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Board of Regents' Meeting
August 19-20, 1993
Business Education Building
University of Alaska Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
I. The meeting of the Full Board
was called to order by President Gagnon at 9:27 a.m., Friday,
August 20, 1993.
Regents Present:
Sharon D. Gagnon, President
Virginia W. Breeze, Vice President
Susan A. Stitham, Secretary (absent Friday)
Mark H. Helmericks, Treasurer
Eric Forrer
Michael P. Kelly
Scott A. Otterbacher
Lew Williams, Jr.
Jerome B. Komisar, Executive Officer
and President of the University
of Alaska
Regents Absent:
Mary Jane Fate
Joseph R. Henri
R. Danforth Ogg
In Attendance :
Donald Behrend, Chancellor, University of Alaska Anchorage
Marshall L. Lind, Chancellor, University of Alaska Southeast
Joan K. Wadlow, Chancellor, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Beverly Beeton, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, UAA
William R. Kauffman, Vice President and General Counsel
Luis Proenza, Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs & Research
Wendy Redman, Vice President for University Relations
Brian Rogers, Vice President for Finance
Gerald V. Neubert, Assistant Vice President and University Architect
'Nanne Myers, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs
Patty Kastelic, Executive Director for Human Resources
Bob Miller, Director of Public Affairs
Representative John Davies
Representative Terry Martin
Representative Gail Phillips
Patty Swenson for Representative Con Bunde
Mary M. Kauffman, Regents Affairs Officer
II. Adoption of the Agenda
Regent Helmericks moved, seconded
by Regent Breeze, and passed unanimously that:
PASSED
"The Board of Regents
adopts the agenda as amended.
I. Call to Order
II. Adoption of Agenda
III. Approval of Minutes
IV. Comments
a. General Public
b. General Assembly
c. Faculty and Staff
d. Students
e. Alumni
f. University Councils
V. Consent Agenda
1. Academic & Student Affairs
Transfer of KSUA Radio License to the University of Alaska
2. Finance, Facilities & Land Management Committee
a. University of Alaska Southeast - Sitka Campus Housing Project Lease
b. Approval of FY94 Deferred Maintenance
Appropriation Allocations
3. Human Resources Committee
a. Approval of Compensation Policy
VI. Executive Session (working lunch, approximately 2 hours)
VII. New Business
a. Committee of the Whole
b. Academic and Student Affairs Committee
c. Finance, Facilities and Land Management Committee
d. Human Resources Committee
VIII. Industrial Security Resolution
IX. Corporate Authority Resolution
X. President's and Chancellors' Status Reports
XI. Administrative Status Reports
XII. Planned Presentations
a. Center For Human Development: University Affiliated Program
b. Alaska Native Youth Media Conference
XIII. President's and Regents' Comments
a. Board of Regents' Representatives on the Alaska
Commission on Postsecondary Education
b. Comments from President and Regents
XIV. Adjourn
This motion is effective August 20, 1993."
III. Approval of Minutes
Regent Breeze moved, seconded by Regent Kelly and passed unanimously
as amended that:
"The Board of Regents approves the minutes of the June
3-4, 1993 meeting. This motion is effective August 20, 1993."
IV. Comments
a. General Public
Robert Gottstein, chair of the WISE ("Winning Is Stronger
Education") Community Corporation, a nonprofit education
advocacy organization in Anchorage, expressed his group's interest
in working with the University in an effort to develop a strategy
to ensure greater funding for postsecondary education and develop
a plan to yield greater funding for University programs.
Sol Gerstenfeld asked a series of interesting and thought provoking
questions about the formal education process.
b. General Assembly
General Assembly President Donna Chantry spoke about the proposed
new governance structure; the faculty and staff alliances; governance
budget; the governance handbook and directory; and a proposed
governance orientation workshop.
c. Faculty and Staff
Ralph McGrath spoke to the Board about the May 8, 1992, collective
bargaining agreement, specifically the promotion, tenure and sabbatical
policies and procedures for the bargaining unit membership. He
also asked the Board's reconsideration of the concept of "visiting
professors".
d. Students
Chris Delez, President of USUAS, thanked President Komisar, Chancellor
Lind and Chancellor Wadlow for working together on the housing
problem for UAS fisheries students and also spoke of the upcoming
Student Leadership Conference.
e. University Councils
LeRoy Barton, a member of the UAA Citizens Advisory Council,
expressed his concern about deferred maintenance and supported
a facilities needs analysis.
