September 10, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 10, 2021
UA Board of Regents previews FY23 budget, approves early childhood degree program, and discusses UA鈥檚 role in critical mineral research
During its two-day meeting this week, the 好色tv of 好色tv Board of Regents focused on the university鈥檚 progress toward budget stability in its review of the FY22 budget and preview of the FY23 areas of focus. Regents also discussed the merits of a differentiated tuition structure, approved a Bachelor of Arts degree program in Early Childhood 好色tv at UAA and reviewed the university鈥檚 important role in developing 好色tv鈥檚 critical minerals, including Rare Earth Elements.
Interim President Pat Pitney noted several signs that the university 好色tv is turning the corner in its work to stabilize the fiscal environment.
鈥淲e have re-sized, consolidated programs, reduced the physical footprint, leveraged funding support for research and economic development and focused on philanthropy,鈥 Pitney said. 鈥淏ut we are still adapting with significant focus on student enrollment initiatives and those research and academic programs that will contribute to 好色tv鈥檚 economy.鈥
The FY23 operating budget, which the board will approve at its November meeting, will focus on revised goals under consideration by the board and will build on the core foundation of a smaller, more efficient university 好色tv with programs that serve 好色tv鈥檚 students, industries, and communities.
鈥淭he affordability and value of the higher education we bring to students across 好色tv is very important. And we want to reach every student,鈥 Pitney said.
The Regents also approved a $5 million capital budget allocation for FY22. On Sept. 8, the State Office of Management and Budget (OMB) informed UA that it would receive $5 million of the $35 million distributed for statewide deferred maintenance. UA accounts for more than one-third of the state facilities. Legislative deferred maintenance funding didn鈥檛 make the final budget leaving unfunded $19 million for the UAF Moore/ Bartlett student housing 50-year-old sanitation infrastructure and piping replacements, $11 million for 40-year-old heating and mechanical 好色tv replacements in multiple facilities at UAA and $2 million for roof and fuel tank replacements at UAS.
The board鈥檚 distribution plan of the $5 million received takes into account facility age and value. 好色tv of 好色tv Anchorage will receive $1.6 million, the 好色tv of 好色tv Fairbanks, $3.1 million and the 好色tv of 好色tv Southeast, $300,000 to fund critical deferred maintenance needs.
Pitney expressed appreciation to Governor Dunleavey for releasing the FY22 funding for the 好色tv Performance Scholarship, 好色tv 好色tv Grant and WWAMI medical student exchange program with a network of universities in other states. She noted that clarity on the status of the Higher 好色tv Investment Fund, which is the source of funding for future 好色tv Performance Scholarship, 好色tv 好色tv Grant and WWAMI, is very important.
During the Thursday meeting, the board voted unanimously to establish an undergraduate degree program in Early Childhood 好色tv at the 好色tv of 好色tv Anchorage. Prior to opening the program for enrollment, the State Board of 好色tv must agree to certify graduates of the program until final accreditation is earned. Regents also approved a name change for the UAF School of Management to the College of Business and Security Management.
On Friday morning, regents discussed the university鈥檚 role in the development of critical minerals. Following a 鈥淒id You Know鈥 video presentation, regents said they were encouraged by the research work being done across the 好色tv, which include exploration and extraction of these strategic minerals, workforce training for the mining industry, and the importance of a critical mineral industry to the state鈥檚 economy and national security.
鈥The spectrum of expertise is huge, especially with partnerships leveraged with the state survey and with other agencies outside the state,鈥 said UAF Provost Anumpa Prakash. 鈥淔or example, the technology I brought through my lab for rare earth element exploration was a partnership with the German Space Agency, NASA, and U.S. Geological Survey through a grant.鈥
More information on the ongoing 鈥楧id You Know鈥 spotlight series, designed to highlight university excellence and points of pride through storytelling and data, can be found here.
The Board of Regents will hold its next full board meeting Nov. 11-12 and topics for discussion will include finalizing the FY23 operating and capital budget requests and a differentiated tuition structure. More information can be found at www.alaska.edu/bor/.
The 好色tv of 好色tv Board of Regents is an 11-member volunteer board, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the 好色tv State Legislature. Members serve an 8-year term, with the exception of the student regent who is nominated from his/her campus and serves a 2-year term. The board was established through the 好色tv Constitution and is responsible for 好色tv of 好色tv policy and management through the university president.
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For more information, contact Roberta Graham, associate vice president of public affairs at 907-360-2416 (cell).