Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/20/2024 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
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| Start | |
| Presentation: R1 Status | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
February 20, 2024
3:31 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Scott Kawasaki, Chair
Senator Matt Claman, Vice Chair
Senator Jesse Bjorkman
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Senator Kelly Merrick
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION: R1 STATUS
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
ANUPMA PRAKASH, Provost, Executive Vice Chancellor
Office of the Provost
University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented an overview of R1 status by
invitation.
JESSICA BLACK, Associate Vice Chancellor
College of Rural and Community and Development
University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Offered testimony on R1 status for UAF.
DARREN TAN, Graduate Student
University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on R1 status for
UAF.
RACHEL NEUBUHR TORRES, Graduate Student
University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on Achieving R1
Status at UAF and Its Value to the State of Alaska.
CARTER FREYMILLER, Graduate Student
University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on Achieving R1
Status at UAF and Its Value to the State of Alaska.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:31:26 PM
CHAIR SCOTT KAWASAKI called the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:31 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Bjorkman, Wielechowski, Merrick, Claman and
Chair Kawasaki. Senators Claman and Bjorkman arrived thereafter.
^Presentation: R1 Status
PRESENTATION: R1 STATUS
3:32:07 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced the consideration of a presentation on
R1 status.
3:33:09 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN joined the meeting.
3:34:00 PM
ANUPMA PRAKASH, Provost, Executive Vice Chancellor, University
of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), Fairbanks, Alaska, presented an
overview of the R1 status. She thanked the committee for the
opportunity to present UAF's proposal to become an R1 university
to drive Alaska's economy. She expressed that her family
relocated to Alaska to experience the research opportunities at
UAF. The university has a large satellite antenna that downloads
data for mapping resource exploration and other applications
that serve the community.
3:36:24 PM
MS. PRAKASH moved to slide 2 and defined R1 status:
[Original punctuation provided.]
What is R1 status?
• The Carnegie Classification is a national
framework for categorizing U.S. doctoral
universities into one of three categories
o R1 is the very high research activity (4
percent)
o R2 is high research activity (7 percent)
o Doctoral/professional universities
• UAF has consistently ranked as R2 and is striving
for R1
• Evaluation every ~3 years ? Next evaluations
released in 2025 & 2028 (based on FY24-FY26 data)
MS. PRAKASH stated UAF has been consistently in the top seven
percent bracket for research and is making the move to become a
top-tier R1 university. She said the Carnegie classification was
developed in the early 1970s and was picked up by U.S. News &
World Report. The rankings advertise and categorize universities
every three years.
3:38:22 PM
MS. PRAKASH moved to slide 3 and explained the benefits of R1
status:
[Original punctuation provided.]
R1 status benefits
• Provides global recognition of research
o Attracts globally competitive faculty, staff
& students
o Increases student enrollment
o Enhances competitiveness for new funding
opportunities
o Economic benefits across the state
MS. PRAKASH added that these benefits are important to drive
university enrollment, attract talent in Alaska, and foster
skill development among residents. She emphasized that achieving
R1 status not only enhances competitiveness and unlocks new
funding avenues but also elevates the research profile of each
university in the state, addressing statewide needs. Prospective
investors are drawn to educational institutions that demonstrate
success. She mentioned there are also statewide economic
benefits.
3:40:21 PM
MS. PRAKASH moved to slide 4 and explained R1 impacts at
universities in the lower 48:
[Original punctuation provided.]
R1 impacts at other universities
• The University of Colorado Boulder estimated R1
research activity produced $1.2 billion in state
economic activity
• Old Dominion University doubled research
expenditures while pursuing R1
• The University of Maine saw all-time highs in
enrollment and research expenditures while
pursuing R1 status
MS. PRAKASH added that investments in research at the University
of Colorado drove other research revenues, infrastructure, and
other industries.
3:41:48 PM
MS. PRAKASH moved to slide 5 and spoke to Carnegie R1 metrics:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Updated Carnegie R1 metrics
- $50 million in research expenditures
- 70 Ph.D.s conferred per year (3-year rolling
average)
MS. PRAKASH said Carnegie previously utilized a complex metrics
system featuring seven criteria and compared universities to one
another, akin to grading on a curve. Determining a university's
classification within this system posed challenges. Last
November, Carnegie revised its classification metrics to an
absolute classification system based on two simple criteria. To
classify as R1, a university must exceed $50 million in annual
research spending and graduate over 70 Ph.D. students annually.
