Regents approve new structure for Prince William Sound campus
June 9, 2014
The University of Alaska Board of Regents on Friday approved several policy changes to strengthen and better support Prince William Sound
Community College.
The board action came after several years of leadership turnover at the Valdez campus,
declining enrollments and increasing federal regulatory demands on the separately
accredited institution. The separate accreditation, which the Valdez campus has held
for 25 years, is no longer optimal because of increasing federal regulations, tighter
budgets and a greater need for efficiencies.
UA President Pat Gamble recommended several policy changes that would place Prince
William Sound Community College under the UAA umbrella, similar to UAA's arrangement
with Kenai Peninsula College, Kodiak College and Mat-Su College — all successful and
independent community campuses.
"These changes will allow the campus to focus more on students and less on the many
mandatory and often cumbersome accreditation demands," Gamble said. "Interim President
Dan O'Connor has agreed to accept the position and title of campus director. Along
with solid leadership, and support from UAA, the college council and Valdez community,
we will ensure our students, faculty and staff at Prince William Sound can reach their
full potential."
One of the meeting highlights was recognition of four employees for their exceptional
service to students. Peers across the UA System nominate recipients of the Staff Make
Students Count Award based on outstanding service to students. Winners for 2014 are
Leah Aronow-Brown, administrative assistant in the English Department at UAF; Elizabeth
Spence, career education coordinator at UAS; Christine Volk, head trainer for the UAA
Athletics Department; and Dory Straight, scholarship officer for the UA Foundation.
The board also approved a resolution in support of the Alaska Maritime Workforce Development Plan, an outcome of the Fisheries, Seafood and Maritime Initiative, a collaboration between
industry groups, UA and state agencies.
The board adopted metrics to evaluate progress of UA's Shaping Alaska's Future initiative,
a collection of 23 effects, or outcomes, the university intends to achieve as part
of a continuous improvement process.
The president's contract was extended through May 2016 at his current annual salary
of $320,000. The contract includes a retention bonus of up to one year's salary if
he continues to serve as president.
The board took several actions affecting facilities, including approving project change
requests for the UAA engineering and industry building, which received final funding
from the legislature at $45.6 million, and the UAF engineering facility, which received
$5 million; approving the schematic design for the UAF combined heat and power plant,
which received full funding from the legislature; and approving the schematic design
for a restoration of UAF's Akasofu Building.
For more information, contact Kate Ripley, 907-460-1442 (cell) or klripley@alaska.edu.
Photos of the Staff Make Students Count Award recipients are available at these links: Dory Straight, UA Foundation, and President Gamble; Christine Volk, UAA, and Chancellor Tom Case; Leah Aronow-Brown, UAF, and Chancellor Brian Rogers; Elizabeth Spence, UAS, and Chancellor John Pugh, left, and Provost Rick Caulfield.