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.]