Mission
The Vice President for Academics, Students & Research, directs a division of services including Academic Affairs, Research, Workforce Programs, Student Success, and Distance Education. The Vice President works with the UA campuses on academic and research initiatives and collaborations to promote research in Alaska. The University of Alaska is committed to working closely with all federal and state agencies and private enterprise to further develop collaboration and new exposures for future growth in all areas of science and technology.
Dr. Brian Smentkowski
Vice President and Chief Academic Officer
(907) 450-8019
bpsmentkowski@alaska.edu
System-level Coordination
ACEC facilitates inter-university coordination and communication to meet the goals
of UA's Schools of Education
Common Calendar 2018 - 2022
The Faculty Alliance Common Calendar Committee has developed a common calendar, coordinating
start dates and breaks throughout the system, and are further developing coordinated
course starting time alignment to facilitate cross-university instruction.
Information on Accreditation
All three universities, UAA, UAF, and UAS, and their respective Community Colleges
are fully accredited. In addition to institutional accreditation from the Northwest
Commission on Colleges and Universities, UA has more than 60 program/specialized accreditations
across the system.
May 27, 2025
May 13, 2025
April 08, 2025
March 25, 2025
UA System Office Concludes Google Photos Access; Prepares for December Storage Deadline
June 06, 2025
As part of ongoing efforts to manage digital storage, OIT officially ended access to Google Photos within UA Google Workspace as planned on May 31, 2025.This move aligns with UA's broader strategy to comply with Google's updated storage policies and to mitigate escalating storage costs.
Staff Alliance offers Professional Development support
June 06, 2025
Examples include but not limited to: Professional certifications, attending or presenting at a conference, professional society memberships, online or in-person trainings, webinars. The next application deadline is June 14, 2025.
UA Foundation announces 2025 Angus Gavin Memorial Migratory Bird Research Grant recipients
June 06, 2025
Jess McLaughlin and Sam Simon have each been selected to receive University of Alaska Foundation Angus Gavin Memorial Migratory Bird Research Grant (Gavin Grant) funding, furthering information that is of value in the management of bird species in Alaska.
Compliance Chat Series: Ethical Research Conduct
June 06, 2025
Ever wonder how scientific breakthroughs are protected from bias, disputes, or even sabotage? Behind every successful research project at the University of Alaska is a framework of ethical decision-making to help ensure integrity, fairness, and accountability--from the lab to the final publication.
UA System Office Concludes Google Photos Access; Prepares for December Storage Deadline
June 06, 2025
As part of ongoing efforts to manage digital storage, OIT officially ended access to Google Photos within UA Google Workspace as planned on May 31, 2025. This move aligns with UA's broader strategy to comply with Google's updated storage policies and to mitigate escalating storage costs.
Advanced Security Awareness Program (ASAP) Updates and May Raffle Winner
June 06, 2025
This May, the Advanced Security Awareness Program (ASAP) continued to make strides in strengthening cybersecurity awareness at the University of Alaska with the help of its participants across the state.
Faculty and advisor menu in UAOnline scheduled to be upgraded late July
June 06, 2025
In late July, the Faculty and Advisor menu and pages in UAOnline will be upgraded to the newest version. This upgrade is part of a broader initiative to modernize UA's student information systems (SIS), business-critical processes, applications, and infrastructure.
Zoom Scheduler upcoming release
May 02, 2025
On May 11th, we will be releasing Zoom Scheduler to all UA Zoom users. Zoom Scheduler integrates with your calendar, making it easier to share your availability and book appointments with people inside and outside of the University of Alaska.