Sometimes the hardest thing to do is recognize when the work is done and it is time to let others finish what we started. Our work on transition has been a success, but now it’s time to claim victory and take the great work done by the transition committees and use it to help guide UAF for the coming decades.

This website will go away in early October, but the work done by the transition teams will last for years to come. Highlights since our update last winter:

➢ A one-stop-shop where students can get everything done in order to start taking classes has taken big steps forward. The PolarExpress, Business, Registrar and Financial Aid offices are now all on one floor and only a few steps away from one another.

➢ I have hosted several student and faculty gatherings at my home on campus to listen to what is going on at UAF, both good and bad. I’ve enjoyed these receptions immensely and learned much useful information.

➢ Facility Services has made significant strides in getting information out to the university community when maintenance or other projects are underway. Building coordinators now disseminate facilities information and there is a much more user-friendly Facilities Services website with campus event updates.

➢ We are continuing some free summer visitor and free visitor event parking and are investigating changes to the UAF parking structure.

➢ We   are producing a television program and radio vignettes publicizing UAF research.

As we prepare to close the transition process here are some facts worth noting.

     Ø       Of the 68 transition recommendations for immediate, 90 day, or two-year implementation,    65 of them are either underway or completed   (33 completed, 32 underway)

Ø       More than 70 items the transition steering committee, chancellor’s cabinet and I decided to focus on are completed

Ø       More than 70 items the transition steering committee, cabinet and I decided to focus on are underway

Ø       That means more than 140 of the 260 recommendations (more than 50 percent) are completed or underway

Ø       Fifteen teams totaling more than 150 people — all volunteers — from around the state worked on the transition process

Ø       More than a quarter of the volunteers were community members

I’d say those numbers would be enough to ace a final. You could say the transition committee members worked themselves out of jobs.

A lot of good ideas that are helping UAF came from the transition process. Transition team members, you’ll be able to see your success all over our campus, our community and our state.

To all who assisted, especially Charles Fedullo and Mike Walsh, thanks for your efforts to help Alaska ’s first and finest University.

Chancellor Brian Rogers