May Board of Regents highlights

This academic year has been an exciting one, marked by your collective achievements and impact. From reaffirming our university's accreditation and earning the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement designation to increased enrollment and continued support in workforce development, there is so much to reflect on and celebrate. As we look ahead, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue working alongside you in support of our students and community.

Last week, the University of Alaska Board of Regents (BOR) held its last academic meeting of the year on our Anchorage campus. We had the opportunity to showcase our Community and Technical College's Aviation Technology Center, highlighting how our aviation programs, technology and workforce development partnerships continue to meet the needs of this critical industry in our state.

The final BOR meeting of the year provided an opportunity to bid farewell and express our gratitude to UA System President Pat Pitney. Her decades of leadership with UA shaped all three universities into the modern institutions they are today. Under her leadership, UA reversed enrollment decline, stabilized its fiscal outlook and revitalized our connection to Alaskans and the workforce. While her retirement marks the end of an era, her collaborative spirit has set all three universities up for great long-term success.

Many across our university community have benefited from Pat's leadership, and we are grateful for the lasting impact of her contributions. On a personal note, it has been a privilege to work alongside her and learn from her example.

While much was discussed at the May BOR meeting, some of the most important topics are ones that we, as a UAA community, have been discussing throughout this year, and will continue to focus on as we look ahead to fall semester and beyond.

Enrollment continues to be at the forefront of our continued momentum in Anchorage and across Southcentral, signaling that Alaska's high school seniors and young adults are increasingly turning to UAA as their top choice for higher education. While our upward enrollment trends are exciting, this requires us to explore expanded on-campus infrastructure on the Anchorage campus, including more residential housing and additional spaces for students to learn, work and play. We continue to advocate for UAA's growth in providing programs and education, while also building capacity for our growing campus community.

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to shape our work and learning environments, UA System and UAA are continuing to explore its integration into student classrooms, academic programs, faculty research and teaching, as well as staff workflows. While this work is still evolving, Interim UA President Michelle Rizk is partnering with the three chancellors, key university faculty and staff this summer to develop guidance for the Board's review at their September meeting.

Additionally, the Board addressed the newly formed union CAUSE, which represents some of our staff, and looked ahead to forthcoming contract negotiations. They reiterated that UA will negotiate in good faith with CAUSE to reach a comprehensive contract, including compensation, as Alaska labor law requires. The Board also directed UA management to align university benefits with national post-secondary education and local standards during these negotiation talks.

Regents approved the FY27 operating and capital budgets, which will begin July 1, and includes $366.1 million in unrestricted general funds and a roughly 4% increase from the previous year. This increase allows us and UA to maintain stability and continue to make strategic investments, including providing critical support for deferred maintenance at all three of our institutions. The budgets have passed the legislature and are now awaiting the governor's signature.

It truly has been an incredible academic year. The progress and momentum we've built this year is inspiring and sets UAA on a solid foundation for the next academic year, to build our next strategic plan and to continue to drive impact, innovation and community engagement that defines our university. Thank you for your drive, dedication and commitment to student success. I look forward to continuing our momentum together in the upcoming academic year.