This is calculated as a three-year average, meaning 210 students
must graduate within that timeframe to meet the metric. The new
system provides clarity since the targets are clearly defined
and is an achievable target for UAF.
3:43:39 PM
MS. PRAKASH moved to slide 6 and discussed a graph that
illustrates UAF's strengths and weaknesses in achieving R1
status. She said UAF's upward trend indicates a vibrant research
enterprise. According to Carnegie's criteria for R1 status, the
threshold for research expenditures is $50 million. UAF
consistently exceeds this criteria for R1 status. The metrics on
the right show UAF's objective to reach more than 70 Ph.D.
students per year or 210 over a three-year period. She suggested
that while a leap is necessary, it is doable. UAF's qualifying
years for R1 status are FY 24-26. She expressed confidence that
enough students would graduate to meet the expected milestone by
2026, facilitated by a one-time infusion of $20 million from the
state.
3:46:04 PM
MS. PRAKASH moved to slide 6 and described the path to reaching
R1 status:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Path to reaching R1 Ph.D. target
Paths include:
• Provide financial support for Ph.D. students in
need
• Reduce barriers for existing Ph.D. students
• Transitioning interested students from master to
Ph.D. programs
• Accelerate Ph.D. completion where feasible
MS. PRAKASH noted that many Ph.D. students require multiple
years to complete their program, often due to the need to
balance education with employment demands. There is a strong
pipeline of Ph.D. students in the pool, so it is important to
ensure support is provided to enable timely graduation and meet
R1 metrics. She noted the university is working to reducing
barriers for their students. One form of support could involve
writing assistance. She also mentioned that due to funding
constraints, some students who were interested in a Ph.D.
program were enrolled in a master's program. These students will
be transitioned to Ph.D. programs and graduating within the 3-
year window.
3:47:55 PM
MS. PRAKASH moved to slide 7 and said planning for R1 began in
2018 with ongoing efforts each year to accelerate progress.
However, due to Carnegie's change in metrics and the limited
timeline, it is important to act quickly to meet the FY 24-26
window for R1 status.
3:48:32 PM
MS. PRAKASH moved to slide 8 and listed ongoing R1 work efforts:
[Original punctuation provided.]
R1 groups and ongoing work:
• Track R1-relevant metrics for economic benefits
to Alaska
• Incentivize multidisciplinary research themes and
networks
• Strengthen Ph.D. programs
• Expand competitive Ph.D. fellowships
• Support faculty mentorship of early career
researchers
• Recruit and retain excellent faculty
• Recruit competitive Ph.D. students and promote
UAF research
• Increase accessibility to UAF research
• Provide resource support for R1 initiatives
MS. PRAKASH mentioned there are about 70 faculty, staff, and
students working on different aspects of the R1 efforts.
3:49:33 PM
MS. PRAKASH briefly moved to slide 9 that shows a photo of
Steering Committee members.
3:49:51 PM
MS. PRAKASH moved to slide 10 and detailed the funding request:
[Original punctuation provided.]
$20M requested to achieve R1 status
• $13 million in graduate student fellowships
• $4.8 million in faculty mentorship incentives
• $2 million in staff & technology support
• $0.2 million for promotion, marketing &
recruitment
MS. PRAKASH highlighted that it is especially important for
faculty to work through the summer so graduate students can take
complete their research. She noted that the graduate school must
offer additional supports for students.
3:51:02 PM
MS. PRAKASH moved to slide 11 and gave examples of how Ph.D.
fellowship and faculty incentives would benefit Alaska:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Ph.D. fellowships & faculty incentives will benefit
Alaska
Examples
• Mitigating impacts of natural hazards
• Retaining and advancing Alaska Native languages
and Indigenous ways of knowing
• Improving the health of Alaskans and our
environment
• Enhancing Alaska's food security
• Developing energy solutions, infrastructure and
technology advancements
MS. PRAKASH added that a substantial amount of research done at
UAF directly impacts Alaska and benefits every part of the
state.
3:52:17 PM
MS. PRAKASH moved to slide 12:
[Original punctuation provided.]
