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Last week, Gov. Mike Dunleavy proposed a $134 million reduction in state funding to the University of Alaska system for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.
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Since then, I have heard many questions from concerned students:
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- I don’t understand the budget process — is this budget cut real?
- What does it mean for me?
- Will I be able to pursue the degree I am enrolled in?
- What are you doing to address the budget challenges?
- Can I influence the decisions that are being made?
- How can I help?
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I’ve responded to these questions one-on-one, but I want to share those answers with all of you.
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The first thing you need to know is that this is only the first step in the process. Check out this excellent guide to the budget process. The final budget may look quite different from the one proposed by the governor, and there is ample opportunity over the next few months for each of us to influence the outcome.
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One way to do that is by advocating for the university. Your personal stories about why you chose UAF, the impact of UAF and its programs in your life, and how UAF is contributing to the welfare and economic growth of Alaska are very powerful. They often resonate with decision-makers in more personal and meaningful ways than institutional data and graphs do. Elected officials serve their constituents. They need to hear your voice. Student groups such as ASUAF and the Honors Program are already organizing to advocate for the university, and I urge you to connect with them.
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Advocacy is one part of the effort, and careful planning is another. UAF will continue to pursue ways to increase revenue, reduce facilities costs and administration, and streamline our academic and research operations. Our plans will be guided by UAF’s six strategic goals. Chancellor White has been sharing these goals and providing updates through open forums and weekly columns in the UAF news and information website. Search for “budget update.”
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We are firmly committed to helping all of our students complete their degrees and the program they have enrolled in. We do not know what the final budget would look like, so it is difficult to lay out and share concrete plans yet. I have asked the deans and directors to carefully look at our academic offerings to see where it would make sense to combine class sections and change the frequency of some class offerings. This means you will need to work closely with your faculty and staff advisors to plan your schedule and take your required classes in the semester they are offered. It may also mean that you have to take some classes online.
Our guiding principle is to make sure you have high-quality courses for your degree. We meet weekly to ensure that plans to streamline offerings in one area will not have unintended consequences in another area.
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You, our students, are the reason we are here. We will continue to advocate for your interests, and we hope you will use your own power to advocate for yourself and your university.
— Anupma Prakash, provost and executive vice chancellor
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