VI. Consent Agenda
1. Academic and Student Affairs Committee
In the absence of Committee Chair Stitham, Vice President Breeze
reported on the Committee's approval of the transfer of the KSUA-FM
license and assets from Student Media, Inc. to the University
of Alaska. She said that previous debt will be retired through
a $4 increase in student fees. Regent Breeze reported that the
UAF administration supports the transfer with the plan that the
station will be operated as a noncommercial station for the University
and Fairbanks community.
The Academic and Student Affairs Committee made the following
recommendation:
MOTION
"The Academic and Student Affairs Committee recommends that
the Board of Regents approve the proposed assignment of the license
for KSUA-FM and transfer of the assets for the radio station to
the University of Alaska, subject to the prior approval of the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC); acknowledges that until
the FCC has given its consent to the assignment of the license,
the University shall not control or attempt to control the operation
of KSUA-FM; and authorizes University of Alaska President Jerome
Komisar to enter into appropriate agreements with Student Media,
Inc., and to execute and file applications and other instruments
required by the FCC to effectuate the proposed assignment and
transfer.
This motion is effective August 20, 1993."
Regent Breeze moved, seconded by Regent Otterbacher, and approved
unanimously that:
MOTION
"The Board of Regents adopts the recommendation of the
Academic and Student Affairs Committee as stated above. This
motion is effective August 20, 1993."
2. Finance, Facilities and Land Management Committee
Regent Helmericks reported that during the Finance, Facilities
and Land Management Committee meeting on August 19, 1993, the
following recommendations were made:
a. University of Alaska Southeast - Sitka Campus Housing Project
Lease Reference 1
In December 1992, an informational item was submitted to the
Board of Regents regarding a pilot housing program under a cooperative
agreement between the University of Alaska and the Shee Atika
Native Corporation in Sitka. Shee Atika made extensive renovations
to the downtown Sitka property formerly operated as a Sheffield
Hotel and now known as Totem Square Hall. UAS proposes to use
the space for (1) conferences, institutes and workshops, (2) academic
programs and training and (3) student housing.
As a result of the initial effort, the pilot project was extended
through August 31, 1993. This cooperative venture has been very
successful. Under the lease agreement, 50 percent of gross receipts
go to the campus, with those receipts paying for the cost of the
program. Approval of the motion would allow UAS Sitka Campus
to continue its housing and conference activities on a long-term
basis at no cost to the campus.
The campus proposed extending its agreement to a three-year
lease with Shee Atika.
MOTION
"The Finance, Facilities and Land Management Committee recommends
that the Board of Regents authorize the administration to secure
a three-year lease with Shee Atika Native Corporation for Totem
Square Hall which will allow the University of Alaska Southeast
Sitka Campus Housing Project to continue under the current terms
and conditions. This motion is effective August 19, 1993."
b. Approval of FY94 Deferred Maintenance Appropriation Allocations
Reference Hand-Carried
For FY94, $14,239,600 was appropriated by the House Committee
Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 183 to
the University of Alaska for deferred maintenance.
The deferred maintenance appropriation will be allocated as follows:
University of Alaska Southeast $450,000
University of Alaska Anchorage $1,714,600
University of Alaska Fairbanks $12,075,000
Each MAU will expend its allocation according to the project
list presented. Pending events and discoveries during this fiscal
year, new projects needing to be added to the list will be submitted
to the chair of the Finance, Facilities and Land Management Committee
for approval.
MOTION
"The Finance, Facilities, and Land Management Committee recommends
that the Board of Regents approve the allocation of the FY94 deferred
maintenance appropriation to the MAUs as presented and further
approves the list of campus projects as presented. This motion
is effective August 19, 1993."
Regent Helmericks moved, seconded by Regent Kelly, and approved
unanimously that:
PASSED
"The Board of Regents adopts the recommendations of the
Finance, Facilities and Land Management Committee as stated above.
This motion is effective August 20, 1993."
3. Human Resources Committee
Regent Kelly reported that during the Human Resources Committee
meeting on August 20, 1993, the following recommendations were
made:
a. Approval of Compensation Policy Reference 3
Board Regents Policy 04.05.00, which was adopted in December
1989 after many months of administrative, faculty and staff deliberation,
provides a compensation philosophy but does not define the method
for fulfilling the statement of intent. The policy was communicated
to all members of the university community in a letter dated January
15, 1990, announcing an annual 3% general compensation increase
for satisfactory performance which would "not be conditioned
on legislative appropriation or the availability of funds from
external sources." Commitments were also made to fund additional
adjustments based on competitiveness, equity, protection of real
income, merit and special market situations. It is essential
that the University of Alaska continue to develop a defensible
and stable system that allows compensation placement and increases
that are clearly understood and consistently applied.
