Legislature(2015 - 2016)BUTROVICH 205
03/24/2015 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearings: University of Alaska Board of Regents | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
March 24, 2015
3:31 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Mike Dunleavy, Chair
Senator Charlie Huggins, Vice Chair
Senator Cathy Giessel
Senator Gary Stevens
Senator Berta Gardner
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS
University of Alaska Board of Regents
Sheri Buretta
John Davies
Lisa Parker
Andrew Teuber
- CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
ANDREW TEUBER, Chair and President
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and
President and CEO
Kodiak Native Association
Kodiak, Alaska,
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the University
of Alaska Board of Regents.
SHERI BURETTA, Chair
Chugach Alaska Corporation
Eagle River, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the University
of Alaska Board of Regents.
JOHN DAVIES, Member
Fairbanks Assembly
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the University
of Alaska Board of Regents.
LISA PARKER, External Affairs and Government Relations Manager
Apache Corporation
Soldotna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the University
of Alaska Board of Regents.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:31:44 PM
CHAIR MIKE DUNLEAVY called the Senate Education Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:31 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Huggins, Gardner, Stevens, and Chair
Dunleavy.
^CONFIRMATION HEARINGS: University of Alaska Board of Regents
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS:
University of Alaska Board of Regents
Sheri Buretta
John Davis
Lisa Parker
Andrew Teuber
3:32:16 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced the University of Alaska Board of
Regents confirmation hearings.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY noted that the Senate Education Committee reviews
the nominees and recommends their appointments to the University
of Alaska Board of Regents. The nominees are not decided in this
committee, but are forwarded to joint session for confirmation.
He announced the arrival of Senator Giessel.
3:33:08 PM
ANDREW TEUBER, Chair and President, Alaska Native Tribal Health
Consortium, President and CEO, Kodiak Areas Native Association,
testified as an appointee to the University of Alaska Board of
Regents. He shared his personal background and professional
history. He said that his reasons for wanting to serve on the
Board of Regents are that, as a parent and citizen of the state,
he looks forward to giving back and finding solutions to
difficult challenges that lie before the state. He maintained
that education and the work that the University System does, and
the opportunities it creates for Alaskans, is of vital
importance.
SENATOR STEVENS voiced concern about regionalizing the Board of
Regents so that designees only represent their regions.
MR. TEUBER said he shares the same concerns about politicizing
the appointments. He opined that it would be to the detriment of
the system to regionalize the board. The board should be made up
of the best individuals, regardless of where they reside.
3:37:16 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked how Mr. Teuber received his appointment.
MR. TEUBER said he sought the appointment because he would like
to see more educational opportunities for Alaskans and to
improve access to post-secondary education. He spoke as a father
of three in the hopes that his children achieve their goals and
that the UA System is an option.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if Mr. Teuber has an MBA from the
University of Washington.
MR. TEUBER said yes.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked about short-term educational issues to
focus on the next three years.
MR. TEUBER replied that he did not anticipate today's economic
status. He said he would draw on his experience in Tribal Health
to find ways to maximize resources to achieve the university's
mission. He would seek more economic opportunities, such as
distance delivery of education. Another issue would be to
develop a work force for the future.
3:41:53 PM
SENATOR STEVENS referred to administrative overhead reports
which have not been implemented. They concern the growth and
cost of university administration. He asked if Mr. Teuber has
ideas about fixes for administrative costs.
MR. TEUBER said he recognizes that the overhead has to be
reigned-in and made accountable. He said he has been briefed on
the MacTaggart-Rogers and Fisher Reports and is looking at ways
to streamline and improve the efficiencies of the statewide
administrative functions. He said ensuring that the state is
getting their money's worth is important, but so is ensuring
that the university has quality leaders.
