Regents consider academic programs and science facilities

Submitted by Bob Miller
Phone: (907) 474-6311
02/11/04

University of Alaska regents will consider approval of new academic programs, acquisition of lab space in Juneau and review budget and project plans for science facilities in Anchorage and Fairbanks when they meet Feb. 18-20 on the UAS campus in Juneau.

Regents will spend Wednesday, Feb. 18, visiting with legislators about university issues, and the full board meeting will begin Thursday at 8 a.m. in the Egan Classroom Building on the UAS campus. Public testimony is scheduled between 10 and 11 a.m. on Thursday and between 8 and 9 a.m. on Friday.

Agenda items are listed here by committee of origin:

Planning & Development Committee
´ Receive a report from University President Mark Hamilton on the progress of the Ad Hoc Committee on Accountability and Sustainability, which has been charged with seeking out best practices and cost reduction in operating and administrative support functions.
´ Discuss the development of the committee agenda for the future.

Academic & Student Affairs Committee
´ Consider approval of an associate of applied science in construction management program and a bachelor of science in physical education program at UAA.
´ Consider approval of six academic programs at UAS: certificate in community wellness advocate program, certificate in pre-nursing qualifications, certificate in health information management privacy, associate of applied science in health sciences, bachelor of science in mathematics and bachelor of science in marine biology. ´ Receive a status report on operating budget request guidelines, and discuss the development of the committee agenda for the future.

Facilities & Land Management Committee
´ Consider approval of the 2004 land management development plan.
´ Consider authorizing the approval of the acquisition of a lab facility and related property in Juneau. The city of Kasaan is interested in selling a 17,500-square-foot, three-story building near the UAS campus in Auke Bay, which contains labs formerly used by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation which has now vacated the building. UAS shared the space with the department for several years and now wants to acquire the building for its science laboratory needs.
´ Consider approval of the revised project and schematic design for the UAF Biological and Computational Sciences central animal facility project. Total project cost is estimated at $17.9 million.
´ Consider approval of the name change for the Hutchison Career Center. The proposed new name is: Hutchison Institute of Technology, James T. Hutchison High School, and UAF Tanana Valley Campus Hutchison Center. Hutchison is owned by the Fairbanks North Star Borough and sits on about 11 acres of university-owned land which is leased to the borough. The building will be known as Hutchison Institute of Technology and the occupants will be the high school and the TVC center.
´ Consider approval of the planning budget for the UAA Integrated Sciences Facility Project. Total estimated cost of the proposal under consideration is $22 million.
´ Receive status report on university investments in capital facilities, construction in progress and other projects, and receive an update on the capital budget development process.

Finance & Audit Committee
´ Receive status reports on FY06 operating request guidelines and on the FY06 capital budget request guidelines.

Human Resources Committee
´ Review university Human Resources policies, and receive a status report on the department’s administrative review.

All meetings of the Board of Regents and its committees, except for executive sessions, are open to the public.

On the days of the meeting, messages for regents and staff may be left at the Egan Library, 907-465-6583, FAX 907-465-3612. Messages should indicate that they are for participants in the Board of Regents’ meeting.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Bob Miller, (907)474-6311