UA Newsletter February 6, 2026

Save the date: 2026 State of the University address

The 2026 State of the University address by President Pitney will be held at noon on March 19, during the Fairbanks Rotary meeting. The event will be livestreamed and recorded.

What CAUSE-eligible employees should expect

Early next week, UA will officially notify employees who are eligible to vote in the CAUSE union representation election that they are confirmed to be part of the unit.

a pink mountain with the shadows of geese flying in front

Scholarship Review Committee Training Requirement

As we continue strengthening our shared commitment to timely and student-centered scholarship selections, we appreciate the vital partnership of our faculty and staff.

UA Disability Services "All Access" training session videos available

UA Disability Services will return with new "All Access, All the Time" staff and faculty support series programming in fall 2026. In the meantime, several popular training session recordings are now available for faculty and staff.

UA President Pitney speaks during a board meeting

Upcoming February Board of Regents meetings

The University of Alaska Board of Regents will meet next week at UAF's Bristol Bay campus in Dillingham as part of its regular rotation of meetings held across UA campuses.

a group of people pose with a giant check in hand

University of Alaska Process Technology Support Fund launched with $400,000 contribution from ConocoPhillips Alaska

Funds will support process technology programs in Fairbanks, Kenai; enhance career opportunities for future generations.

From left, Sealaska Heritage Institute Chief of Operations Lee Kadinger, UAS Dean of Arts & Sciences Carin Silkaitis, UAS Chancellor Aparna Palmer, and Institute of American Indian Arts President Shelly C. Lowe sign the memorandum of agreement to expand Northwest Coast art education opportunities.

UAS, the Institute of American Indian Arts and Sealaska Heritage Institute sign new agreement

Memorandum of agreement renews shared commitment to Northwest Coast arts.

Featured article: Avoiding the regret of debt

No one wants debt. This was the top finding of the students and parents recently surveyed by the Education Trust of Alaska.

IT News

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Now you can opt in to Rave Smart 911 via the UA Emergency Notification Website

Through a new integration, UA affiliated people can opt-in/opt-out for weather and civil emergency messages for any university locations or sites they wish.

uaonline update written out with a mountain as the background

Online labor redistributions coming February 23rd

We are happy to announce that online Labor Redistributions (LR) will be available through UAOnline on February 23, 2026.

New requirements for digital accessibility are coming - are you prepared?

In April 2024, the DOJ issued a Final Rule under the Americans with Disabilities Act Title II requiring public entities, including universities, to meet new standards for digital accessibility and expanding the definition of the types of digital content that has to be accessible.

UA Google Workspace and Microsoft 365: storage changes and account cleanup

Google's recent decision to end unlimited storage for higher education is affecting colleges and universities nationwide -- including the University of Alaska.

Zoom Hub now available in Zoom Workplace

Zoom Hub is now enabled by default in the Zoom Workplace app for all new and existing Zoom accounts.

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UA launches S2P modernization with strong systemwide kickoff

The University of Alaska officially launched its Source‑to‑Pay (S2P) Modernization Project this week with a successful systemwide kickoff meeting that drew more than 250 participants from across the system.

Human Resources News

February Benefits News

All benefit-eligible employees are encouraged to stay up to date on valuable information from the benefits team.

Photo of woman and man high fiving over laptops

From Awkward to Empowered: Managing Difficult Situations

Learn to turn uncomfortable moments into opportunities for clearer communication.

A group of people sit around a table sharing food and conversation

Webinar: Managing Your Emotions in the Workplace (3/19)

Webinar: Managing Your Emotions in the Workplace (3/19), Target Audience: Anyone wishing to learn how to better manage emotions.

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Coming Soon: Open Enrollment

Mark your calendars! Open Enrollment will run from March 31 - April 21, 2026. Any changes made during Open Enrollment will be effective on July 1, 2026.

Required Training: Supervisor Foundations

The UA Supervisor Development Program is now in a soft rollout phase, marking an important milestone in strengthening supervisory practice across the University of Alaska.

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Psychological Pressures Of Middle Management

This training will discuss keys to navigating the psychological pressure of leading from the middle by considering the importance of influence, roles, and expectations

Personnel News

Lily Hope, master Chilkat and Ravenstail weaver and UAS adjunct professor, receives 2026 United States Artists fellowship

In addition to teaching at UAS, Lily directs Wooshkindein Da.aat Lily Hope Weaver Studio, where she creates monumental robes, teaches intergenerational weaving and leads community-centered projects.

The University of Alaska (www.alaska.edu) is an equal opportunity/equal access employer and educational institution. The university is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination (www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination) against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.Unsubscribe

The University of Alaska is an equal opportunity/equal access employer and educational institution. The university is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.