Legislature(2003 - 2004)
02/11/2003 03:08 PM House HES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES
STANDING COMMITTEE
February 11, 2003
3:08 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Peggy Wilson, Chair
Representative Carl Gatto, Vice Chair
Representative Cheryll Heinze
Representative Paul Seaton
Representative Kelly Wolf
Representative Sharon Cissna (via teleconference)
Representative Mary Kapsner
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS
University Of Alaska Board Of Regents
James Hayes - Fairbanks
Cynthia Henry - Fairbanks
Mary Hughes - Anchorage
Michael Snowden - Sitka
Derek Miller - Fairbanks
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
OVERVIEW: DIVISION OF ALCOHOLISM & DRUG ABUSE
- HEARD [See 4:10 p.m. minutes for this date]
PREVIOUS ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
JAMES HAYES, Appointee
to the University of Alaska Board of Regents
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the University of
Alaska Board of Regents.
CYNTHIA HENRY, Appointee
to the University of Alaska Board of Regents
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the University of
Alaska Board of Regents.
MARY HUGHES, Appointee
to the University of Alaska Board of Regents
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the University of
Alaska Board of Regents.
MICHAEL SNOWDEN, Appointee
to the University of Alaska Board of Regents
Sitka, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the University of
Alaska Board of Regents.
DEREK MILLER, Appointee
to the University of Alaska Board of Regents
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the University of
Alaska Board of Regents.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 03-11, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIR PEGGY WILSON called the House Health, Education and Social
Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:08 p.m.
Representatives Wilson, Gatto, Wolf, and Seaton were present at
the call to order. Representatives Heinze, Cissna (via
teleconference), and Kapsner arrived as the meeting was in
progress.
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS
University Of Alaska Board Of Regents
Number 0064
CHAIR WILSON announced that confirmation hearings for the
appointees to the University of Alaska Board of Regents would be
taken up as the next order of business. The appointees would be
testifying via teleconference. Chair Wilson announced that the
first appointee to testify would be James Hayes.
Number 0167
JAMES HAYES, Appointee to the University of Alaska Board of
Regents, gave a brief personal history of his time in Alaska
including his educational background. He told the committee he
taught school, served on the school board, and is honored to be
nominated as a regent for the university. Mr. Hayes said he
agrees with University of Alaska's mission statement.
Number 0320
CHAIR WILSON stated for the record that Representative Heinze
has joined the meeting.
Number 0326
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF asked Mr. Hayes if he believes there are any
areas in the University of Alaska budget that could be cut
without compromising the education of the students. For
example, Representative Wolf asked if he thinks the
administrative or travel budgets could be reduced.
Number 0377
MR. HAYES responded that he has not had the opportunity to
review the University of Alaska's budget; however, as former
mayor for nine years, a former city councilman for six years,
and a school board member, he said he was hesitant to say what
could or could not be cut. However, he told the committee that
those who know him know he is conservative, and was responsible
for cutting the city budget. To imagine what areas could be cut
without the opportunity to review the budget would be hard to
do. He added there are always areas that can be cut.
Number 0411
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF clarified his question by saying he was not
looking for specific areas to be reduced, but questioned if the
university can effectively manage its finances somewhat like a
business, without compromising the education of Alaska's kids.
He stated he is a strong supporter of education.
Number 0463
MR. HAYES responded that good stewardship and accountability to
students, to the people of Alaska, and the legislature are
essential.
Number 0477
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked Mr. Hayes what his views are on
affirmative action.
Number 0492
MR. HAYES responded that he thinks the board need to take a
better look at it. He said he believes the idea was a good one,
but that the way it has been administered over the years has
become problematic. He said he favors a needs-based system that
helps all people, especially minorities.
Number 0556
REPRESENTATIVE HEINZE asked how he feels about the Prince
William Sound Community College as part of the university
system.
Number 0576
MR. HAYES replied that he strongly favors all campuses of the
university. He reiterated that he would be very supportive.
Number 0605
CHAIR WILSON announced that Representative Cissna has joined the
committee via teleconference.
