Information and feedback resources
January 22, 2020
— by Dan White, chancellor
The Grapevine is undergoing a transformation. For those of you who have not used the
Grapevine, it has served as on online forum for anonymous Q&A at UAF. It has also
served, and still does, as a website containing important links to resources, feedback
forms and reporting mechanisms. The roughly 250 questions submitted each year were
answered by me, vice chancellors or someone else in the organization with more knowledge
related to the specifics of the question. Questions ranged from compensation to snow
removal. In this way, the Grapevine served a useful purpose. However, it was also
used as an anonymous venue for posting concerns that should be reported through a
formal channel. As a University that values respect, diversity, inclusion and caring,
it is my goal to ensure that we have available and effective reporting mechanisms
and that we foster constructive dialogue. Over the last several years we have also
created many new mechanisms for asking questions, getting answers and busting myths.
The open forums that are hosted in the Wood Center, video streamed, and teleconferenced are just
one recently added venue for engagement.
As of the first of the year the website changed from a place where one can post anonymously
to a suite of on-line resources. The site contains useful links for concerns that
should be submitted as reports to human resources, supervisors, or the Department
of Equity and Compliance (including Title IX). Reporting through our formal mechanisms
ensures that effective follow-up can occur and any concerns can be managed by an auditing
function of the university. Reporting on issues such as the following are already available.
Accessibility issues
Request accommodations
Title IX violations
Discrimination
An accident or unsafe condition
Suspected child abuse
Student and employee conduct
UAF is committed to an environment where open communication is the expectation. It
is essential to our success as an organization. Especially in these budget times,
it is important that we have regular, direct communication so that questions can be answered and myths debunked. We continue to have an anonymous
mechanism for reporting fraud, waste or abuse. UA’s confidential hotline is the place for such reporting.
If you want to share an innovative idea or suggest improvements with me, please submit your ideas to the Box of Big Ideas.
I welcome your comments, questions or suggestions. Whether it is constructive criticism
or a new idea, your feedback is appreciated. Please be specific and if possible, suggest
a solution. I can be reached via email at: uaf.chancellor@alaska.edu.