Public Testimony to be held in advance of Board of Regents November committee and full board meetings

Public Testimony to be held in advance of Board of Regents November committee and full board meetings

November 1, 2024

Public Testimony Monday, November 4
The UA Board of Regents will be holding public testimony Monday, November 4, 2024, from 4-5 p.m.To testify, please call 1-888-886-7786 between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Public Testimony will be live streamed at https://alaska.edu/bor/live/.

In addition to the opportunity to provide public testimony, written testimony is accepted at any time, and is shared with the board and the president. Please submit to: [email protected].

Public testimony is held in advance of the board's November 6-7 committee meetings and full board meeting on November 7-8 on the Troth Yeddha' Campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Committee Meetings November 6-7
On Wednesday at 2 p.m., the AdHoc Committee on Recruitment Retention, and Graduationwill hear preliminary observations from EAB on the development of a system-wide strategy, and discuss international student recruitment. The committee will also review FY26 operating budget requests to enhance recruitment, retention, and graduation.

During Thursday's committee meetings, the Audit and Finance Committee(8:00 a.m.) will receive an update on the university's finances and fiscal health from Chief Financial Officer Luke Fulp. UA's external auditor will also present its findings, and the committee will review and adopt the audited financial statements.

At the Facilities and Land Management Committee(11:00 a.m.*), Regents will hear updates on key development and maintenance projects at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Director of Land Management Adrienne Stolpe will provide an update on the University's Land Grant Initiative.

Thursday afternoon, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee(1:30 p.m.*) will consider approval of the Biennial SB241 Report, and receive an update on the Alaska College of Education Consortium. Additionally the committee will consider proposed changes to UAF's community campus structure - combining the Interior Alaska College with the Community and Technical College - to provide needed flexibility to meet students' educational needs.

Full Board Meeting November 7-8
The full board will convene Thursday at 3:30 p.m.* to receive reports from governance, chancellors, and the President, and will return Friday at 7:30 a.m. to work through the agenda, including the electing board officers. (*Time is approximate; meetings will begin at the conclusion of the preceding meeting.)

The board will consider and approve UA's operating and capital budget requests for fiscal year 2026.UA leadership continues to prioritize operational efficiency balanced with strategic investment in empowering Alaska and Alaska's workforce. The budget proposals anticipate increased revenues from higher enrollment, research, and a modest tuition increase for the first time in several years.

The proposed operating budget requests state support for employee compensation increases and strategic investment in recruitment, retention, and graduation support. The modest tuition increase - 3% for residents, 5% for nonresidents - strikes a balance between the rising costs of providing quality education and maintaining affordability for UA students.

Regents will also recognize Regent Mary K. Hughes and Vice President for Academics, Students, and Research Dr. Paul Layer. Regent Hughes will leave the Board at the beginning of February 2025, concluding 3 consecutive 8-year terms on the Board, while Vice President Layer will retire at the end of January after nearly 34 years of service to the university system.

Board meeting agendas can be found at: http://www.alaska.edu/bor/agendas/

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