Sufficient work has been accomplished to permit the implementation
of a new range and step system to be effective July 1, 1994.
The faculty compensation structure will be similar to those used
at other universities and the ranges will be developed based on
national salary surveys after appropriate adjustments are made
for Alaska's higher cost of living. The general provisions for
individual salary adjustments will be based on practices typical
at universities throughout the nation. For classified and APT
employees, the structure will be loosely based on the one used
by the State of Alaska. The salary ranges will not mirror the
State's, but they will have a similar structure built on job classifications,
minimum and maximum salaries and limited step adjustments for
satisfactory performance.
The ranges will be developed based on the combined compensation
data from the results of a total remuneration study conducted
by Mercer Inc., in which the University is participating, and
additional salary data from public and private sector employers.
New employees will be placed at or near the beginning of the
appropriate range and increases will be given for satisfactory
performance on each employee's anniversary date until steps are
exhausted. There will be end points on ranges and no salary adjustments
will be made to individuals who are at or above the maximum salary
for their job unless the Board of Regents authorizes an across
the board adjustment based on inflationary patterns or significant
changes in market conditions. New ranges will be determined by
mid-winter so that they can be communicated and understood well
in advance of the July 1994 implementation date.
MOTION
"The Human Resources Committee recommends that the Board
of Regents:
(a) suspend indefinitely all provisions of Regents Policy 04.05
concerning annual three percent in-range adjustments, cost of
living increases, and protection of real income;
(b) approve an interim salary increase of 3% for all permanent
employees who are not members of collective bargaining units represented
by a bargaining agent and who were employed prior to July 1, 1993
and who have not received an unsatisfactory employee evaluation
since July 1, 1993, effective at the beginning of the payroll
period which includes January 1, 1994;
(c) direct the administration to:
(1) prepare for implementation July 1, 1994 a new range and step
system for classified (non-exempt) and administrative/ professional/technical
(exempt) university staff;
(2) prepare for implementation July 1, 1994 new salary structures
for faculty, part-time faculty, and executive personnel;
(3) present the proposed system and structures to the Human Resources
Committee at the February 17-18, 1994, Board of Regents meeting.
This motion is effective August 20, 1993."
b. Clarification Amendment to Grievance Policy
A request was made by the campuses for clarification on the timeframe
for the filing of a grievance. The amendment passed as presented.
MOTION
"The Human Resources Committee recommends that the Board of Regents approve the amendment to Grievance Policy 04.08.08 as stated in the Human Resources Committee agenda. This motion is effective August 20, 1993."
Regent Kelly moved, seconded by Regent Breeze, and approved unanimously
that:
PASSED
"The Board of Regents adopts the recommendations of the
Human Resources Committee as stated above. This motion is effective
August 20, 1993."
VI. New Business
a. Academic and Student Affairs Committee
In the absence of Committee Chair Stitham, Regent Breeze reported
that in September, Chancellor Lind would be presenting the final
report of the President's Task Force on Alternative Methods of
Instruction and that President Komisar would be discussing the
Statewide Colloquium on the Preparation of Teachers and the Allocation
and Employment of Instructional Resources.
Regent Breeze advised that the new governance structure would be presented to the Board in September and that Dr. David Spell voiced his concerns to the Committee relative to the role of bargaining units in the new structure.
b. Finance, Facilities and Land Management Committee
Regent Helmericks reported that the Finance, Facilities and Land
Management Committee discussed the Yupik Museum project in Bethel
and whether it would consider a request for additional funding
for air conditioning in the auditorium. The Committee did not
look favorably upon the request but directed the administration
to continue negotiations over the issue.
Regent Kelly provided further details on the Yupik Museum. He
stated that the basic bid did not include cooling for the auditorium
but did include it for the Museum components. The air conditioning
for the auditorium was an alternate for which there was not adequate
funds. The local Council supported not constructing the cooling
system for the auditorium but pressure from the Village placed
on certain Board members and staff have raised the concern that
they did want the air conditioning. The Committee left the administration
with the flexibility to continue to discuss this issue with interested
parties on the issue of adding or not adding $45,000 for the coils
unrelated to any future decision of adding the 54 ton air compressor.
Regent Helmericks reported on the impact of the Americans With
Disabilities Act on the University and the potential $60 million
liability that will have to be met by 1995.
The Committee heard a report on the progress of Doyon House.
