SB 134 ATWOOD CHAIR OF JOURNALISM AT U OF AA  Number 003 CHAIRMAN GREEN called the Senate Health, Education and Social Services (HESS) Committee work session to order at 9:15 a.m. She introduced SB 134 as the first order of business. She noted that an official meeting would be declared when a quorum arrived. JOSH FINK, staff to Senator Kelly, stated that Bob Atwood's contribution to Alaska is immense. SB 134 honors Mr. Atwood by establishing an endowment for the Robert B. Atwood Journalism Chair at the University of Alaska Anchorage. This Chair which has been nationally recognized has been in existence the past 15 years through generous personal contributions from Mr. Atwood. To date, Mr. Atwood's contributions have totalled more than $1 million. He explained that by establishing this endowment, a mechanism would be in place for both private and public entities to match Mr. Atwood's contributions in order to permanently fund the Chair. SYLVIA BROADY, Chairman and Professor in the Journalism and Public Communications Department, informed the committee that she had been there for 15 years and has seen what the Chair has done for Alaska and Anchorage students as well as other students around the state. In a time of fiscal cuts, innovative ideas should be used in order to protect pockets of excellence. Legislators have challenged private money to match their money. If this could be done at the university level, more academic chairs could be established throughout the university. She emphasized that it would be a one time commitment from the state for something that would be permanent and continuous. She pointed out that since Mr. Atwood has supported the Chair, many students have graduated and are working in Alaska in the media. In conclusion, Ms. Broady commented that without Mr. Atwood's contributions the program could not have the quality it has and perhaps, the program would not have even been accredited. Number 088 SUZAN NIGHTINGALE, Chair of the Professional Advisory Council for the Journalism and Public Communications Department at UAA, felt that the best way to instill budget discipline would be to reward programs that have done the best to maximize public and private partnerships. The Atwood Chair has a successful 15 year record of private funding. She emphasized that an endowed Atwood Chair would pay for itself in 10 years and save the state money after that time. She informed the committee that the Atwood Chair brings the most experienced and seasoned journalists to UAA who works directly with students around the state. If the Atwood Chair is not funded, the Journalism Department would eventually need a faculty position which brings along all its health and retirement costs. Mr. Atwood has quietly funded this position for 15 years, but he believes the state should join in the partnership. Passage of SB 134 would save the state education money in the future as well as setting a standard for the public and private partnership that Alaska needs; that is budget discipline at its best. CHAIRMAN GREEN announced that a quorum was present. She stated that she intended to move this bill today. SENATOR LEMAN moved that SB 134 be moved out of committee with individual recommendations. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.