million, or 41 percent reduction
from the university’s current operating budget. If approved by the state legislature,
or enacted as an outcome of a budget veto, the cut would be the largest in the university’s
100-year ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ, and UA would have $134 million less in state funds in the fiscal
year beginning July 1.
President Jim Johnsen convened an emergency meeting with his executive team and the
three chancellors to discuss strategic options, and will present those options to
the board for its consideration on Feb 28.
Regents also will consider options for how the university should move forward with
the UAA School of Education. Since Jan. 11 when UAA lost accreditation for early licensure
programs, UAA officials and regents have been meeting with and talking to students
about how best to meet their interests. Options range from seeking reaccreditation
for the UAA School of Education to discontinuing teacher education programs to offering
only post-baccalaureate programs at UAA and consolidating undergrad programs at ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ
or UAS.
The board’s in-person public testimony session will be held from 8:15-9:15 a.m. on
Feb. 28 in room 107 of the Lee Gorsuch Commons. Sign-up sheets will be available at
8 a.m. (For more information on providing public testimony, visit .) Those addressing the regents will have two minutes to share their input on any
issue facing the university. The public also may submit written comments at any time
to the Board of Regents and President Johnsen via email at ua-bor@alaska.edu.
Following public testimony, the board will hear reports from the president, chancellors
and governance representatives. After the meeting, the public is invited to an evening
gathering with the regents from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in room 106 of the Lee Gorsuch Commons.
The board meeting will be live streamed at .
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For more information, contact Roberta Graham, associate vice president of public affairs
at 907-360-2416 (cell).
NR6-19