Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/26/2025 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB20 | |
| SB118 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 20 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 118 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 69 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 118-ADD FACULTY MEMBER UNIV BOARD OF REGENTS
4:18:08 PM
CHAIR TOBIN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 118 "An Act relating to the
Board of Regents of the University of Alaska."
4:18:30 PM
JOE HAYES, Staff, Senator Scott Kawasaki, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided the sponsor statement,
introductory presentation, and sectional analysis for SB 118 on
behalf of the sponsor.
[Original punctuation provided.]
Senate Bill 118
Sponsor Statement
"An Act relating to the Board of Regents of the
University of Alaska."
The University of Alaska has a mission to inspire
learning, advance and disseminate knowledge through
teaching, research, and public service, and emphasize
the North and its diverse peoples. The University of
Alaska Board of Regents is an eleven-member board
responsible with crafting policy and fulfilling the
University's mission. Senate Bill 118 would add one
tenured faculty member to the Board of Regents for a
two-year term after a thorough selection process. The
addition of a faculty member would help the Board of
Regents advance its mission and provide representation
to this key stakeholder group.
Currently, there are six states that require one or
more faculty regents to be a voting member of their
University Board of Regents. These states believe that
the interests of the institution are best served when
a faculty regent is granted voting representation. 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 fiscal stressors and
organizational challenges is through the addition of a
seat for a qualified faculty regent.
Our University of Alaska has navigated the most
challenging of fiscal and social challenges over the
last decade. Through sweeping budget cuts,
programmatic changes and challenges, and recovery from
the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Regents has been
in the driver's seat making the tough decisions for
the University's future. Adding one faculty member
would provide better representation to this important
constituency, allow our University to provide faculty
the same parity and respect currently granted to
students as a critical stakeholder group, and create
greater dialog on the Board when making decisions for
years to come.
Please join me in supporting SB 118 so the University
of Alaska can make the most informed decisions
possible and better fulfill their mission of inspiring
learning and disseminating knowledge.
4:21:30 PM
MR. HAYES moved to slide 2, University of Alaska Board of
Regents Membership and began the presentation for SB 118, and
discussed the following points:
[Original punctuation provided.]
University of Alaska Board of Regents Membership
• 10 Regents serve 8 -year terms
• 1 Student regent:
• Serves a 2-year term
• Has full board powers
• Must have 2.5 cumulative GPA
• 2 students are elected by their campus and then a
nominee is selected by the Governor
• Current Role of Faculty with the BOR:
• Faculty Alliance makes a report at each BOR
meeting
• Able to be called on to answer questions
• Does not have full speaking rights as a Regent
4:22:12 PM
MR. HAYES moved to slide 3, State by State Comparison, a map
depicting State Board of Regents Membership for each US state.
He said 24 state university systems have student regents and six
of those 24 also have faculty regents.
4:22:27 PM
MR. HAYES moved to slide 4, Examples: Oregon, Pennsylvania, and
West Virginia, and provided the following information:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Examples:
Oregon, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
Oregon State University and University of Oregon
Trustees Board has 15 members, including 11 at-large
members, 1 faculty member, 1 student member, and 1
staff member all appointed by the Governor.
Pennsylvania State University
Trustee Board has 38 Members, including 6 at-large
members, 9 alumni-elected members, and 6 agriculture
members. In addition, the Board elects 6 members-one
of which is a faculty member.
West Virginia University
Board of Governors has 17 members, with 13 at-large
members, 2 faculty members, 1 student member, and 1
staff member.
4:22:46 PM
MR. HAYES moved to slide 5, and continued with examples of
university systems for Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Examples: Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee
State University system of Florida
17 members total including 14 at-large members
appointed by the Governor, the Chair of the Advisory
Council of Faculty Senates, the Commissioner of
Education, and the Chair of the Florida Student
Association.
Kentucky State University
11 voting members, including 8 at-large members, 1
faculty and 1 staff regent elected by their respective
governing councils, and 1 student regent.
Tennessee University System
18 members total, including 12 at-large members, 1
faculty member, 1 student, and 4 ex-officio members.
4:22:56 PM
MR. HAYES moved to slide 6, University of Alaska Faculty
Representation Act, and discussed how the act would work in
Alaska. He addressed the following points:
[Original punctuation provided.]
