July 28, 2006

TO: Steve Jones

Chancellor

FROM: Richard A. Caulfield, PhD

Chair, UAF Master Planning Committee

r.caulfield@uaf.edu, x2850

RE: MPC recommendation 06-01: Approval of UAF rural campus master plans

The UAF Master Planning Committee (MPC) makes the following recommendation based upon the July 20, 2006 report by Jenny Campbell and Cindy Ward, FS Division of Design and Construction, on the five recently completed rural campus master plans:

1)  The Campus Master Plans for the Northwest, Chukchi, Kuskokwim, Interior- Aleutians, and Bristol Bay campuses are recommended for approval to the UA Board of Regents at the September 2006 meeting

2)  The MPC commends all rural campus faculty, staff, campus directors, and FS professionals involved in developing the plans.  These documents will serve as important tools not only for the future development of the campuses, but also as a means to educate local and state policy makers and legislative bodies about the campuses.  The full breadth of services made available to a wide range of communities is made very clear in these documents, as well as the myriad challenges facing each campus.  It is important for those who are determining the future of the university system that the very unique environment and challenges of the rural campuses be clearly understood.  The plans are invaluable in that respect.

3)  The MPC further recommends that the Regents prioritize those facility improvements at the rural campuses that contribute directly to energy efficiency so as to reduce maintenance and utility costs, thereby making more operating funds available for programmatic needs.

The MPC also recommends that the system-wide advertising campaign (UA Momentum) highlight the important mission of rural and extended campuses and centers in addition to those of the Fairbanks campus.  There are thousands of people who are served by this network of campuses and yet this mission and the services provided are too often overlooked in statewide advertising. 

The MPC anticipates placing a link to these approved master plans on its website so that this important information is available to the entire campus community and beyond.

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ACTION: _____ Approved _____ Disapproved

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Steve Jones, Chancellor Date