University of Alaska Board of Regents to celebrate staff and students in final meeting for President Pitney and Interim Chancellor Sfraga

May 19, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2026

University of Alaska Board of Regents to celebrate staff and students in final meeting for President Pitney and Interim Chancellor Sfraga

Board will approve FY27 budget distributions, discuss FY28 priorities, review student success programs during its full meeting in Anchorage.

(ANCHORAGE) - The University of Alaska (UA) Board of Regents will meet May 20-21 at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) campus to continue forward progress on student success initiatives, adopt the FY27 budget, and discuss UA's unique opportunities in national security and artificial intelligence (AI). The meeting comes at the conclusion of commencement exercises around the state, and will be the final Board meeting for UA President Pat Pitney and Interim University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Chancellor Ambassador Mike Sfraga, both of whom retire this month.

"Congratulations to our graduating class of 2026!" UA President Pat Pitney said. "Each diploma, degree, and certificate represents countless hours and effort, and we are proud to be able to share in our students' successes. UA is a key economic and workforce driver for Alaska, and I look forward to seeing our new graduates make a positive influence on their communities."

This spring, 3,334 students graduated from UA universities statewide, with 3,631 degrees and certificates expected to be awarded. Data show UA graduates are far more likely to stay in Alaska and contribute to the state's workforce and economy than those who study elsewhere.

During the meeting, Regents will honor staff members selected for the 2026 "Staff Make Students Count" Awards. The Board will also hear from UAA commencement speaker Rainey Spurlock and her grandmother, Brenda, about their experiences as students, and will visit the Community and Technical College's aviation program hangar on Wednesday for an evening showcase highlighting the important role UAA plays in supporting Alaska's aviation industry.

Strategic budgeting for student and institutional success

Regents will take a first look at the strategic priorities guiding the development of the FY28 budgets. Pending final passage by the Legislature, the Board is also expected to adopt the FY27 operating and capital budget appropriations and distribution plans. Regents will receive an update on key legislative priorities that passed and are awaiting the Governor's signature.

"I'm grateful to the Legislature and the Governor for working with us and helping us maintain the fiscal stability and targeted investment necessary to sustain the university," remarked President Pitney. "That has allowed us to invest in efforts to improve student recruitment, retention, and graduation, and continue forward momentum on student success. I'm proud of the progress we've made over the last several years and look forward to seeing the fruits of those investments in the years to come."

The Board will also receive an update on the Roadmap to Empower Alaska, a strategic guidance framework representing the Board's long-term vision for the university system. The review follows last week's meeting of the Ad-Hoc Committee for Recruitment, Retention and Graduation, where regents reviewed the results from the Spring 2026 Student Success Survey. Authorized by the Board in December, the survey was designed to identify why students choose UA, what stands in their way, and what the university can do to help them succeed. The initial results of the inaugural survey highlight the need for increased course availability, multi-mode delivery of programs, financial aid and student support to retain students and support their academic achievements.

Chief Information Officer (CIO) Ben Shier will lead the board in a discussion on the sweeping economic and workforce impacts of GenAI, the profound challenges and opportunities facing higher education institutions, and - through the lens of the UA Faculty Alliance and AI Steering Committee - the concrete realities facing UA students, faculty, and staff navigating AI.

Arctic Leadership and National Security
The University of Alaska is uniquely positioned to shape how the world understands, responds to, and leads in a rapidly changing North. The Arctic Leadership Initiative (ALI) drives the Roadmap to Empower Alaska's goal of "Building Arctic Leaders", and links people to Arctic and Subarctic opportunities across the system. Additionally, Interim UAF Chancellor Ambassador Sfraga will present a proposal for a National Arctic Policy Center.

UAF military partnerships include University Affiliated Research Center (UARC), Intergovernmental Support Agreements (IGSA), Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), and Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), all of which help leverage UAF's extraordinary expertise to sharpen America's military edge.

Recognizing excellence and preparing for leadership transitions

During the full board meeting on Wednesday, President Pitney will recognize the 2026 recipients of the "Staff Make Students Count" awards. Started in 1999, this award recognizes staff who have provided outstanding service to UA students. Each recipient receives an award plaque, $1,000, and two domestic Alaska Airlines vouchers. Recipients were selected by their respective staff councils from nominations by students and peers:

• UAA: Audrey Badger, Mat-Su College Financial Aid Advisor
• UAF: Mark Oldmixon, Nanook Recreation Director
• University of Alaska Southeast (UAS): Kailey Pritzl, Academic Exchange and Study Abroad Coordinator
• System Office: Noel Romanovsky, Administrative Specialist

On Thursday, Regents will approve four resolutions thanking outgoing UA employees and state Senators.

• UA President Pat Pitney
• Interim UAF Chancellor Ambassador Mike Sfraga
• Senator Gary Stevens
• Senator Lyman Hoffman

President Pitney's official last day is May 21, the final day of the board's meeting. UA Vice President of University Relations Michelle Rizk will serve as interim president until President-Designee Matt Cooper's first day on August 3. Interim Chancellor Ambassador Sfraga's last day is May 31; additional announcements about the new UAF chancellor are expected this week.

Committees and Full Meeting Timing

Committee meetings will be held on Wednesday morning, followed by the full board meeting starting Wednesday afternoon, and picking up again on Thursday morning.

• Wednesday, May 20

• • Audit and Finance Committee meeting 8 a.m. to 10:15 a.m

  • Facilities and Land Management Committee meeting 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.*

  • Academic and Student Affairs Committee meeting 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.*

• Wednesday, May 20 - Thursday, May 21
  Full board meeting (Anchorage): 3:15 p.m.* - 5 p.m.

• Continued full board meeting (Anchorage): 7:30 a.m to 5:00 p.m

*Time is approximate; meetings will begin at the conclusion of the preceding meeting.

The agenda is available online. All meetings, except any executive sessions, are public and will be livestreamed.

The University of Alaska Board of Regents is an 11-member volunteer board, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Alaska Legislature. Members serve an eight-year term, except for the student regent, who serves a two-year term. The Board was established through the Alaska Constitution and is responsible for University of Alaska policy and management through the university president.

For more information, contact Jonathon Taylor, director of public affairs at 907-201-2436 (cell), or via email at [email protected].