Peter Fix, Assistant Professor
Michael Hay, Research Assistant
Department of Resources Management
School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences
For the North Campus Planning Subcommittee
July 8, 2003

Executive Summary

The North Campus Planning Subcommittee is charged with developing a management plan for the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ (UAF) North Campus Area (NCA)¹. As part of the development of the plan, three public meetings were held during early April 2003. The meetings were an opportunity to exchange information between committee members and those attending meetings. In addition, surveys were distributed to those attending meetings.

This report provides meeting and survey results. Analyses include:

• Content analysis of written comments,
• Frequency analysis of survey responses, and
• Cluster analysis of survey responses.

The meetings were attended by approximately 100 people, resulting in 338 written comments. One hundred and twenty eight individuals completed the survey. Key findings from the verbal testimony, written comments and surveys are as follows.

• A diversity of viewpoints regarding the appropriate uses of the NCA was expressed.
• Use limitations appear to have a low level of support.
• A majority of attendees indicated the area could, and should, be managed for multiple values and uses.

As indicated by both the written comments at the meetings and the comments written on the surveys, the trail system was the most important factor to the respondents. Approximately 23% of the written comments were about the trails specifically, while other categories, such as research, had lower response rates. Cluster analysis indicated three groups; a group focused on recreation (44%), a group more favorable toward walking and dogs (12%), and a group protective of research interests (44%). Although each of the three cluster groups had a recreational component, they differed in a few key areas with management implications. Given the hypothetical situation of an increase in research activity, the recreation cluster group was more accepting of restricting research activities, whereas the research cluster group found this less acceptable. Given a hypothetical scenario of widening a trail into a research area, the recreation cluster group found not allowing the trail widening to be highly unacceptable, while the research cluster group found it to be acceptable to not allow the trail widening. The walking / dog cluster group found it unacceptable to restrict walkers and dogs on groomed ski trails. This group also found it the most acceptable to expand the network of winter walking trails.

¹ Details of the North Campus Area or North Campus Planning Subcommittee are not presented here. For information regarding either, please see the North Campus section of the University of Alaska Master Planning website at www.uaf.edu/mastplan

University of Alaska Fairbanks
Tanana Valley Campus
PO Box 8040-UAF

Phone: +1 907 474 7920
Fax:    +1 907 474 6725
fndlm5@uaf.edu