UA Board of Regents address vision for University of Alaska’s future
By Amber McCain
The Board of Regents met on Sept. 3-5 at the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau to discuss major topics including enrollment growth, long-term planning, international student opportunities, research goals, and infrastructure needs. The three-day meeting reflected a tone of cautious optimism as the universities continue to rebuild momentum after more than a decade of budget and enrollment challenges.
Enrollment across the University of Alaska system this fall is projected to reach a 3% increase over last year. First-time student registrations are up nearly 5%, with UAA and UAF leading the gains. To sustain growth, campuses are using targeted strategies: UAA is expanding academic advising, UAS is piloting in-state tuition for out-of-state students, and UAF has doubled its incoming out-of-state freshman class. UAA’s more affordable in-state tuition, around $8,500, may be driving interest, though some students remain concerned about rising costs.
Arel Gutierrez, president of UAA’s student government, urged regents to reconsider another tuition hike.
“While such increases may be necessary to support campuses and faculty, I believe another 3% rise is too soon,” Gutierrez said. He advocated for a “measured approach,” suggesting a 1.5% increase paired with “a transparent and strategic system for determining the timing of tuition adjustments.”
In his first address to the regents, UAF Interim Chancellor Mike Sfraga spotlighted the university’s renewed energy and readiness to seize emerging opportunities.
“There’s a buzz, students, staff, faculty, even families feel it,” Sfraga said. “You’d expect a place like this to feel fatigued after a decade of cuts and challenges, but instead, there’s real vibrancy.”
Sfraga emphasized student retention as a central leadership priority.
“Recruitment is in motion, but the biggest opportunity is in keeping the students who are already here,” he explained. He also reaffirmed UAF’s goal of achieving R1 status, a prestigious designation for top-tier research universities, and highlighted the university’s relevance in Arctic and defense research.
“The new Arctic is not just an academic concept, it’s a driver of policy, security, and climate strategy,” he said. “We’re well-positioned to lead, and we must capitalize on that.”
However, fiscal uncertainty remains a concern, with nearly half of UAF’s $250 million budget coming from federal research funding.
“We’re watching Washington closely,” Sfraga noted. “The federal budget climate is unpredictable, and that uncertainty permeates everything we do.”
International student recruitment and exchange programs also were part of the discussions during the meeting. Regent Karen Perdue asked if more could be done to attract international students, to which Sfraga responded affirmatively, citing interest from countries such as Japan, Singapore and Greenland.
“There’s an affinity for Alaska in these regions,” Sfraga noted, “not just because we’re a U.S. state, but because of the capacity we’ve built here over the last hundred years.
“International recruitment is tough right now, but that will pass,” President Pitney acknowledged. UAS Interim Chancellor Karen Carey noted that her campus recently filled a vacancy for a staff member responsible for international exchanges and is already seeing renewed interest. UAS is also partnering with a university in Greece through a grant that includes student exchange opportunities.
“We’re seeing early signs of renewed interest,” Carey said. Sfraga shared a broader vision for international student engagement, hoping to see students pursue full degrees at UA campuses rather than just short-term exchanges.
“We have room to grow there. We should be looking at the University of the Arctic and other networks we’re already part of,” Sfraga said. Universities of the Arctic, established in 2017, is a global network of nearly 200 institutions, committed to higher education and research in and around the Circumpolar North.
Director of Land Management Adrienne Stople told the regents that since 2023, 96,406 acres have been submitted to BLM and 350,000 acres identified as part of the program for the UA system to receive the 500,000 acres due to them as directed by U.S. Congress in 2022. They need to select all half million acres by the end of 2026. Part of the requested land at this meeting was BLM land that includes Toolik Research Station, which celebrated 50 years in operation this year.
Athletics also played a part in the meeting. Members of the UAA gymnastics team called in to share their pride in representing both their campus and the broader community.
“Our team is once again 20 women strong with six newcomers this year,” said student-athlete Jamilia Duffus. She spoke on the team’s local and global roots, noting that it includes Alaskans and athletes from as far as Denmark, where several recently competed in the European Championships The team recently earned back-to-back NCAA Academic National Championships with a 3.819 GPA and logged over 700 hours of community service last year. The team invited regents to upcoming meets and practices, underlining the program’s value as a public face of UAA’s mission.
While the gymnastics team spoke of positive experiences, others used the public testimony session to raise concerns about inclusion and university policy. Several callers expressed frustration with the Board’s anti-DEI policy adopted earlier this year and its impact on programs aimed at fostering campus belonging.
Kimberly Pace, a longtime faculty member at UAA, described how the university abruptly removed the website and funding for the campus chapter of the National Coalition Building Institute, which had offered over a thousand inclusion workshops since 2007.
“NCBI promotes understanding among various communities on our campuses,” Pace said. “The anti-DEI policy does not end the need for this critical work, it exacerbates it.”
Echoing her concerns, Faculty Alliance Chair Jackie Kaysen called into the testimony session from Juneau, saying the silence during public testimony may be telling.
“People have lost some faith and hope that their input really matters in the decisions that the board makes,” she said. “We really do need to build a coalition and think together about the future of our institution and how we serve our students.”
Support for rural campuses and localized career training also featured in public testimony. Devin Lisek spoke about the Bristol Bay Campus in Dillingham, part of UAF’s College of Indigenous Studies.
“It’s a lifeline for the community,” Lisek said. “Providing courses like basic orientation, advocacy training, outboard motor repairs, welding, and off-grid solar training. These programs equip residents with practical skills that directly enhance their livelihoods, both personally and professionally.”
Others, like Eric Viste of the Anchorage School District, emphasized the need for the university system to expand teacher apprenticeship programs.
“Eighty-five percent of paraprofessionals we’ve canvassed want to become teachers,” he told the board. “There's significant barriers to that, whether that's time, finances, and other things. There's a desire there to keep our people with us in Alaska.”
The meeting also celebrated internal innovation through the Empower Alaska staff recognition program. Four employees were honored for their work advancing solutions and service excellence across campuses. Winners included Ashley Munro of UAF, Bernard Yadao and Kolene James of UAS, and Jessica Salas of UAA.
Housing, however, remains a growing concern. UAA faced a waitlist of more than 400 students this fall and has relied on master leases and partner institutions to meet demand. UAF is launching a $160 million housing expansion. UAS is exploring reopening Banfield Hall.
National searches for permanent chancellors at UAA and UAF are underway, with finalists visiting campuses this month. “There is growing optimism across the system,” Pitney concluded. “Parents are proud to send their kids here again. It’s an exciting time for the University of Alaska.”