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Senate State Affairs Introduces Legislation Adding a UA Faculty Member to the Board of Regents
JUNEAU, AK – Yesterday, the Senate State Affairs Committee introduced Senate Bill 118 to add a faculty member to the University of Alaska Board of Regents. Currently, the University of Alaska (UA) Board of Regents is an 11-member board, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Alaska Legislature. Members serve 8‐year terms, except for the student regent, who serves a 2‐year term.
Senate Bill 118 expands the Board of Regents (BOR) to 12 members by adding one full‐time faculty member. The Faculty Senate from each of the three accredited universities would elect two faculty members for consideration by the Office of the Governor. The Governor would select one regent from the six names listed in the universities’ recommendations to be confirmed by the legislature. The faculty regent would serve a two‐year term.
In 1974, the University of Alaska’s membership increased from eight to nine, with the addition of a student member to the board. In 1975, the board again expanded with the addition of two full-term members.
It has been 50 years since the last expansion of the Board of Regents. With the significant shifts in policy and funding in the past five years, now is the time to have representation from faculty,” said Senator Scott Kawasaki, D-Fairbanks. “These faculty members are the boots on the ground that experience day-to-day operations and know the needs of the University. Their insight will provide a much-needed voice to the Board.”
“Faculty are key stakeholders in the University of Alaska system and yet are often underrepresented in university wide decisions made by the Board of Regents” said Representative Ashley Carrick, D-West Fairbanks, who is the sponsor of HB 10, the companion bill. “Adding a faculty member to the Board of Regents elevates the voices of all faculty in the UA system and provides them a seat at the table for important decisions facing the University of Alaska. Having worked on this issue for many years and having sponsored this bill in the current and previous legislature, it is encouraging to see increasing momentum for this policy as it begins consideration in the Senate.”
“Representing the University of Alaska Anchorage and seeing how vital UAA is to our community, having a faculty member as a university regent will not only enhance the current board’s full understanding of our university systems, but also improve our accreditation process and the board of regents connection to the cities where our campuses are located, as the majority of their faculty members live,” stated Senator Forrest Dunbar, D-Anchorage.
SB 118 was referred to Senate State Affairs.
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