Legislature(2001 - 2002)
03/08/2001 03:45 PM House EDU
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
JOINT MEETING
HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES
STANDING COMMITTEE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
March 8, 2001
3:45 p.m.
HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Fred Dyson, Chair
Representative Peggy Wilson, Vice Chair
Representative John Coghill
Representative Gary Stevens
Representative Vic Kohring
Representative Sharon Cissna
HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Reggie Joule
EDUCATION MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Con Bunde
Representative Brian Porter
Representative Gary Stevens
Representative Peggy Wilson
EDUCATION MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Reggie Joule
Representative Gretchen Guess
Representative Joe Green
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Confirmation Hearing:
University of Alaska Board of Regents
Kevin Meyers, Ph.D. - Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
PREVIOUS ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
KEVIN MEYERS, Ph.D., Appointee
to the University of Alaska Board of Regents
Phillips Alaska, Inc
PO Box 100360
Anchorage, Alaska 99510
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the University of
Alaska Board of Regents
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 01-25, SIDE A [House HESS tape]
Number 0001
CHAIR FRED DYSON called the joint meeting between the House
Health, Education & Social Services Standing Committee and the
House Special Committee on Education to order at 3:45 p.m.
Present at the call to order from the House Health, Education
and Social Services Standing Committee were Representatives
Dyson, Wilson, Coghill, Stevens, Cissna, and Kohring. Members
present from the House Special Committee on Education were
Representatives Bunde, Porter, Stevens, and Wilson. [The minutes
for HB 43 and HB 112 are found in the 3:02 p.m. minutes for the
same date. The coversheet for the Helping Kids Succeed/AK
Initiative for Community Engagement overview are found in the
4:40 p.m. coversheet for the same date.]
CONFIRMATION HEARING
University of Alaska Board of Regents
CHAIR DYSON announced that the committees would consider the
confirmation of Kevin Meyers, Ph.D. to the University of Alaska
Board of Regents.
Number 0054
KEVIN MEYERS, Ph.D., Appointee to the University of Alaska Board
of Regents testified via teleconference. He stated that it is
an honor to serve on the University Alaska Board of Regents, and
that his interest stems from his belief that education is the
key to both personal development and the development of
[Alaska]. He said the university system plays a large roll in
terms of helping the state develop and solving challenges. He
expressed that being on the Board of Regents, he feels he'll be
able to make some contribution to that goal.
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE asked Dr. Meyers where he sees the
university going in the short term - 3 to 5 years, and in the
long term - 10 to 15 years.
DR. MEYERS replied that his short-term goal is to develop a way
to capture more of the graduating [high school] seniors. He
stated that most high school seniors choose to attend college
within a few hundred miles of their hometown. He stated that he
thinks, right now, [Alaska] continues to lose quite a few high
school students to universities Outside. He said his concern is
that once those students leave, they have the propensity not to
return.
Number 0326
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS asked whether Dr. Meyers had any comments
on where the university should be going in terms of research.
DR. MEYERS answered that he was surprised as to how much of a
research institute [the university] is, especially [the
University of Alaska] Fairbanks. He stated that he thinks it is
necessary to build on [existing] programs. He remarked that
[Alaska] is at an advantage with its unique offering to the
world. What distinguishes Alaska is the Arctic, the marine
fisheries, and the forestry. He remarked that it is necessary
to look at the specialty of a region or the people attracted to
a university. He stated that [the University of Alaska] can
offer the world an opportunity to learn from what is done here.
Number 0467
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA remarked that she thinks the diversity of
the people distinguishes Alaska in a wonderful way. She asked
Dr. Meyers if he has thought of how the university can better
serve and augment that strength.
DR. MEYERS responded that he hasn't given any particular thought
to that, but that he agrees it is one of the resources [the
university] needs to make the most of.
CHAIR DYSON asked Dr. Meyers if he has thought of how to deliver
secondary education to the rural communities in Alaska.
DR. MEYERS answered that this is always a challenge in a state
as geographically diverse as [Alaska]. He stated that he thinks
it is hard to beat the first-hand presence of teachers in the
classroom; yet, in order to provide the diversity of the skills
and technology that are important to compete in current society,
there needs to be a way to provide better "distance learning."
He remarked that it is necessary to make use of technology and
the growing bandwidth so as to have almost the look and feel of
being in the classroom.
Number 0631
REPRESENTATIVE PORTER made a motion to move the nomination of
Kevin Meyers to the University of Alaska Board of Regents
forward to the full bodies for consideration. There being no
objection, the confirmation of Kevin Meyers was advanced from
the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing
Committee and the House Special Committee on Education.
Number 0650
CHAIR DYSON adjourned the joint meeting of the House Health,
Education and Social Services Standing Committee and the House
Special Committee on Education. He then called for an at-ease
at 3:55 p.m. in order to reconvene hearings on legislation
before the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing
Committee. [The minutes for HB 43 and HB 112 are found in the
3:02 p.m. minutes for the same date.]
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