University of Alaska Faculty Representation Act
How It Works
• Increases the number of Regents from 11 to 12
• 2 nominees from the Faculty Senate of each of the
three main campuses are put forward
• Governor selects one appointee, subject to
confirmation by the Legislature
• Faculty must be a tenured, full -time, UA
employee
• Serves a 2 -year term
• Has the full powers of a regent for voting,
travel, and entering executive session
• Majority vote needed for a motion of the Board to
carry
4:23:34 PM
MR. HAYES moved to slide 7, University of Alaska System, a map
of Alaska with the location of University of Alaska Anchorage
(UAA), University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), and University of
Alaska Southeast (UAS) campuses in three corresponding font
colors:
University of Alaska Statewide (Administration)
UAA (Green)
Kodiak College
Kenai Peninsula College
Kachemak Bay Campus
Military Programs
Anchorage Campus
Chugiak-Eagle River Campus
Matanuska Susitna Campus
Prince William Sound C.C.
UAF (Blue)
Bristol Bay Campus
Kuskokwim Campus
Northwest Campus
Chukchi Campus
Interior-Aleutians Campus
Fairbanks Campus
College of Rural and Community Development
Community and Technical College
UAS (Purple)
Juneau Campus
Sitka Campus
Ketchikan Campus
4:23:53 PM
MR. HAYES moved to slide 8, UA System Governance Flow Chart. He
said the flow chart shows how the Faculty Senates work to get
the Faculty Alliance member who then goes to the Board of
Regents to speak. It shows how the governance groups for the
students work through the Coalition of Student Leaders, and the
councils for staff work through Staff Alliance.
4:24:16 PM
MR. HAYES moved to slide 9, Benefits of a Faculty Regent, and
mentioned the following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Benefits of a Faculty Regent
• More than a "seat at the table"
• Faculty can enter executive session, travel for
Board meetings, and can vote
• Improves the ability for faculty to provide
stakeholder interest
• Held to a standard of professionalism -they can
recuse themselves from a conflicted vote
• Ensures that faculty, like students, are given a
voting interest in University affairs
4:25:12 PM
SENATOR STEVENS expressed strong support for the proposal,
stating it is long overdue. He noted that students already serve
as voting members on both the State Board of Education and the
Board of Regents and adding a faculty member makes sense given
their important role. He appreciated the explanation of the
faculty selection process. He asked whether there has been
consideration of also adding a staff member to the Board of
Regents.
4:25:47 PM
MR. HAYES responded that adding a staff member to the Board of
Regents has not been considered at this time. He noted that the
board structure has not changed in 50 years and that the current
effort focuses on establishing a faculty regent, an initiative
that has been pursued for about a decade. He stated that adding
a staff member could be considered in the future, depending on
how the faculty regent proposal progresses.
4:26:11 PM
SENATOR KIEHL noted that the standard term for a regent is eight
years and acknowledged the rationale for limiting a student
regent's term to two years due to the nature of student
enrollment. He questioned why the bill proposes only a two-year
term for a tenured faculty member, given their long-term
presence and experience within the university system.
4:26:49 PM
MR. HAYES explained that Senator Kawasaki proposed a two-year
term to allow more faculty members across the three Major
Administrative Units (MAUs) to serve as regents. He stated that
shorter terms would increase opportunities for participation and
bring a broader range of expertise and perspectives to the Board
over time.
4:27:22 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked for clarification regarding whether
serving a two-year term would prevent the faculty regent from
being reappointed.
MR. HAYES responded that, as written, the bill does not prohibit
reappointment. He stated that the governor would not be
restricted from reappointing a faculty regent if they chose to
do so.
4:27:47 PM
CHAIR TOBIN stated that SB 118, page 2, line 9, says each Regent
serves until a successor is appointed and qualifies. She stated
her belief that this allows for the flexibility that Mr. Hayes
stated.
4:27:58 PM
SENATOR KIEHL stated that one benefit of longer regent terms is
the opportunity to learn both the university system and the
board's internal processes, which enhances effectiveness. He
compared this to legislators, who often become more effective
after a few years in office. He expressed interest in whether
the sponsor would consider a longer term for faculty regents
than the current two-year proposal, which matches the student
regent term.
4:28:56 PM
MR. HAYES said he would share the suggestion with the bill
sponsor.
4:29:04 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked a procedural question regarding the
appointment process, noting that the bill places limitations on
whom the governor may appoint. He questioned whether a person
could hold tenure at more than one major academic unit (MAU) and
potentially fill two slots.
