Chancellor Sandeen responds to proposed FY20 budget cuts

Dear UAA Community,

Today Gov. Dunleavy released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2020. His plan calls for a $134 million reduction to the University of Alaska's funding, a 41 percent reduction. Historically UAA receives approximately 36.7 percent of the State funding allocation, therefore the proportional cut in state funding to UAA would be $49 million.

President Johnsen sent a message earlier to faculty and staff on this topic.

UAA's total budget comes from several sources, including State funding (approximately 39 percent), tuition and fees (26 percent) and other university receipts (35 percent).

Proposed cuts of this magnitude are unprecedented, but today's announcement is just the first step in the process to decide the State's budget.

I urge you to stay calm and to consider the opportunities to get involved in the process that lays ahead. This morning, my Cabinet and I held a regularly scheduled "Ask Me Anything" event in the library. The next one is this Friday, Feb. 15, 1-2:30 p.m. in Gorsuch Commons, Room 107. Other forums will be scheduled as well throughout this semester. These events are an excellent place for all faculty, staff and students to listen, learn, ask questions and offer ideas.

I will be working with my leadership team in the coming days and weeks to determine how our university adjusts to meet new funding realities. I will join President Johnsen and fellow UA chancellors on Monday, Feb. 18 for a half-day work session on this topic as well. There will be multiple opportunities for you to participate in the process, so please do. Your ideas and advocacy are critically important as we move through this process. My commitment to you is continued transparency and swift communication at every step in this process.

This is a difficult time, and is new territory for Alaska. However, this contraction in State funding has occurred in the Lower 48 in prior years and there are lessons to be learned from other institutions that have weathered similar situations.

That said, there is no question that news like this is anxiety-provoking. If you are on the Anchorage campus, and want to talk with someone right away about this unsettling news, there will be National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) tables set up in the Social Sciences Building today (Wednesday) from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and tomorrow (Thursday, Feb. 14) in Rasmuson Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Please know that my commitment to UAA's mission and values is steadfast. Excellence, student success, affordability, diversity and inclusion remain our priorities despite budget challenges.

Sincerely, Cathy Sandeen UAA Chancellor

February Archive