Regents approve new structure for Prince William Sound campus

June 9, 2014

University Relations

The University of Alaska Board of Regents on Friday approved several policy changes to strengthen and better support Prince William Sound Community College.

The board action came after several years of leadership turnover at the Valdez campus, declining enrollments and increasing federal regulatory demands on the separately accredited institution. The separate accreditation, which the Valdez campus has held for 25 years, is no longer optimal because of increasing federal regulations, tighter budgets and a greater need for efficiencies.

UA President Pat Gamble recommended several policy changes that would place Prince William Sound Community College under the UAA umbrella, similar to UAA's arrangement with Kenai Peninsula College, Kodiak College and Mat-Su College — all successful and independent community campuses.

"These changes will allow the campus to focus more on students and less on the many mandatory and often cumbersome accreditation demands," Gamble said. "Interim President Dan O'Connor has agreed to accept the position and title of campus director. Along with solid leadership, and support from UAA, the college council and Valdez community, we will ensure our students, faculty and staff at Prince William Sound can reach their full potential."

One of the meeting highlights was recognition of four employees for their exceptional service to students. Peers across the UA System nominate recipients of the Staff Make Students Count Award based on outstanding service to students. Winners for 2014 are Leah Aronow-Brown, administrative assistant in the English Department at UAF; Elizabeth Spence, career education coordinator at UAS; Christine Volk, head trainer for the UAA Athletics Department; and Dory Straight, scholarship officer for the UA Foundation.

The board also approved a resolution in support of the Alaska Maritime Workforce Development Plan, an outcome of the Fisheries, Seafood and Maritime Initiative, a collaboration between industry groups, UA and state agencies.

The board adopted metrics to evaluate progress of UA's Shaping Alaska's Future initiative, a collection of 23 effects, or outcomes, the university intends to achieve as part of a continuous improvement process.

The president's contract was extended through May 2016 at his current annual salary of $320,000. The contract includes a retention bonus of up to one year's salary if he continues to serve as president.

The board took several actions affecting facilities, including approving project change requests for the UAA engineering and industry building, which received final funding from the legislature at $45.6 million, and the UAF engineering facility, which received $5 million; approving the schematic design for the UAF combined heat and power plant, which received full funding from the legislature; and approving the schematic design for a restoration of UAF's Akasofu Building.

For more information, contact Kate Ripley, 907-460-1442 (cell) or klripley@alaska.edu.

Photos of the Staff Make Students Count Award recipients are available at these links: Dory Straight, UA Foundation, and President Gamble; Christine Volk, UAA, and Chancellor Tom Case; Leah Aronow-Brown, UAF, and Chancellor Brian Rogers; Elizabeth Spence, UAS, and Chancellor John Pugh, left, and Provost Rick Caulfield.