Regent Helmericks stated that the University may see other projects
similar to that of Doyon House in the future. He observed that
the Board may wish to use Doyon House as a model and provide guidance
to other corporations that wish to pursue similar projects. Regent
Kelly advised that the University now has three tests of this
model: NANA, Shee Atika Lease and the Doyon House and that there
is enough diversity among the models to determine how to proceed
in the future.
c. Human Resources Committee
Regent Kelly advised the Board that a report on the health
care audit which was given by Executive Director Patty Kastelic,
was accepted unanimously by the Human Resources Committee. He
also stated that the Committee heard concerns from
Professor David Spell relative to the proposed shared governance
policy 03.01.01 and stated that the issue would be addressed during
the Committee of the Whole meeting on September 23, 1993.
VII. Industrial Security Resolution Reference
4
Acting Vice President Luis Proenza reported that the President
and selected members of the university administration are routinely
designated by the Board of Regents to handle duties and responsibilities
relating to classified information in connection with contracts
with the Department of Defense and other federal agencies. These
individuals are given a security screening and are the only members
of the administration, including the Board of Regents, to have
access to classified information.
The new security resolution, included as Reference 4, was presented
to the Board for approval and includes the addition of Regents
Mary Jane Fate, R. Danforth Ogg and Scott A. Otterbacher.
Regent Helmericks moved, seconded by Regent Forrer, and passed
unanimously that:
MOTION
"The Board of Regents approves the adoption of the security
clearance resolution as presented in Reference 4 providing for
designation of a managerial group as described in the 'Industrial
Security Manual for Safeguarding Classified Information' for the
purpose of handling all duties and responsibilities relating to
classified information. This action is effective August 20, 1993."
VIII. Corporate Authority Resolution Reference
5
Vice President Rogers reported that the Board of Regents passed
a resolution in 1976 specifying certain university officers as
being authorized to execute transactions involving stocks, bonds,
rights, options, and other securities belonging to the University
of Alaska. A new resolution is required as Board membership changes
and new officers are elected.
Regent Kelly moved, seconded by Regent Forrer, and pass unanimously
that:
MOTION
"The Board of Regents approves the corporate authority
resolution, as presented in Reference 5, and authorizes the President
and Secretary of the Board of Regents to sign it. This motion
is effective August 20, 1993."
IX. President's and Chancellors' Status Reports
President Komisar reported on the visit of Secretary of the Interior
Bruce Babbitt. Mr. Babbitt spent considerable time on the campus
of UAF during his time in Fairbanks. Dr. Komisar said Secretary
Babbitt spoke at Wood Center to an audience of 400 and faced a
barrage of intense questioning, eventually ending in a magnificent
dialogue between the representative from Washington and the Fairbanks
community. Secretary Babbitt extended his speaking time so that
all who came to voice their concerns could do so.
President Komisar informed the Board that he has been invited
by Governor Hickel to join a task force which will consider economic
development in Alaska, particularly in Western Alaska. He said
that University scientists may be enormously helpful to the State
and its people, particularly in the area of engineering, and that
he intends to serve as a conduit between the questions and the
answers to those questions.
President Komisar said that he has also been invited to attend
the Governor's cabinet meeting with the commissioners, affording
him the opportunity to discuss the University's role in the state
and also provide an opportunity to plead and defend the University's
budget allocations.
Dr. Komisar spoke of efforts to obtain a portion of the Exxon
Valdez settlement to assure that there can be long-term research
on the effects of the spill.
UAF
Chancellor Wadlow reported on efforts to build support for research
endowments from the Exxon settlement. UAF has sent letters to
members of the many public advisory groups urging their support
of this concept.
The Chancellor also advised of efforts to improve campus safety,
including the formation of a ten-member external evaluation team
for the Department of Public Safety. The team is composed of
members of the private and public sector in Anchorage and Fairbanks.
Chancellow Wadlow reported on the installation of emergency telephones
on the UAF campus.
Dr. Wadlow reported the results of the public hearings on the
proposed land lease to Carrs/Wal-Mart and announced UAF's rejection
of the offer. She also said that the specific charge to the Master
Planning Committee was to concentrate on developing guidelines
to be used in evaluating offers for land development at UAF and
to also consider what types of development would be an appropriate
use of the University's land.
Chancellor Wadlow concluded her comments by briefly noting the
successful Summer Fine Arts Camp; status of the Provost search;
departure of Athletic Director Lynn Lashbrook and the subsequent
appointment of Acting Director Tom Wells; departure of Director
of Alumni Relations Althea St. Martin; the appointment of Professor
Dorothy Jones of the Tanana Valley Campus as Assistant to the
Chancellor for Equal Opportunity; and the graduation of 25 students
from the Rural Alaska Honors Institute.