R1 prestige will make UAF more competitive
• Development of thematic research networks will
unite multidisciplinary research talent to
develop innovative research to address issues
important to Alaskans
• Enhanced reputation as an R1 leads to increased
competitiveness for federal and private grant
funding
MS. PRAKASH said it is important for Alaska to enhance,
maintain, and bring more talent to the state, which is made
possible through the R1 initiative. She noted that R1 networks
facilitate collaboration among experts from different areas and
help drive innovative solutions.
3:53:52 PM
MS. PRAKASH moved to slide 13:
[Original punctuation provided.]
R1 helps entice and retain talent in Alaska
• Increased opportunities attract more students
• College-age students more likely to stay in
Alaska
• Contributes to Alaska's economic future
MS. PRAKASH expressed excitement and confidence in achieving
UAF's metric goals with the legislature's support.
3:54:45 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI acknowledged he would not be here today without
his connections to UAF and stated it is an important economic
driver. He asked for a sense of research competition in other
parts of the world.
3:55:49 PM
MS. PRAKASH replied when people have the choice to select an
educational institution worldwide, it is essential to have a
filter and mechanism to determine the best option. She expressed
the importance of maintaining a system to rank each option. U.S.
News & World Report adopted the Carnegie classification system
based on its trust of the rigorous classification process. U.S.
news directly maps the Carnegie classification into doctoral
university classifications and R1 is associated with Tier 1. She
opined that parents desire to invest in their children attending
top universities. Researchers with guaranteed resources can
effectively contribute back to society.
3:57:20 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN stated education not only ensures a high-quality
education, but also provides resources for successful research
endeavors. Today's students want to give back to society through
their research. He asked where in the state budget does the $20
million funding request reside.
3:57:37 PM
MS. PRAKASH replied that half of the total funding sits in the
capital request. Although other determinations have not been
made, the R1 initiative is assured $20 million.
3:57:59 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN asked whether the university is seeking the
additional $10 million from the current fiscal year or if funds
are split between two fiscal years.
3:58:10 PM
MS. PRAKASH replied that there is a small window of time for UAF
to reach the R1 status by FY26. $20 million is needed.
3:58:45 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN noted he is a graduate from the University of
Texas and saw firsthand its commitment to continual investment
in R1. He said he supports UAF's efforts.
3:59:09 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if she expects more universities to
qualify for R1 in light of the change to Carnegie's metric
system.
3:59:31 PM
MS. PRAKASH replied that UAF is closely following the metrics.
She stated her belief that while the metrics simplify the
criteria and bring clarity to a complex system, it does not
necessarily elevate universities into R1 status. She stated she
anticipates the number of R1 and R2 universities will remain
stable. However, some universities may shift from R2 to R1 and
R1 to R2 due to the changes.
4:00:34 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI inquired about other supports graduate
students might need beyond funding to complete their degree.
4:00:48 PM
MS. PRAKASH replied UAF seeks a one-time infusion of funding to
become an R1 institution. She said the university anticipates
growth in its vibrant research portfolio. Growth in research
brings external dollars to the institution.
4:01:25 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI asked about the competitive nature of R1
institutions. He said there was a significant $80 million dollar
cut to Unrestricted General Funds (UGF) during the governor's
first administration. There was no cut to Designated General
Funds (DGF). Former President Mark Hamilton stated this action
set the university back ten years since researchers opted to
pursue other opportunities. He asked if university
administrators are upholding the signed agreement.
4:02:46 PM
MS. PRAKASH acknowledged it has been tough to navigate the
situation. She stated there are many world class researchers and
high performers who have kept the university and research
revenues on an upward trajectory. The university's success in
largely due to the strength of the research enterprise. However,
continued success requires an influx of state funding along with
the research grants to meet the Carnegie metrics.
4:05:04 PM
JESSICA BLACK, Associate Vice Chancellor, College of Rural and
Community Development, University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF),
Fairbanks, Alaska, said she serves as Chair for the R1 Committee
on multi-disciplinary research and has been periodically
involved at UAF since 2005. She said when she chose to pursue a
doctorate degree in 2009, she chose Washington University in
Missouri because it demonstrated success in research
methodologies, preparation for an academic position, and could
provide some financial support. Prior to her role as Associate
Vice Chancellor, she sought to provide students with the same
graduate education opportunities including financial support,
mentorship experiences, and attainment of their goals so they
could give back to their communities through employment,
experiences, and mentorship for others. She emphasized that UAF
achieving R1 status would allow her to continue mentoring others
and would ensure students could achieve their educational goals.
