Juneau, AK
Date of Press Release: Feb. 16, 2009
The University of Alaska Board of Regents is in Juneau Feb. 17-18,
2009, to consider numerous proposals, including a new graduate certificate
in statistics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, a revision to the
master plan for the University of Alaska Anchorage and a resolution
supporting creation of the Alaska Native Education and Research Council. Formation of the Native council already has received support from regional
Native corporation executives. The council would develop a program that
identifies, prioritizes and supports activities such as vocational and
technical training, university academic curriculum, research, community
outreach, endowed chairs and other efforts that are mutually beneficial to
the university and the Native corporations. Regents also are scheduled to consider schematic approval for the new Health
Sciences building at UAA as well as formal project approval for the new UAA
Sports Arena. The Legislature provided full funding for the Health Sciences
building last year and $15 million toward the sports arena. The 11-member board is hearing a report about the 2008 Education Summit
by Education and Early Development Commissioner Larry LeDoux. That portion
of the meeting Tuesday afternoon will be held in the Governor's Conference
Room on the third floor of the Capitol; Gov. Sarah Palin is expected to
attend. On Wednesday morning, board members will hear from recently elected
U.S. Senator Mark Begich, D-Alaska, during a teleconference.
Public testimony will be taken both days. The bulk of the two-day meeting
will be held in the Baranof Hotel's Treadwell Room. This meeting will be the
first for Regent Ken Fischer of Juneau. On Wednesday, regents will spend the afternoon meeting with individual state
lawmakers about UA's top budget priorities, including school partnerships
and outreach, engineering, applied energy research and workforce training;
and capital projects such as major maintenance, the UAF Life Sciences
Building, campus entrance safety improvements at UAS and additional funding
for the UAA Sports Arena. In addition, board members will attend a reception
at the UAS campus Tuesday night. Thursday, several regents will meet with
the University of Alaska Foundation Board of Trustees.
Contacts:
Kate Ripley
907/450-8102 or 907/388-3506
mailto:kate.ripley@alaska.edu
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