Number 0612
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA told Mr. Hayes that her concern is with
the work development shortages throughout Alaska in the health
care field. She asked Mr. Hayes if he is committed to finding
new programs and strengthening existing ones throughout the
university system in health care.
Number 0648
MR. HAYES responded that he just recently heard of the health
care worker shortage. He told the committee he is committed to
strengthen the existing programs.
Number 0706
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON made a motion to advance the confirmation
of James Hayes, appointee to the University of Alaska Board of
Regents, to the joint session for consideration. There being no
objection, the confirmation of James Hayes was advanced.
Number 0759
CHAIR WILSON told the committee the next appointee to testify
would be Cynthia Henry.
Number 0765
CYNTHIA HENRY, Appointee to the University of Alaska Board of
Regents, gave a brief personal and educational history,
highlighting her background of involvement in education
including teaching, PTA [Parent Teacher Association], and the
Fairbanks School Board [for two terms]. She told the committee
she received her master's degree in guidance and counseling
through the University of Alaska. She said she believes the
university has great credibility and believes it is an important
time to be a part of the University.
Number 0851
REPRESENTATIVE HEINZE asked if she is supportive of the Prince
William Sound Community College.
Number 0871
MS. HENRY replied that she is supportive of all the community
colleges. She said she believes it is a vital link to the main
campuses. There are a lot of reasons why students choose
community colleges. Sometimes it is because they are adults and
they have commitments in the community or a student may want to
start in a smaller environment, and then maybe later move to a
larger one. Ms. Henry told the committee she thinks community
colleges serve an important role in the university system.
Number 0872
REPRESENTATIVE HEINZE questioned if there is more than one
community college. She stated she thought only one community
college is in the university system - Prince William Sound
Community College.
MS. HENRY responded that Representative Heinze is correct that
there is only one community college in the university system.
Number 0921
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO congratulated Ms. Henry on the
accomplishment of graduating from Rocky Mountain College in
Billings, Montana, summa cum laude, and as class valedictorian.
Number 0958
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked Ms. Henry if she is committed to
strengthening health education throughout the university system.
She also asked Ms. Henry what her commitment would be for other
degree programs - from two-year degrees to Ph.D. programs.
Number 0990
MS. HENRY told the committee she intends to work on
strengthening the health care program. She shared the concern
she has heard from many individuals regarding the lack of a
nursing program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus.
She said she thinks the goal and responsibility of the
university is to educate students for those positions that are
needed in Alaska.
Number 1045
CHAIR WILSON stated for the record that Representative Kapsner
has joined the committee.
Number 1050
REPRESENTATIVE HEINZE made a motion to advance the confirmation
of Cynthia Henry, appointee to the University of Alaska Board of
Regents, to the joint session for consideration. There being no
objection, the confirmation of Cynthia Henry was advanced.
CHAIR WILSON told the committee the next appointee to testify
would be Mary Hughes.
Number 1085
MARY HUGHES, Appointee to the University of Alaska Board of
Regents, gave a brief personal and professional history
including her work with the board of regents. She told the
committee she has been interested in serving on the board of
regents for some time. She said she asked then-Governor Jay
Hammond if she could serve, but was not appointed. She told the
committee she has been very active in the University of Alaska
Foundation for two decades, and is still a trustee. As a member
of the board of regents, she plans to continue that involvement.
Ms. Hughes told the committee that she has attended five board
of regents meetings since her appointment in July and finds
there are challenges and opportunities that abound. Ms. Henry
said this is the time for the university to move beyond where it
is today. The university has great leadership with the three
chancellors who are distinguished in their fields. She said the
public's trust in the board makes the University of Alaska a
place to be for all Alaskan students. She stated that it is her
goal to have the University of Alaska's education mean
excellence.
Number 1215
REPRESENTATIVE HEINZE asked if Ms. Hughes supports the Prince
William Sound Community College.
Number 1248
MS. HUGHES said she has attended the theater workshop at Prince
William Sound Community College and is very impressed with the
work there. She said she is supportive of that campus, but more
supportive of education to rural Alaska through whatever means.
