Feb. 17-18, 2010: Regents gather in Fairbanks

The University of Alaska Board of Regents will spend nearly a full day in executive session at a regularly scheduled meeting this week to narrow the field of candidates in the search for the next UA president.

The board meets on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus, Room 109 of the Butrovich Building on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 17 and 18. The executive session will last most of the day Wednesday except for a lunch hour discussion with state Department of Education and Early Development Commissioner Larry LeDoux. LeDoux will discuss Gov. Sean Parnell's proposed Governor's Performance Scholarship as well as other legislation affecting education in the state. Then the board will resume its executive session.

On Thursday, members of the public can testify at 9 a.m. The light agenda includes two academic programs up for approval:

• A graduate certificate in advanced human service systems at UAA, which would be available by spring 2011. UAA estimates 20 students would enroll
• A Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts in environment and society at UAA, which expects to attract 15-30 students over the next few years.
• From noon until 1 p.m. on Thursday, UAF faculty and staff will give presentations that include climate change and a student-endorsed sustainability fee.

The complete agenda can be found at www.alaska.edu/bor.