Expedited program review update
by Cathy Sandeen, UAA Chancellor |
UPDATE (Feb. 25, 2020): The academic deans notified faculty, staff and students in their colleges of recommendations on academic program changes including continuation, revision or deletion. The complete list of the deans’ recommendations is available on the expedited program review status website. Read more in Chancellor Sandeen's message to the community: Expedited Program Review Deans’ Recommendations.
UPDATE (Feb. 24, 2020): Program Review Support and Listening Sessions are scheduled for staff and faculty.
In the latest Just The Facts video, Chancellor Sandeen answers questions about the expedited program review process.
Additional information and resources are available at the Academic Program Review and Administrative Review websites.
ORIGINAL MESSAGE (Feb. 18, 2020):
Dear UAA Faculty and Staff,
As you know, the University of Alaska system is facing a challenging budget situation resulting from a $70 million decrease in state funding over a three-year period. In light of this, last October the Board of Regents charged each university to undertake a review of its academic programs and administrative areas to meet its share of the reduction.
At UAA, this means difficult decisions lie ahead. Based on the regents’ directive, UAA will have fewer academic offerings than we do currently. UAA leaders must manage our new budget reality and long-term viability, which means we must invest in and grow academic programs where it makes sense for Alaska, consolidate programs and services where feasible, and change the way we offer programs. While the majority of UAA’s degree and certificate programs will not be affected, some will.
The decisions and changes on the horizon will bring genuine challenges, frustrations and grief for students, faculty, staff, administrators, and the many members of our communities who support and believe in UAA. I ask you to be gentle with yourselves and kind to others. This will be difficult, but we will get through this together.
Support Sessions
A series of Program Review: Supporting Our Students sessions for faculty and staff just concluded. UAA is committed to supporting students whose programs might be discontinued by providing comprehensive advising and degree completion options. We have options for students associated with affected programs, and we do not want them to feel alone in facing the future. Please direct students to their academic advisor for these discussions.
Program Review Faculty Support sessions and Program Review Staff Support sessions will begin the week of Feb. 24, following the Monday release of the deans’ recommendations, and continue into the future. Please look for additional information in Green & Gold. I encourage you to attend and reach out for support.
UAA and its people have been a vibrant, contributing part of Anchorage, the Mat-Su, the Kenai Peninsula, Valdez, Kodiak and beyond. We will continue to do everything we can to make UAA a welcoming, supportive place where students choose to pursue their education. Thank you for your ongoing dedication to our shared work as a place of teaching, learning and knowledge generation. Your commitment to our students, our mission and to one another does not go unnoticed.
Sincerely,
Cathy Sandeen
UAA Chancellor
Students received an update on expedited program reviews Feb. 17.
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