Budget update from Chancellor Sandeen

Dear UAA Community,

I reach out to you today with an update on UAA's budget situation and steps we have taken in this time of uncertainty.

I know you are already inundated with information and this is a long email. However, I feel the need to provide accurate, current and transparent information to every campus in our community.

First, to students Fall semester will proceed as planned. We look forward to welcoming you and to providing the great student experience you have come to expect from UAA. UAA is student-centered at its core. That will never change.

We all share our students' concern about the potential loss of state-funded scholarship programs and we are working with UA system colleagues to find alternative sources of funding. If you are the recipient of one of these scholarships, your best course of action now is to meet with your academic advisor and your financial aid counselor to review your specific situation.

What we are doing While we await final determination of reduction target, we are proceeding to plan. We have already made over $3.8 million in reductions (non-renewal of leases and other contracts, elimination of some positions, etc.). I have instructed academic units to increase faculty credit hour production. We are gathering and reviewing data to help us make sound and fair program reduction decisions - should it come to that. We are engaging with governance groups. I have been in contact with NWCCU, our regional accreditor. We are poised for decisions, based on data, and using an inclusive process.

Board of Regents During the last BOR meeting on July 15, the board voted 10-to-1 to delay any decision about financial exigency until July 30. The board also declined to provide guidance on a restructure plan for the UA system based on the information provided by President Johnsen. Specifically, the board voted 9-to-2 to meet in emergency session on July 22, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in Anchorage, to review more detailed restructure plans from the president. This is a public meeting. I encourage you to attend or to listen in.

Reports and recommendations You are probably aware of a number of reports and recommendations circulating from Faculty Alliance, OMB and the UAA Faculty Senate, among others. There is also a good deal of reaction to all of them, especially on social media. I encourage you to read the actual reports yourself to be as informed as possible.

Commitment moving forward As always, I am committed to providing you with up-to-date information. I empathize with how you all must feel during this extended period of uncertainty. I hope you know we are taking steps to plan and will be ready to move quickly once we know what we are dealing with. I sincerely appreciate your calm, civil and professional manner throughout this trying time. That will serve us well as we work collectively to maintain the strongest UAA possible within our new reality.

With deep appreciation, Cathy Sandeen UAA Chancellor

July Archive