4:29:43 PM
MR. HAYES stated his belief that under the current University of
Alaska system, a faculty member cannot hold tenure at more than
one campus.
SENATOR STEVENS stated that tenure is tenure throughout the UA
system.
4:30:10 PM
MR. HAYES deferred the question.
4:30:24 PM
JENNIFER CARROLL, Chair, Faculty Alliance, University of Alaska
Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, answered questions on SB 118. She
said no, a professor cannot have tenure at more than one of the
universities as they are separately accredited. She stated her
belief that affiliation is possible, but tenure rests at the
university of main employment.
4:31:09 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced invited testimony on SB 118.
4:31:30 PM
ANDREA DEWEES, Associate Professor, University of Alaska
Southeast, Juneau, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 118.
She stated that she is a professor, an alumna of the University
of Alaska (UA) system, and an elected vice president of United
Academics, the faculty union. She emphasized her deep roots in
Alaska and her long-standing role at the University of Alaska
Southeast (UAS) since 2012. She strongly supported the idea of
adding a faculty regent to the Board of Regents, asserting that
faculty perspectives are essential to informed decision-making,
especially given the unique challenges faced during the pandemic
and budget cuts from 20192020.
4:32:19 PM
MS. DEWEES explained that faculty have critical insights into
teaching, research, accreditation, and broader educational
trends, and that their active involvement in university and
community life would benefit board deliberations. She noted that
faculty consistently put students first, often prioritizing
student needs over their own. She supported the inclusion of a
faculty regent alongside the student regent to strengthen shared
governance and provide timely, expert input.
MS. DEWEES acknowledged some concerns raised by colleagues
regarding the impact of serving as a regent on their teaching
and research responsibilities. She suggested that a two-year
term, as proposed, could help balance those demands and allow
for equitable rotation among campuses.
4:34:51 PM
SENATOR STEVENS questioned the standards required for current
Regents appointed by the governor, recalling at least one
instance where an appointee had no university background or
understanding of how a university operates. He emphasized the
value of having someone from within the university system serve
on the board, noting that a faculty regent would be just one
voice among many, not a dominant influence. He asked for
clarification on whether there are any formal requirements for
board membership, such as being a college graduate or having
academic experience.
4:35:34 PM
MR. HAYES confirmed that there are no formal qualifications
required to serve as a regent. He stated that appointments are
made at the governor's discretion and must be confirmed by the
legislature.
4:36:05 PM
JENNIFER CARROLL, Chair Faculty Alliance, University of Alaska
Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 118
and answered questions. She said she is an Associate Professor
of Rural Development in the Department of Alaska Native Studies
and World Development at the University of Alaska Southeast.
4:40:18 PM
MS. CARROL stated that faculty from all three universities have
supported the faculty regent proposal for some time. She focused
her testimony on her experience as Chair of the Faculty
Alliance, the system-level body for faculty shared governance
composed of faculty senate leadership from each university. As
Chair, she has attended all public Board of Regents meetings and
committee meetings this academic year and raised two key points:
the need for consistent input on academics, and the distinction
between shared governance and the role of a faculty regent.
MS. CARROL explained that while her relationship with the board
has been constructive, her input as Alliance Chair is limited to
after-the-fact consultation, which she described as
"consultation theater" rather than true collaboration. She
frequently had to prompt the board to consider educational
issues and the role of faculty in policy decisions. She cited
the board's recent work with consultants on a systemwide
attainment framework that failed to incorporate faculty input or
address the core role of education.
MS. CARROL emphasized that the Alliance Chair represents both
faculty governance and academics, but a faculty regent would
focus solely on educational policy and bring that perspective
earlier into board discussions. She also highlighted the issue
of continuity, noting that the Alliance Chair rotates annually,
which limits relationship-building with board members. A two-
year term for a faculty regent, as proposed, would strengthen
long-term engagement. She concluded by expressing strong support
for the bill and thanked the committee for considering it.
4:41:34 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked what exactly does shared governance govern
within the university system.
MS. CARROL explained that each university has a Faculty Senate
with formal bylaws and a structured governance process. Faculty
senators are elected from their respective academic units, and
each senate includes leadership roles such as president,
president-elect, and past president, as well as committees. She
described the process as organized and deliberative, similar to
legislative procedure, where issues are discussed in committees
and brought forward as motions for vote.