Sometimes in budget priorities the university does not get
everything they wish, but she feels that accessibility of
education should be a priority for the board of regents. She
said that by providing education to the community, the
university gains supporters. She said that she has noticed over
the last three or four years that there are many more voters who
support the university system than ever before. She said she
has always enjoyed her visits there [Prince William Sound
Community College] and continues to be a supporter of the
college.
Number 1318
REPRESENTATIVE HEINZE thanked Ms. Hughes for her comments
regarding the theater workshop; however, what she values more is
the fact that this community college reaches people in the Bush
and helps thousands and thousands of students.
Number 1354
MS. HUGHES replied that she is in agreement with Representative
Heinze on the importance of accessibility for rural residents.
Number 1397
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER prefaced her comments by saying that a
reporter had called her a couple of weeks ago after the
appointments had been made public, and wanted a comment from her
concerning the fact that there are no Native appointees. She
told the committee that regardless of the ethnic background of
an appointee, as long as the mission is for retention and
graduation of Native and rural students, she would be
supportive. She asked Ms. Hughes what ideas she has toward
achieving that goal.
Number 1397
MS. HUGHES replied that the health education program that is
currently taking place in Bethel is a good example of making
education accessible to rural students. She said these students
will go on to be health professionals. When it is not possible
to do training on-site, she told the committee distance learning
is important. Since she was born and raised Kodiak she still
has many friends there, and understands the importance of
accessibility in education.
Number 1479
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON shared that he graduated from the
University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1971 [the same year Ms. Hughes
graduated]. He asked what her philosophy is on distance
education and the effectiveness of video conferencing versus on-
site classes.
Number 1509
MS. HUGHES replied that she finds it difficult to answer the
question since she believes distance learning has its place, but
she is not sure how it stacks up to on-site classes. She told
the committee that is one of the things she will be looking at
as a regent.
Number 1553
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA made a motion to advance the confirmation
of Mary Hughes, appointee to the University of Alaska Board of
Regents, to the joint session for consideration. There being no
objection, the confirmation of Mary Hughes was advanced.
CHAIR WILSON told the committee the next appointee to testify
would be Michael Snowden.
Number 1588
MICHAEL SNOWDEN, Appointee to the University of Alaska Board of
Regents, gave a brief personal, educational, and professional
history. He told the committee he is a graduate of the
University of Alaska Fairbanks and feels this is an opportunity
to give back some of what he has gained. Mr. Snowden said he
has benefited from a lifetime of living in Alaska, attending the
university and operating a business in Sitka. He feels he could
make a contribution to the mission of the school and sees that
an advanced education is essential in developing a talented
workforce. He told the committee as a member of the board of
directors of the National Bank of Alaska [now Wells Fargo] it
has expanded his knowledge in issues important to each region of
the state.
Number 1690
REPRESENTATIVE HEINZE asked if he is supportive of Prince
William Sound Community College.
Number 1703
MR. SNOWDEN said that while he has not been there, he believes
the mission of the university is to make education accessible to
all areas of the state, including rural areas. He said he is
very supportive.
Number 1772
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF made a motion to advance Michael Snowden,
appointee to the University of Alaska Board of Regents, to the
joint session for consideration. There being no objection, the
confirmation of Mr. Snowden was advanced.
CHAIR WILSON told the committee the next appointee to testify
would be Derek Miller.
Number 1810
DEREK MILLER, Appointee to the University of Alaska Board of
Regents, gave a brief personal and educational history. He told
the committee he was born and raised in Fairbanks and has many
good memories as a child watching the University of Alaska
Fairbanks basketball team play. Mr. Miller said he has been
involved in student government for two years and has served as
the student body president. He told the committee it is an
honor to serve on the board of regents as the student
representative.
Number 1846
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF asked, from a student perspective, what
would he say the letter grade is for the University of Alaska.
Number 1868
MR. MILLER replied that he would give the university a "B-." He
told the committee in his short time at the university he has
seen improvements; however, there are still areas that need
improvement. He said he would like to see the university
competing with programs of distinction nationally. The
university's graduate and undergraduate programs are top
caliber, but he thinks the university needs to make efforts to
get recognized nationally. He said he sees accessibility as an
area that needs to be addressed also. Mr. Miller summarized by
saying the university is an above average university.
