State Relations

Legislative Priorities

Board of Regents Strategic Goals

  • Contribute to Alaska’s economic development & skilled workforce
  • Commit to academic excellence and student success
  • Grow our world class research
  • Promote diversity, equity and inclusion in students, faculty and staff
  • Operate Cost Effectively

Operating Budget Request - $31.2M 

  • Maintain Stability $24 million
    • compensation increases, health care costs
    • cyber security, insurance premiums, emergency response & services library access and shared services
  • Advancing Key Priorities $7.2 million
    • facilities maintenance
    • build capacity to train Alaskans for the workforce, provide better service to students, attract and retain faculty, and increase financial aid opportunities.

Capital Budget Request - $72.3M

  • $17.5 million: UAA heating, mechanical and electrical system improvements  This is the top priority for the UA system.
  • $54.8 million overall DM/R&R need across  the UA system.  

Revenue Assumptions

  • $899 million total budget authority, $523 million (58%) is from unrestricted sources
  • $320 million state general funds and $203 million unrestricted earned revenue
  • FY24 UA expects a net $3 million increase in unrestricted earned revenue 
  • $1 million tuition and fee revenue as enrollment stabilizes 
  • $2 million other unrestricted earned revenue, such as interest income, university receipts,
      and indirect cost recovery (from competitive externally funded research projects)

Economic Development: Research/Workforce Training  

  • UA Drone Program Year 2 - $20 million

Technical Vocational Education Program Reauthorization

  • Funded from a portion of unemployment insurance contributions  
  • UA receives 45% of program dollars
  • Funds high-demand career and technical training such as mining, oil & gas, health care, construction, and IT

Higher Education Investment Fund

  • Follow statutory protections of the fund to ensure Alaskans receive the benefit of the Alaska Performance Scholarship program, Alaska Education Grant and WWAMI Medical School program.  All of these programs serve a stronger Alaska. 

Other Key Legislative Priorities:

University Land Grant Deficit

UA is still due approximately 360,000 acres of land grant entitlement

Alaska Education Tax Credit

The Education Tax Credit provides a significant public benefit for Alaska by incentivizing private companies to invest in education.