She mentioned that growing up in a small town, her family and
most of the community had limited opportunities. The financial
support she received to achieve her Ph.D. helped her realize her
goals, and she hopes the same for other students.
4:09:03 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI asked what other benefits influenced her decision
to attend Washington University.
4:09:21 PM
MS. BLACK replied that knowing the university had R1 status, she
was confident it had the financial means to support her through
her program. She highlighted the university's strength in
methodology, mentor opportunities, and a student body with other
American Indian students.
4:10:17 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI asked what else could the university do to
achieve R1 status for instance, could it grow its Alaska Native
language and Indigenous ways and if the Alaskan Native and
Indigenous Languages program has room for growth.
4:10:49 PM
MS. BLACK replied that the College of Rural and Community
Development oversees the Indigenous Studies Ph.D. program. She
stated she has sat on the review committee in the past. Although
many students applied, the capacity for mentorship was limited.
Mentoring and financial assistance are major components to
acquiring a Ph.D. The Indigenous Languages program is growing in
interest among both Native and non-Native students in Alaska.
She said she is working on a grant to support students working
toward a master's in fisheries, which involves various
partnerships.
4:12:50 PM
At ease
4:13:10 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI reconvened the meeting and announced invited
testimony.
4:14:00 PM
DARREN TAN, Graduate Student, University of Alaska Fairbanks
(UAF), Fairbanks, Alaska, invited testimony for the R1
presentation, said he is a graduate student representative in
the R1 Steering Committee and has enjoyed his experience
pursuing R1 opportunities. He expressed his belief that R1 would
benefit both residents and the state. R1 would pin a globally
recognized reputation on the U.S. and enhance the value of UAF's
degree program. He stated his belief that UAF is an under-
recognized leader in Arctic research. The stellar research
produced by faculty, staff and students, as well as the rapport
graduate students experience drew him to UAF. UAF strengthened
his confidence in accepting its graduate program. UAF is overdue
in its recognition as a reputable institution. The R1 status
would achieve this and invite additional opportunities for
funding, talented faculty and staff, and inter-institutional
collaboration. The added variety of expertise and research
projects would further enable students to pursue innovative
research ideas in state-of-the art laboratories and receive
effective mentorship.
He said the journey to R1 entails investing in graduate students
by research assistantship and other means of financial support.
Graduate students understand there are limited funds and
acknowledge uncertainty in compensation during their early years
in graduate school. Guaranteed semester funding would eliminate
those concerns and grant students a sense of security to focus
on research, thereby boosting productivity and encouraging the
publication of impactful science findings about Alaska from
Alaska. He said he was fortunate to have four-to-five years of
guaranteed research assistantship funds upon enrollment. With R1
status, more students could share this sense of security, take
advantage of abundant research and career development
opportunities, and access a comprehensive support structure.
These measures would enhance the graduate student experience,
reduce barriers, and ensure timely Ph.D. progress. He conveyed
his belief that UAF attracts students who seek to tackle unique
problems in remote environments to advance science. Investing in
the university means investing in budding researchers in a
variety of fields who often have a direct impact on Alaska. He
stated he works on volcanic eruption forecasting to understand
aviation safety and associated hazards. Students could achieve
similar opportunities to advance environmental research or other
fields that are meaningful to the state.
4:19:26 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI asked if he considered other institutions that
offer volcano seismology in the U.S. and what the level of
competition level was like.
4:19:50 PM
MR. TAN replied he spoke with various leaders at the American
Geophysical Union Conference about graduate school
opportunities. He said existing UAF graduate students
demonstrated great rapport and a unified stance, so it became
his top choice.
4:21:13 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI asked if there are volcanos in Michigan.
4:21:18 PM
MR. TAN replied no. He said UAF has a strategic agreement with
the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and works with the Alaska
Volcano Observatory. While there are no volcanoes in Michigan,
researchers undertook a project on Mount St. Helens in the state
of Washington.
4:21:55 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI referenced the "Ring of Fire" and alluded that
Alaska is a promising state for volcano research.
