Legislature(2021 - 2022)DAVIS 106
01/21/2022 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB18 | |
| HB21 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 164 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 18 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 21 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 21-ADD FACULTY MEMBER UNIV BOARD OF REGENTS
8:30:11 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND announced that the final order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 21, "An Act relating to the Board of
Regents of the University of Alaska."
8:30:36 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ADAM WOOL, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented HB 21, which would add another position to
the University of Alaska (UA) Board of Regents for a tenured
faculty member and which would carry a two-year term. He said
the term would be identical in length to that of a student
regent, and that the additional member would provide both parity
and fairness. He characterized the proposed legislation as a
move that would give the faculty a voice on the Board of
Regents. He said the Faculty Senate for each campus would
nominate two faculty, and the governor would appoint one out of
the six nominees for legislative approval.
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND noted the accompanying zero fiscal note.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL replied that there may be a small fiscal
note to cover travel expenses.
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND then acknowledged the $4,500 fiscal note.
8:33:14 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked whether UA has commented on the
proposed legislation.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL responded that UA has not commented.
8:33:39 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked whether the current regents have
taken a position on the proposed legislation.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL replied that he doesn't know whether the
board has taken a formal position, though he believes individual
regents may have personal positions. He said that as a whole,
he believes the board may prefer the status quo due to the odd
number of members. He said if there is a tie vote, further
discussion on the proposition would be warranted. He expressed
the importance of having a faculty member on the board, and he
addressed the concern of a faculty member having a conflict of
interest in areas such as salary increases, explaining that the
same concern could apply to the student regent with respect to
tuition increases. He pointed out that the Board of Regents
votes on program cuts, which affect both students and faculty,
but there still exists a student regent.
8:36:24 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GILLHAM commented that there would never be a tie
vote with 11 regents, but with 12 regents, there would need to
be tie-breakers.
8:37:01 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS referred to the HB 21 sponsor statement
[included in the committee packet] which read, in part [original
punctuation provided]:
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
has stated that the University of Alaska system should
"create a space for inclusive dialogue as the Board of
Regents deliberates on the future of the University of
Alaska System." One way to ensure that this inclusive
dialogue occurs through current fiscal stressors as
well as future organizational challenges is through
the addition of a seat for a qualified Faculty Regent.
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS asked whether these notes came from the
recent struggles with accreditation issues.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL responded that the discussion of having a
faculty regent arose before the concerns with accreditation
issues. He said he's heard from faculty members requesting a
voice on the board since 2015. Faculty expressed frustration at
not being included in discussions around possible university
consolidation, and later with regard to the accreditation
issues.
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS asked about the term for the faculty
regent.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL replied that it would be a two-year term,
the same as that of a student regent. He expressed that having
a relatively short term would be good in order to consider
different voices.
8:38:50 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX expressed the idea that the regents serving
eight-year terms have more "historical knowledge" than a faculty
member serving a two-year term.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL responded that having a board member who is
also a functioning member of the faculty would bring a
perspective that regular board members don't have. He said the
regular board members, who are generally business owners and
community members, don't necessarily have any university
experience other than perhaps earning a degree themselves. He
noted that a hospital board will usually include a physician
and/or a nurse instead of only business people.
8:40:50 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK asked where the list of nominees for
gubernatorial appointments comes from.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL repeated his earlier explanation that each
Faculty Senate would nominate two faculty for appointment and
legislative approval.
8:41:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GILLHAM asked why the University of Alaska
Southeast (UAS) would not be included.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL responded that UAS, as one of the three main
campuses, would be included.
8:41:57 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND opined that having an even number of
representatives tends to push consensus, since a passing vote
for a 12-member board would be 7-5 instead of 6-5. She asked
whether the student regent currently serves a two-year term.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL confirmed that the student regent serves a
two-year term.
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND expressed that she would be surprised if the
Faculty Senates at each campus nominated new faculty to
represent the campus on the Board of Regents.
8:44:00 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND announced HB 21 was held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 18 2022 JPS ACSA.pdf |
HEDC 1/21/2022 8:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |
| HB 18 ACSA Presentation PDF 1-21-22.pdf |
HEDC 1/21/2022 8:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |