October 2010

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Terrific news! We learned this month that UAA is a 2010 Fulbright top producer. Four UAA students--Amy Voss, Robin Ford, Charles Beattie and Melanie Clairmont Parrett--won Fulbright awards, placing UAA among the leaders of all universities and colleges that offer undergraduate and master's degree programs.

More good news, UAA won the Sustainability Challenge. We received a higher grade than UAF on the Sustainability report card -- UAA is up from B- to B and UAF is up from C- to C. I am looking forward to a wonderful dinner prepared by UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers -- the Sustainability Competition prize. The real prize is that UAA is becoming more and more sustainable in its practices. Thank you to all who are working so hard to help us improve!

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The inaugural Green and Gold Gala on October 9 raised nearly $30,000 for the UAA Alumni Association scholarship fund and also gave us an opportunity to recognize Alumni of Achievement Dana Stabenow, Gloria O'Neill and Linda Leary.

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UAA was named a Military Friendly School by GI Jobs Magazine for the second year in a row, putting us in the top 15 percent of universities and colleges.

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We celebrated ANSEP's 5th Anniversary and thanked our many partners who support this successful program.

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The Alaskero Partnership Organization -- E.J.R. David, Gabriel Garcia, Mariecris Gatlabayn, Christine Marasigan and Joy Mapaye, along with help from the UAA Society of Filipino American Students and its president Sheryl Saturnino, put on a series of events celebrating Filipino American History Month. Thank you to all who organized. We look forward to this becoming an annual celebration at UAA.

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Thomas Lovejoy, the founder of the PBS Nature series spoke on campus.

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Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play was on the Mainstage.

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I hope that you had a chance to catch one of many other wonderful events on campus this month.

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You may have seen buttons on UAA students, staff and faculty that say "Yes on B." Are you curious? Please visit the State of Alaska Division of Elections and the Yes on Prop B websites for more information.

Tuesday, Nov. 2, is Election Day. Students, staff and faculty have an opportunity to influence important decisions shaping our university, community and state. I urge you to vote -- in your neighborhood or at polling places on the Anchorage and Mat-Su campuses. Click here to download a PDF with information about employees endorsing candidates.

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Last year at this time we celebrated the opening of the ConocoPhillips Integrated Science Building. Last night, UAA dedicated a room in CPISB in honor of Jim Bowles, the head of ConocoPhillips Alaska, who died in a tragic snowmobile accident last winter.

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Did you know:

Major research awards:

• Effects of melting ice on salmon habitat and productivity in Prince William Sound to be conducted by ENRI (PI Jeff Welker)
• Establishment of a "Center for Alaska Education Policy Research" to be conducted by ISER (PI Diane Hirshberg)

Jan Harris is the PI for a major public service award addressing workforce development associated with the University of Alaska Statewide Health Agenda.

Awards for Instruction:

• PWSCC's Lisa Sparrell, PI, will conduct research that addresses rural health care for Native students funded by the Department of Education.
• KPC-KBC's Carol Swartz, PI, will work with support for the Youth Program of the Workforce Development Act.
• Kodiak College's Connie Dooley, PI, received Academic Support for "Sea Change: Growing Enrollment with Real-World Real-Time, Student-Centered Distance Education."

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Both Men's and Women's Cross Country teams are ranked in the top 10 in the National Poll -- women are #4 and men are #9.

Mark Cheseto received his third Great Northwest Athletic Conference Runner of the Week and had his fourth win this season at the 37th Annual Western Washington Classic.

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Mat-Su College "Carbon Crew" has been representing UAA in a worldwide energy conservation competition among colleges know as the Great Power Race and participated in a cleanup of local dump sites on "Global Work Day 10/10/10."

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UAA's Community Campaign is in full swing. This is a great way to show your support of nonprofits that are helping our community. To make a pledge, visit the Community Campaign website.

Fill out this easy survey when the link arrives in your email and help us serve our students better!

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Coming up:

Alaska Native /Native American History Month begins Nov. 1. For information and event listings, visit the UAA Diversity website and the Alaska Native Heritage Month Community Calendar.

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The Ton in Ten Peanut Butter and Jelly food drive runs Nov. 8-18, and Parking Serivces will once again be offering to waive qualifying parking tickets in an effort to win the "Peanut Butter Cup."

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University Advancement, Disability Support Services and IT Services are working on a new UAA website. They're developing guidelines and web publishing resources for the UAA website, that will be easy to manage and save money. Stay tuned for details.

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As always, thank you for all you do to make UAA a great university!

Sincerely,