UAA
Chancellor Behrend announced the upcoming Faculty Convocation
and then turned his portion of the meeting over to June Degnan,
Chair of the Committee on Alaska Native and American Indian Education.
Ms. Degnan reported on the Committee's efforts to seek the development
of a center for indigenous studies at the University of Alaska
Anchorage. She stated that the Committee would be submitting
a proposal to the Board in the near future.
UAS
Chancellor Lind spoke of an arrangement with the Department of
Environmental Conservation that enables UAS to utilize one of
the agency's laboratories as a classroom and to also utilize one
of DEC's employees to teach chemistry at UAS.
Chancellor Lind praised the UAS Sitka Campus for its efforts
in providing services to local residents now unemployed or who
are changing occupations as a result of the closure of the pulp
mill. With the assistance of federal grants, UAS will be able
to offer vocational and training programs in Sitka for the residents.
Chancellor Lind also spoke of the reorganization of the School
of Career and Continuing Education; the partnership with the state
Job Service to provide placement services to current and former
UAS students; and the "10,000 Flowers Campaign".
X.. Executive Session
Regent Helmericks moved, seconded by Regent Forrer, and passed
unanimously that:
MOTION
"The Board of Regents goes into executive session in accordance
with the provisions of AS 44.62.310 to discuss matters relating
to audits, litigation and land use, these topics being subjects
the immediate knowledge of which would have an adverse effect
on the finances of the university; and personnel matters, this
topic being a subject which might tend to prejudice the reputation
and character of a person or persons. The session shall include
members of the Board of Regents, President Komisar, Vice President
and General Counsel William Kauffman, and such other university
staff members as the President may designate and shall last approximately
2 hours. Thus, the open session of the Board shall resume in
this room at approximately 2:00 p.m. A.S.T. This motion is effective
August 20, 1993."
The Board of Regents went into executive at 12:00 p.m. and returned
to public session at 2:35 p.m. at which time Regent Helmericks
announced that the Board of Regents just concluded an executive
session in accordance with AS 44.62.310 during which it discussed
matters relating to audits, litigation and land use, these topics
being subjects the immediate knowledge of which would have an
adverse effect on the finances of the university; and personnel
matters, this topic being a subject which might tend to prejudice
the reputation and character of a person or persons. The session
included members of the Board of Regents, President Komisar, Vice
President and General Counsel Kauffman and other university staff
members designated by the President and lasted approximately two
and one-half hours.
XII. Reappointment of University of Alaska President
Regent Breeze moved, seconded by Regent Kelly, that:
MOTION
"The Board of Regents approves the continuing appointment
of University of Alaska President Jerome B. Komisar and ratifies
the terms of the reappointment agreement between Board of Regents
President Gagnon and President Komisar. This motion is effective
August 20, 1993."
Regent Helmericks moved for unanimous consent and the motion
passed.
XIII. Fairbanks School Site Lease
The Fairbanks North Star Borough (the Borough) has been leasing
land on the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) campus since
1956 for elementary school, high school, and vocational education
programs. The current lease, for 77.61 acres of the 2,249 acre
UAF campus at a rent of one dollar per year, is scheduled to expire
March 31, 2020 at which time the land and the improvements would
revert to the University. There are no renewal provisions in
the lease.
At its April 20, 1993 meeting the school board directed the Borough
to build a new high school on the UAF lease site. With only twenty
seven years remaining on the lease term the Borough determined
that a lease extension would be necessary prior to construction
of a new building. A lease extension would exceed the $100,000
real estate transaction limit and requires Board of Regents approval.
At the June 3, 1993, Finance, Facilities and Land Management
Committee meeting, the Committee directed Vice President Rogers
to negotiate with the Borough for extension of the Fairbanks School
Site Lease and present the negotiated lease to the Committee for
its approval prior to entering into an agreement.
Regent Helmericks moved, seconded by Regent Forrer, and passed
unanimously that:
MOTION
"The Board of Regents approves the agreement between the
University of Alaska and the Fairbanks North Star Borough for
extension of the lease on a portion of the existing borough leasehold
at University Avenue and Geist Road in Fairbanks and authorizes
the administration to execute appropriate documents in accordance
with the agreement. This approval is contingent upon the approval
by voters of the Fairbanks North Star Borough of general obligation
bonding providing for the construction of a new high school on
the leasehold, and upon appropriation of necessary funding for
the agreement by the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly on
or before November 15, 1993. This motion is effective August
20, 1993."
