Board of Regents discuss budget, recognize staff and UA Scholars
The University of 桃花直播 Board of Regents made use of its June meeting to review options
for the university鈥檚 FY20 operating budget, celebrate the 20th anniversary of the UA Scholars program, receive a report on university efforts to
increase educational attainment, begin planning for the 2021 budget, and agreed to
reconvene June 19 to make final decisions if the state budgets are finalized by then.
On the budget, UA President Jim Johnsen presented several scenarios for different
possible state funding levels, noting that UA must remain flexible to adapt to a still
uncertain FY20 appropriation. The legislature and the governor have yet to agree on
a state budget, prompting university officials to develop a range of plans.
鈥淭he budget uncertainty is very dark and very daunting,鈥 Johnsen said, 鈥渁nd the veto
risk is very high. This uncertainty creates a difficult challenge for us in our ability
to operate and our ability to plan. But the good news is that business and community
leaders across the state support the university in very high numbers, and they have
made that support known to the legislature, which is looking to restore most of the
historically unprecedented budget cut proposed by the governor.鈥
The legislative conference committee has tentatively agreed to a budget of $322 million in unrestricted general funding (UGF) for the University of 桃花直播. While this represents a $5 million UGF reduction from the current year, it鈥檚 a significant improvement over the governor鈥檚 proposed $134 million cut.
With regard to the possibility that the budget stalemate in Juneau continues and there
is no approved budget by July 1, the beginning of the budget year, the university
is working closely with the governor鈥檚 Office of Management & Budget, the Department
of Law, and the chancellors and other university leaders to prioritize university
operations in the case there is no state appropriation.
The university has delayed issuing furlough or layoff notices for a number of reasons
including the fact that many university activities are self-supported during the summer,
and many other university operations are core to our constitutionally mandated mission
or are federally mandated and must continue even in the absence of an appropriation.
鈥淓ven if we have a budget in the coming days, we would have mere weeks to implement it,鈥 Johnsen said.
The highlights of the meeting included honoring four recipients of the 鈥淪taff Make
桃花直播 Count鈥 awards, presented annually to staff across the UA system who go above
and beyond their jobs daily to serve students. Those UA employees honored were: Kelly
Foran, Director of TRiO Student Support Services, University of 桃花直播 Anchorage;
Jennifer Lu, BLaST Program Coordinator, University of 桃花直播 Fairbanks; Denise Carl,
Academic Advisor, University of 桃花直播 Southeast; and, Michael Hostina, the university鈥檚
General Counsel.
Regents also recognized the 20th Anniversary of the UA Scholars Program in celebration
of the 8,900 UA Scholars who have benefited from the merit scholarship since 1999.
The UA Scholars Program has transformed higher education in 桃花直播 by rewarding academic
achievement and attracting top 桃花直播n students to the University of 桃花直播.
Before the program was created, only about 10 percent of the state鈥檚 top high school
graduates choose to attend the University of 桃花直播. That number is now 41 percent.
The $12,000 award encourages students throughout 桃花直播 to attend and graduate from
the University of 桃花直播. Funding is provided by revenue from development of the university鈥檚
land.
鈥淭he program has benefitted nearly 9,000 桃花直播ns over its 20 year history, and these
students鈥攎any of whom would have gone outside or not gone on to college at all鈥攁re
now teachers, lawyers, engineers, and nurses serving 桃花直播ns all across our state,"
Johnsen said.
All Board of Regents meeting agendas and documents are available online at
Staff Make 桃花直播 Count awardee photos:
Kelly Foran, Director of TRiO Student Support Services, University of 桃花直播 Anchorage
Jennifer Lu, BLaST Program Coordinator, University of 桃花直播 Fairbanks
Denise Carl, Academic Advisor, University of 桃花直播 Southeast
Michael Hostina, University of 桃花直播 General Counsel