3:44:01 PM
SENATOR STEVENS hoped Mr. Teuber would keep the MacTaggart
Report and Fisher Report in mind.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY related that the hearing is conducted in
accordance with AS 39.05.080 for the purpose of reviewing
appointments. The committee will be sending these names forward
for consideration of the full legislature sitting in joint
session. At that time legislators vote to support or oppose any
individual appointee. The process today is an opportunity to
hear from and ask questions of the four nominees.
3:45:06 PM
SHERI BURETTA, Chair, Chugach Alaska Corporation, testified as
an appointee to the University of Alaska Board of Regents. She
shared her background and professional experience. She stated
that the reason she wants to serve on the Board of Regents is
because the people in the Chugach Region have greatly benefitted
by the university system. There have been only two amendments to
an agreement and one was for education. The Corporation has
invested in education and the university. She compared the
Corporation's restructuring to the university's restructuring.
She spoke of her experience in the process of restructuring.
3:50:08 PM
SENATOR STEVENS noted a problem of lack of home-grown teachers.
He asked what the university can do to help fill that gap.
MS. BURETTA spoke of challenges and bureaucracy that prevent
teachers from going back to their villages. She shared examples
of bringing programs into the villages, such as ANSEP.
3:51:47 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS noted a letter of recommendation for Ms.
Buretta. He asked to what Ms. Buretta owes her educational
success.
MS. BURETTA shared her educational history and the fact that she
had to work to get to go to the university where she discovered
a new world. She spoke of the value of on-the-job training. She
suggested partnering and investing with the university. She
concluded that education means control over one's own destiny.
3:54:59 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS mentioned problems in rural education and asked
for a couple of solutions.
MS. BURETTA said one of the dilemmas is drugs and alcohol. The
way out of that is to create economic opportunities. Chugach has
also established a mechanism for mentoring students.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked about Mt. Edgcumbe.
MS. BURETTA said her mother graduated from there and found
success there.
3:58:25 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS asked for two wishes for education.
MS. BURETTA said good telecommunications and good teachers.
SENATOR GIESSEL thanked Ms. Buretta for applying for the board.
She asked how doctoral programs can be made affordable. She
asked about the WWAMI Program and said the university is looking
at removing that funding. She asked how the university can meet
those program needs.
MS. BURETTA spoke of Chugach's scholarship program as a means of
funding upper-level programs. Due to funding constraints, the
upper level scholarships were no longer subsidized at 100
percent, and became competitive. Also, there is the possibility
of setting the terms of the scholarship to benefit the state by
requiring service in order to reduce the amount owed.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY thanked Ms. Buretta.
4:02:55 PM
JOHN DAVIES, Member, Fairbanks Assembly, testified as an
appointee to the University of Alaska Board of Regents. He
shared his educational and professional background. He noted he
has a broad history of public service. He said the university is
very important to people in many ways and is an economic engine
to the state. He said it is also culturally important.
He said he applied to be on the Board in order to give back to
Alaska.
4:06:26 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked what Mr. Davies learned during the
legislature that will serve him on the State Board.
MR. DAVIES shared that his experience on the finance committee
in the legislature and working on the Fairbanks Assembly budget
provided a good background for budget work. He learned that a
person can get a lot done if they don't care who gets the
credit. The key is to respect everyone as an individual and
focus on the issues, not the person.
4:08:53 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS asked about the land grant proposal regarding
the university.
MR. DAVIES said during the time of the land grant proposal, the
available land was not very valuable.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked if he would support land grants if they
were valuable.
MR. DAVIES said yes. He likes President Gamble's proposal.
Governor Egan saw land grants as a dedication of funds and
believed that the legislature should make the decision. He said
he would support land grants if they were for dedicated
projects.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked about compensation for leadership and the
cost of tuition.
MR. DAVIES say there is little correlation between the two, but
there was a perception of there being an issue. The timing was
not good. It was the right decision to not accept an increase in
the president's salary. He maintained that there is a
competitive marketplace when hiring good administrators and the
university should pay a competitive rate.
