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Welcome back faculty! As we begin this new academic year, the university enters a time of many unknowns. Unknowns include our future administrative and leadership structure and possible impacts to academic programs from an effort to go to one accreditation for the “new UA”. As administrative functions are being consolidated at the system office and under President Johnsen’s supervision, many staff and administrators’ positions are in question. With that said, however, the year begins with many knowns. The fundamentals of what we do and who we are continue — teachers, mentors, researchers, discoverers, inventors, communicators and the list goes on. We continue to be a place where faculty of all backgrounds and orientations are welcome and supported, and where we want everyone to speak and be heard. We continue to do all in our power to be a place of respect, diversity, inclusion and caring. This is critical now more than ever as uncertainty has brought emotions close to the surface.
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As I have met with new students this week, they are confident in UAF and the education they will receive. When I spent time with executives from the National Institutes of Health on Tuesday, they were confident in continuing to invest in UAF. I also had the opportunity to speak to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act review committee on Wednesday. They chose to hold their meeting at UAF because of our continuing global leadership in Alaska Native and Indigenous studies. Our students, research sponsors, and community members depend on UAF and UAF depends on its faculty.
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The next Board of Regents meeting is September 12-13 in Anchorage, with public testimony via audio conference on September 9 from 4-6 pm. A one hour in-person public testimony time will also be held at the meeting itself in Anchorage. I encourage you to participate in the public testimony if you wish and watch the board meeting via video streaming as you have time. The agenda lays out a general schedule of topics and the budget presentation is likely to be an informative one.
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Whether you are new to UAF this fall or are already a part of Nanook Nation, I hope you are looking forward to this new semester as much as I am. Teddy Roosevelt said that the greatest reward in life is the opportunity to work at work worth doing. There are few professions that fit this vision better than educators and researchers.
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Thank you for choosing UAF!
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The is an AA/EO employer and educational institution and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual. Learn more about UA's .
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