Ideas, energy and enthusiasm: that is what has come from almost all of you as I am settling in to my role as Interim Chancellor. Since commencement in May, a tremendous amount of creativity and productivity has come forward from staff, faculty, students and the Alaska community. Some, though far from all of it, has come from the transition teams we set up to get input and guide my priorities for the next two years.

Thanks to all who have helped with the transition process or simply forwarded a concern, good thought or idea.

The first stage of the transition process was about getting a cross section of the UAF and Alaska community together to look at potential new ideas and approaches to how we go about our business.

Fifteen teams with a total of about 160 people studied aspects of UAF such as athletics, KUAC, research, administration, student services and enrollment issues, faculty and curriculum issues, and sustainability. We encouraged feedback and public participation as teams worked diligently from May through the end of July to address challenges and develop potential new ways forward. As I review, evaluate and implement recommendations, the process will continue to be open and transparent.

I encourage you to review the reports and send your thoughts to me at chancellor@uaf.edu.

Three themes run through all the documents: (1) people first, (2) engage our communities, and (3) take responsible action. We will use these themes to develop our way forward.

There are more than 150 ideas in these reports. We will work to address the issues raised, recognizing that we won't be able to implement all of the ideas within the two-year time frame.

These transition reports will not be three-ring binders on a shelf collecting dust. I will meet with my cabinet later this month (August) to discuss which ideas we should address first and how best to implement many of them. We will also track the progress of the ideas in the reports with online updates a few times a year. Some ideas that we are already in the process of implementing include:

--Task force on childcare at UAF and in Fairbanks
--Free public parking in two UAF lots through the end of August
--Starting in September, free rides on municipal busses with Polar Express Cards
--Improved supervisory training
--Legislative advisory committee

These reports and your input are helping me develop my themes for Fall Convocation, Tuesday, Sept. 16 from 1 - 2 p.m. in the Charles W. Davis Concert Hall. I hope you will attend.