4:14:40 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS asked why Mr. Davies is a nominee.
MR. DAVIES said he applied for the position. He has had an
interest for a while and has been associated with the university
for many years.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked about two things that would move the
university forward.
MR. DAVIES said one would be to figure out the solution to the
budget crisis in a way that does not destroy the quality of
education. He said he would also focus on teacher training,
especially for teachers of rural Alaska, using research to do
so.
4:18:35 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked what Mr. Davies thinks about ANSEP.
MR. DAVIES said it is a great program.
4:18:53 PM
LISA PARKER, External Affairs and Government Relations Manager,
Apache Corporation, testified as an appointee to the University
of Alaska Board of Regents. She shared her public involvement in
Alaska, professional career, and education. She described that
she wants to serve on the Board of Regents because she wants to
work to continue to develop a university that tracks the best.
She said she feels she provides a beneficial perspective for the
critical years ahead. The university can be key to helping
Alaska during these challenging times.
4:22:17 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked about the value of the research arm of the
university.
MS. PARKER said she supports research because it highlights
Alaska and provides assistance and problem solving to
corporations. She thought it would be particularly important in
the Arctic.
4:24:35 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS asked about the site of the coal gasification
research listed on Ms. Parker's resume.
MS. PARKER said it was for Kenai's nitrogen operation. The plan
was to take coal from Usibelli, transport it by rail to Port
MacKenzie or to the Port of Anchorage, and then to Kenai to
create a value-added product.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked about the challenges to the new power
plant for UAF.
MS. PARKER said the issue came up during the February meeting
regarding the upgrades. Coal is the main source of fuel. It
remains a challenge.
4:26:43 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS asked why Ms. Parker has key qualities for the
board.
MS. PARKER answered she has a love for Alaska and dedication to
doing a good job. She added that she has a balanced perspective
from all of her experience.
4:28:12 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL pointed out the board's role is fiduciary. She
reiterated her concerns with the WWAMI program's losing funding
and tuition increases. She asked what fiduciary role Ms. Parker
would play.
MS. PARKER said she would not encourage adding new programs and
would work to collaborate to decrease programs. She thought
WWAMI was a critical program to Alaska. She noted her experience
as a business owner and the skills she has to solve the
university's financial problems.
4:31:46 PM
SENATOR STEVENS noted Ms. Parker came from a historical Alaskan
family and asked for her family history.
MS. PARKER related that her family history in Alaska goes back
to when her great-great-grandfather helped build Nome and her
grandfather was Mayor of Hollis. Her father attended the
University of Alaska - Fairbanks in 1947. She said her personal
involvement in politics goes back to when she babysat for a
legislator. She noted her parents were wonderful role models.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY thanked Ms. Parker.
He said in accordance with AS 14.41.50 the Senate Education
Standing Committee reviewed the following and recommends their
appointments be forwarded to a joint session for consideration
to the University of Alaska Board of Regents: Sheri Buretta,
John Davies, Lisa Parker, and Andrew Teuber. This does not
reflect the intent by any members to vote for or against the
confirmation of the individuals during any further sessions.
There being no objection, it was so ordered.
SENATOR GARDNER commented that there is a letter from the UA
Faculty and Staff Association requesting that the legislature
vet the candidates for a variety of things. She opined that the
Governor has done a wonderful job with these four appointments
and the state will be well-served by them all.
4:35:13 PM
There being nothing further to come before the committee, Chair
Dunleavy adjourned the Senate Education Standing Committee at
4:35 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Regents - Buretta #2.pdf |
SEDC 3/24/2015 3:30:00 PM |
|
| Regents - Davies #2.pdf |
SEDC 3/24/2015 3:30:00 PM |
|
| Regents - Parker #2.pdf |
SEDC 3/24/2015 3:30:00 PM |
|
| Regents - Teuber #2.pdf |
SEDC 3/24/2015 3:30:00 PM |