Regents wrap up Mat-Su meeting
April 8, 2011
The UA Board of Regents approved critical electrical upgrades at the Fairbanks campus, continuation of a
bachelor’s degree in international studies at the Anchorage campus, an expansion of
steam heat capacity at UAF’s West Ridge and contracts for two collective bargaining
units during a two-day meeting at Mat-Su College which ended April 8.
In addition, the board approved a resolution of appreciation for outgoing UAA Chancellor
Fran Ulmer and student Regent Ashton Compton, whose term expires in May. Ulmer announced
her retirement over a year ago and recently was tapped by President Barack Obama to
lead the U.S. Arctic Research Commission.
The meeting was dominated by highlights about Mat-Su College, which has seen considerable
growth in recent years. College Director Talis Colberg reminded regents that 35 years
ago, the college had just two graduates and that commencement was held at the Palmer
Chamber of Commerce. This spring, an expected 116 students will graduate from the
college, with 1,800 students currently enrolled full- and part-time.
“This is a very different place now,” Colberg said. “The college had just one building
when I was in high school and we now have five, with an addition under way due to
last fall’s General Obligation Bond.”
The board heard presentations about various events and programs at Mat-Su College
including the upcoming Machetanz Art Festival, the paramedics program, the student
ambassadors program, the Mat-Su Carbon Crew (a student environmental sustainability
club), Phi Theta Kappa (an honors group) and many more. The regents toured campus
facilities as well as the nearby Agricultural and Experiment Station, which is part
of UAF.
The college hosted a reception for regents, and board members lunched with members
of the college’s advisory board. The board last met at the Mat-Su campus eight years
ago.
The union agreements the board approved include a contract for the Fairbanks Firefighters
Association, IAFF Local 1324, which represents nine UAF firefighters; and the Higher
Education Crafts and Trades Employees, Local 6070, which represents 253 maintenance
and skilled crafts and trades employees, primarily at the urban campus hubs in Anchorage,
Fairbanks and Juneau. Earlier this year, the board approved a union contract representing
adjunct faculty; a tentative agreement with the United Academics’ unit representing
full-time faculty is currently out for member ratification. Still under negotiation
is a contract for the third group of UA instructors — the University of Alaska Federation
of Teachers.
The board also approved a resolution of appreciation for outgoing information technology
chief Steve Smith, a longtime UA staff member and adjunct faculty member who is taking
a similar position at the University of Hawaii. Smith’s entertaining presentations
at board meetings about tech products have earned him the moniker, “Inspector Gadget.”
A summary of actions and minutes from the meeting will be posted online in about a week.