Number 1903
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF asked, if he were president of the
University of Alaska, what would be the first thing he would do
to try to improve it.
Number 1922
MR. MILLER said that the three main campuses have different
needs. He said the University of Alaska Fairbanks has excellent
research programs, but he would like to see a teaching emphasis.
At the Anchorage campus he would like to see some Ph.D. programs
within the next ten years. The University of Alaska Southeast
efforts should continue with its work in rural accessibility.
Number 1989
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked for Mr. Miller to clarify his
recommendations for the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS).
MR. MILLER said he would advocate for increased technical
development with respect to job training.
Number 2008
REPRESENTATIVE HEINZE asked what his thoughts are on joining the
schools of engineering and mining at the Fairbanks campus. She
said it appears to be a duplication to have the programs at both
campuses.
Number 2037
MR. MILLER told the committee he is a business major and hopes
to receive his bachelor of administration degree in May. He
said he knows there is a strong emphasis in engineering and the
sciences in Fairbanks. They are excellent programs. In
responding to duplication of programs, he said he does not know
how to answer that since he believes students in Anchorage
should have the opportunity to pursue mining and engineering
degrees at the Anchorage campus.
Number 2066
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA told Mr. Miller that she was glad to hear
his support of Ph.D. programs at the Anchorage campus. She
asked him to comment on continuity of programs.
Number 2091
MR. MILLER asked if she was referring to transfer of credits or
start-up of programs.
Number 2100
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA said she is thinking of a four-year
program that can be finished in four years if one is able to do
it.
Number 2110
MR. MILLER replied that the statewide administration at the
university has taken steps to make that easier for students to
acknowledge where they are in their specific program. It is
called "MY UA." Students will soon be able to look up on line
what they have taken and what they need to take. It is a self-
advisory program and should be helpful to students.
Number 2141
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA clarified that she is concerned about
classes that are cancelled because there is not the faculty to
teach them. She said it is a problem at the University of
Alaska Anchorage with some of her fellow students who are trying
to finish their degree program.
Number 2152
MR. MILLER told the committee that while he is not aware of the
problem, he will be sure to see that it is addressed in future
meetings of the regents.
Number 2171
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER explained that there is a bill introduced
by Representative Guttenberg [from Fairbanks] that would expand
the board of regents to include two student representatives.
Each representative would have more time, their terms would be
two years, and staggered. Their terms would not begin in the
same year. She asked what his views are on such a change.
Number 2202
MR. MILLER said he is supportive of any effort to have students
better represented at the board of regents level. He said the
staggered terms would lend well to the continuity of student
leaders across state. It would benefit a student regent to have
a year to understand how things work because it is a bit of a
jump from being a student leader to a student regent. He said
he likes the bill.
Number 2259
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked Mr. Miller to comment on the fact
that he only received one-third of the votes in winning his seat
on the board of regents. He questioned whether that is a true
representation of the student body.
Number 2281
MR. MILLER replied that it is difficult to get even 20 percent
of the student body to vote. While turnout is rather apathetic,
it is twice as many as the university regularly has for
elections of student positions.
Number 2304
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO posed the question that if the university's
budget were substantially reduced and there was not enough money
to fund the university campuses and the outlying campuses, would
he consider closing any of the outlying campuses or would he
rather reduce the funds for the university and maintain the
outlying campuses.
Number 2326
MR. MILLER said he would go with the option of reducing the
funds for the university and maintain the outlying campuses. He
said he does not want to see the loss of outlying campuses and
believes it is extremely important to the success of the state.
Number 2352
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER made a motion to advance the confirmation
of Derek Miller, appointee to the University of Alaska Board of
Regents, to the joint session for consideration. There being no
objection, the confirmation of Derek Miller was advanced.
ADJOURNMENT
The Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee
meeting took an at-ease at 3:55 p.m. in order to prepare for the
overview. [For the overview by the Department of Health and
Socials Services, see the 4:10 p.m. minutes for the same date.]
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|