UA Regents head to Mat-Su College
April 4, 2011
The University of Alaska Board of Regents will meet at Mat-Su College Thursday and
Friday, April 7 and 8, 2011.
The agenda includes two opportunities for public comment鈥10 a.m. Thursday and 9 a.m.
Friday. The meeting will take place at the Mat-Su campus, off Trunk Road between
Palmer and Wasilla.
At least one meeting per year is held at a community campus, providing members of
the UA System鈥檚 governing body to interact directly with students, faculty, staff
and community members outside the main campus hubs in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau.
The board last met at Mat-Su College in September 2003.
鈥淭he board always enjoys the April meeting because it鈥檚 a chance to see what some
of our vibrant community campuses have to offer,鈥 said Vice Chair Pat Jacobson of
Kodiak. 鈥淲e鈥檙e really looking forward to meeting with our students, faculty and staff
of Mat-Su College, as well as community members from the Palmer and Wasilla area.鈥
The agenda includes approval of the continuation of the Bachelor of Arts program
in International Studies at the University of Alaska Anchorage; formal project approval
for critical electrical distribution upgrades at UAF; and schematic design approval
for steam capacity expansion at UAF鈥檚 West Ridge. Information-only items include,
among other items, a report on student housing across the UA System, including potential
public-private partnerships; a demonstration of online 鈥渆-learning鈥 improvements
that make it easier for students to look up and then register for e-learning courses
throughout the UA System; a tour of the Mat-Su campus; and a tour of the Matanuska
Experiment Farm, part of UAF鈥檚 School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences
and the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.
The board will consider resolutions of appreciation for student Regent Ashton Compton,
whose term expires in May; and outgoing UAA Chancellor Fran Ulmer, who recently was
appointed by President Barack Obama to serve a four-year term as chair of the U.S.
Arctic Research Commission. A resolution of appreciation for outgoing information
technology chief Steve Smith, a longtime staff member and adjunct faculty member
who is taking a similar position at the University of Hawaii, will be before the
board as well.
For the full Board of Regents鈥 agenda, go to and click on 鈥渁gendas.鈥
For more information call Kate Ripley at 907/450-8102.