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.