XI. Administrative Status Reports
Dr. Proenza commented on the University of Alaska System
Office of Institutional Research publication UA In Review and
invited the Regents to review the document and share their comments
with him.
Vice President Rogers submitted a written report to the Board
and also reported on the American Express Travel Card Program;
the Statewide Office of Land Management 5th annual land sale;
the recent contract with Gerken and Associates, Inc. to review
the University's capital facilities planning and budgeting processes;
and the status of construction of the President's new residence.
Executive Director Patty Kastelic reported on the ongoing work
on employee health benefits.
Vice President Redman reported that the Governor hoped for an
opportunity to review all University-related legislation to be
submitted this year. She stated that the initial legislative
proposal for this year is the deferred maintenance bonding proposal.
Vice President Redman also noted that during the course of the
next few months, she has scheduled workshops with the student
government groups, faculty, staff and members of the community
relative to legislative agendas for the upcoming year, which will
be based primarily around the campus budget proposals.
XII. Planned Presentations
a. Center For Human Development: University Affiliated Program
Dr. Peter Dowrick, Director of The Center For Human Development:
University Affiliated Program, made a presentation to the Board
on the progress and activities of the Center. The mission of
the Center is to provide interdisciplinary training and consultation
that will eventually benefit people with severe disabilities and
their families. The Center's services promote independence, productivity,
integration, and enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities.
b. Alaska Native Youth Media Conference
Dr. Sylvia Broady, Chair of the UAA Journalism and Public
Communications Department, led a presentation on the Alaska Native
Youth Media Conference. This one-week conference, jointly sponsored
each summer by UAA's Department of Journalism and Public Communications
and the Indigenous Broadcast Center of the Alaska Public Radio
Network, brings Alaska Native high school students to the UAA
campus for a hands-on introduction to careers in print journalism,
radio and television broadcasting and photojournalism.
XIII. President's and Regents' Comments
a. Board of Regents' Representatives on the Alaska
Commission
on Postsecondary Education
Regent Helmericks informed the Board of the resignation of the
Commission's executive director and the search for a replacement.
He stated that the challenge before the Commission is to determine
how to internally finance and fund its future activities.
b. Comments from President and Regents
President Gagnon informed the Board of her recent conversations
with Walter Russell, the Planner for the Arctic North Slope Borough,
concerning the experimentation that was part of Project Chariot
at Point Hope and Cape Thompson. Mr. Russell contacted President
Gagnon inquiring as to the University's role in the project.
President Gagnon informed the Board that Vice President Redman
has begun researching the matter.
Vice President Redman then said that UAF researcher Dan O'Neill,
who is near completion of the book on Project Chariot, is not
aware that the University was involved in any of the nuclear testing
that was conducted in that area and that all of the research was
done through the College of Biological Sciences under the leadership
of Dr. Brina Kessel. The investigation is continuing as to the
type of research that was conducted by the University of Alaska.
Vice President Breeze commented on the excellent presentations
made during the meeting including the Chancellors' reports.
Regent Otterbacher thanked everyone for their presentations and
also thanked the legislators for their participation in the meeting.
Regent Forrer commented on Project Chariot. He stated that matters
have developed in Alaska so that virtually every issue has become
symbolic. He stated that an issue cannot be dealt with simply
on its merits. He said that you have to deal with the politics
first. He noted there are many different levels of perception
on this particular issue and he agrees with and encouraged an
open records approach to it, because the more facts we have in
dealing with it, the better.
Regent Williams spoke about the Public Advisory Group for the
Exxon Valdez Spill Settlement, which represents about five entities
that are interested in having endowments set aside for future
use. There are six trustees who have a restoration team, and
17 public advisors, 5 of whom are public members with the remainder
representing the Audubon Society, the Sierra Club, subsistence
users, tourism, etc. He said there was resistance on the part
of the restoration team relative to endowments. The public advisory
group was asked to submit a recommendation to the restoration
team. When the matter came to a vote, the group decided to go
forward with the endowment concept. The idea is to put approximately
$30 million away each year until the settlement is paid in full.
The trustees could then award contracts to entities competing
for them.
Regent Williams also commended Dr. Sylvia Broady for the work
she is doing.
XIV. Adjourn
Regent Forrer moved, seconded by Regent Kelly, and passed unanimously that the meeting of the Board of Regents be adjourned.