4:23:00 PM
RACHEL NEUBUHR TORRES, Graduate Student, University of Alaska
Fairbanks (UAF), Fairbanks, Alaska, invited testimony for
Achieving R1 Status at UAF and Its Value to the State of Alaska.
4:23:33 PM
MS. TORRES moved to slide 2 and briefly introduced herself:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Introduction: Rachel L. Neubuhr Torres
• Anthropology PhD student and Teaching Assistant
• Research - Culture & Economics
o Historical ideas about the Arctic and
Circumpolar North
o Impacts of historical ideas on current
industries (tourism, resource extraction,
etc)
4:24:14 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI moved to slide 3 and introduced Mr. Freymiller:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Introduction: Carter Freymiller
• Wildlife Biology MS student Teaching Assistant &
Research Assistant
• Research - Golden Eagle biology
o Nesting & breeding seasons
o Ecological understanding of AK indicator
species
4:24:38 PM
CARTER FREYMILLER, Graduate Student, UAF, Fairbanks, Alaska,
said he found a passion for migratory birds and has worked in
wildlife conservation across the U.S. He stated he chose UAF to
live and work in subarctic ecosystems. As the world is rapidly
changing, he said he works to understand how these changes will
impact Alaskan Golden Eagles and their wintering behaviors. He
hopes to continue his Ph.D. program at UAF and study Alaska's
wildlife. He expressed hesitance due to the institution's
unsustainable compensation for graduate students in his
financial situation.
4:26:11 PM
MS. TORRES moved to slide 4 and spoke to research at UAF:
[Original punctuation provided.]
UAF Research & Graduate Students Benefit Alaska
• Grad student research at UAF - AK economy,
environment, culture, & health.
• R1 status = more federal funding & addressing
AK's greatest challenges.
• Many graduate students come from out of state
this includes engineers, biologists, geologists,
educators, fisheries specialists, biomedical
researchers, etc.
4:27:25 PM
MS. TORRES moved to slide 5 and spoke to the appeal of R1
status:
[Original punctuation provided.]
R1 Status and Graduate Students
• Graduate students enable the research for UAF to
reach R1 status.
• Graduate students perform essential work at UAF:
o teach/mentor undergraduates
o drive innovation in research
o help in securing grants
o expand capacity of faculty and research
staff
• Need for Graduate labor in these areas increases
substantially with R1
• Recruitment, retention, time to degree of PhD
students is essential for sustaining R1 status.
• Grad students, their wellbeing and positive
experience at UAF is essential in competing with
other universities.
4:29:12 PM
MS. TORRES moved to slide 6 and spoke to funding for graduate
workers:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Funding
• UAF must be able to provide competitive funding
packages to current and incoming students.
• To be competitive, funding for graduate workers
must be
o Stable (lasts for entire tenure of PhD
program)
o Sufficient (keeps up with higher CoL in AK)
o Inclusive (supports parents, visa holders)
o Risk-ready (accounts for extraordinary
costs, like healthcare)
4:30:13 PM
MS. TORRES moved to slide 7 and explained competition
challenges. She said UAF no longer holds a monopoly on Arctic
research. She stated that potential graduate students interested
in Arctic or polar research have access to a wide range of
education options. UAF's research organizations are not
competitive with those of other institutions. These are where
potential graduate students get significantly higher funding and
in turn may not choose to pursue external research program
opportunities. She listed the examples shown as school logos on
the slide. Competitive research institutes include:
1. The Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR),
University of Colorado Boulder
2. Polar Center, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
3. Institute of Arctic Studies, The John Sloan Dickey Center
for International Understanding at Dartmouth
4. Arctic Data Center, National Science Foundation (NSF)
5. Polar Science Center
6. University of Maine
4:31:24 PM
MS. TORRES moved to slide 8 and explained the importance of
maintaining R1 status:
[Original punctuation provided.]
R1 Beyond 2027
To compete with peer institutions for graduate worker
retention and recruitment, and maintain R1 status,
conditions and compensation packages must be improved
now.