MS. CARROL noted that some decisions require administrative
approval, and others may be elevated to the Faculty Alliance,
which represents systemwide faculty interests. The Alliance
addresses a wide range of issues, including academics and topics
like graduate student funding. She emphasized that the Alliance
Chair must consider all constituent perspectives, which can
limit the ability to speak freely as an individual faculty
member. She clarified that the Alliance Chair role is not
designed to be a speaking participant in board deliberations,
often limited to providing brief reports and speaking only when
invited, which differs significantly from the role envisioned
for a faculty regent.
4:44:33 PM
SENATOR KIEHL stated that he needed a more basic explanation of
what shared governance actually governs. He acknowledged that
the earlier description focused on processes and committees, but
he was looking for a clearer understanding of the substancewhat
decisions or areas are actually covered by shared governance. He
noted that faculty involvement in both shared governance and the
proposed faculty regent role could be seen cynically as seeking
"two bites at the apple," and admitted he lacked sufficient
understanding to assess that critique.
4:45:30 PM
MS. CARROL explained that at many universities, faculty hold
primary responsibility over academic matters, especially
curriculum and curricular processes. Faculty governance
typically controls how academic programs are developed,
reviewed, and maintained. In other areas, such as advising
policies, there is shared responsibility with administration.
Some issues, like parking policies, fall entirely under
administrative control, with faculty input limited to
recommendations or resolutions.
MS. CARROL disagreed with the idea that having both shared
governance and a faculty regent amounts to "two bites at the
apple." She clarified that the Faculty Alliance Chair attends
Board of Regents meetings to provide updates and limited input,
often after decisions have already been made. In contrast, a
faculty regent would serve as a full board member and offer a
deeper, ongoing academic perspectiveparticularly on curriculum,
educational quality, and the faculty-student relationship. She
emphasized that while both roles may touch on similar topics,
the scope and influence of each are fundamentally different.
4:48:16 PM
CHAIR TOBIN asked whether, based on current knowledge and
experience, there are any tenured, full-time faculty at the
University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), University of Alaska
Fairbanks (UAF), or University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) who do
not live near their associated campuses or who reside in
locations extremely far from them.
4:48:40 PM
MS. CARROL replied yes.
CHAIR TOBIN asked for examples.
4:48:49 PM
MS. CARROL requested clarification of "far from." She mentioned
a person living in Nome where there is a little campus.
SENATOR STEVENS mentioned there is a very small campus in
Dillingham.
CHAIR TOBIN asked whether the estimated $1,000 travel cost in
the fiscal note reflects the average travel expense for a
tenured faculty member, selected by the governor, to serve on
the Board of Regents and travel to each Board of Regents
meeting.
4:49:39 PM
MS. CARROL stated that the $1,000 average travel seemed
reasonable. She stated that although some tenured faculty live
in rural Alaska, they represent a small minority. She expected
most selected faculty would likely travel from Fairbanks,
Anchorage, or Juneau.
4:50:17 PM
CHAIR TOBIN asked Ms. McCall to explain the basis for the $1,000
travel cost assumption in the fiscal note. She acknowledged that
the figure was averaged across nine members but emphasized that
Board of Regents members can come from any location in Alaska.
She requested clarification on how that variability was factored
into the fiscal note's development.
4:50:58 PM
KATIE MCCALL, Government Relations Manager, University of
Alaska, Juneau, Alaska, offered an overview of the fiscal note
OMB 730 for SB 118, appropriation to the University of Alaska.
She stated that the estimated fiscal impact to the university
from SB 118 is a $4,000 annual increase in travel costs due to
the addition of a 12th member to the Board of Regents. She
explained that the cost estimate, shown on page one of the
fiscal note, uses unrestricted general funds (UGF) starting in
FY 26 and continuing annually. The $1,000 per-meeting estimate
is based on four regular meetings held in February, May,
September, and November, with the assumption that not all
regents travel to every meeting. She noted that in FY 24, the
total board travel cost was $36,000, which was divided by nine
members to estimate the $4,000 annual increase; regents receive
no compensation, but they are reimbursed for per diem and
travel.
4:53:19 PM
CHAIR TOBIN noted time constraints but stated she would follow
up later. She expressed interest in understanding where current
regents are flying from. She questioned whether using only one
year of data provides an accurate reflection of average travel
costs, given the varying locations of regents.
MS.MCCALL said she would be happy to follow up.
4:53:45 PM
CHAIR TOBIN opened public testimony on SB 118; finding none, she
closed public testimony.
4:54:12 PM
CHAIR TOBIN held SB 118 in committee.