4:32:06 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI asked what is considered competitive
4:32:43 PM
MS. TORRES replied that the current monthly stipend at UAF for
doctoral students is about $2,262 and the minimum is slightly
below $1,900. In comparison, she mentioned the National Science
Foundation (NSF) graduate research fellowship programs, which
offer a significantly higher monthly stipend of $3,083, along
with a $16,000 tuition package. The MIT living wage for
Fairbanks is over $4,000 dollars. This allocates on average 55
percent of a living wage to doctoral graduate workers. She
referenced research assistantships (RAs) and teaching
assistantships (TAs) at other universities where graduate
students receive higher monthly wages.
CHAIR KAWASAKI asked if anyone would like to comment on the
opportunities they faced before choosing UAF.
4:35:26 PM
MR. TAN replied there are push and pull factors in competition.
He expressed appreciation for the quality of science at UAF. A
competitive package also involves the number of years of
guaranteed funding, which strengthens confidence in the
decision-making process for prospective graduate students.
4:36:54 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI asked for clarification on the utilization of the
$20 million in funding over several years.
4:38:00 PM
MS. PRAKASH clarified that the $20 million request is a one-time
need to meet R1 metrics in the review cycle of the 2028 Carnegie
classification.
4:38:25 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI responded that is helpful. He asked Mr.
Freymiller to continue speaking to his decision to attend UAF.
4:38:54 PM
MR. FREYMILLER replied he obtained the opportunity to work with
the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) and secured two
years of funding to complete his degree. He added that Arctic
biology research at UAF is high-grade, and he wanted to be a
part of an institution that works the boundaries of academic and
wildlife ecology research. He expressed appreciation for the
community and conducive environment at the university.
4:40:29 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN opined that the university system and UAF
provide value to Alaska through research and excellent
opportunities. As the state considers research done at UAF, he
wondered about the level of community outreach to ensure the
research is relatable to Alaskans. He expressed interest in
hearing from Mr. Freymiller about his research findings.
However, he opined that some research focuses may be irrelevant
to Alaskans. He asked what mechanisms exist in the university
system that ensure all Alaskans benefit from its research.
4:42:25 PM
MS. PRAKASH replied UAF is a land, sea, and space grant
institute with a mission to ensure research reaches the public.
She said engaging and messaging people are critical in research.
She invited Ms. Black to speak to co-production of knowledge
with Indigenous knowledge from the community that is integrated
into research. The data observation networks are often done in
collaboration with communities. A lot of the work is done
collaboratively at the grassroots level. Research training
involves a Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) exercise to allow students
the opportunity to effectively translate their research findings
for the public.
4:44:31 PM
MS. BLACK conveyed her commitment to engage with Indigenous
communities and scientists from all backgrounds to ensure
research is relevant to Alaska. She said her college partners
with the International Arctic Research Center (IARC), which is
currently doing climate research in collaboration with
communities, to obtain and integrate feedback. The college
engages young people in high school through the Rural Alaska
Honor's Institute, which offers a six-week college preparatory
engagement that provides students with an opportunity to
experience a research track. She anticipates this could
translate into employment in the state.
4:47:03 PM
MR. TAN acknowledged the element of service that is infused into
research. He shared his approach of using data analysis tools
while considering longevity to better monitor volcanoes. Part of
the Ph.D. program involves writing lesson plans to educate
elementary and middle school students in Alaska.
4:48:18 PM
SENATOR MERRICK noted there was a University of Alaska (UA)
subcommittee meeting to discuss the budget this morning. She
stated its main priority is $35 million for deferred maintenance
with a backlog of over $1 billion. Achieving R1 status is the
highest priority following deferred maintenance.
4:48:45 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI added that university funding is a large part of
the state budget and an economic driver. He opined that all
facilities should be kept up.
4:49:30 PM
MS. PRAKASH concluded that the R1 status attracts talent and
skills. She stated she spoke with the governor who shared his
belief that Alaska is ready to take this leap. She thanked the
legislature for its support.
4:50:30 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI emphasized the importance of ensuring the R1
status discussion remains visible.
4:51:16 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Kawasaki adjourned the Senate Resources Standing Committee
meeting at 4:51 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| R1_for_State_Affairs_Committee_20Feb2024 FINAL.pdf |
SSTA 2/20/2024 3:30:00 PM |
R1 presentation |
| Senate Hearing Graduate students Presentation UPDATED.pdf |
SSTA 2/20/2024 3:30:00 PM |
R1 Presentation |