UA's Gamble asks regents to review retention incentive
September 2, 2014
University of Alaska President Pat Gamble has requested the 11-member Board of Regents
revisit the issue of a $320,000 retention incentive approved in June.
The board is scheduled to gather in a special meeting Sept. 8 in Anchorage, largely
to meet in executive session to discuss financial and budgetary issues. However, Gamble
said he anticipates the regents will take another look at the retention incentive,
which would be payable at the end of his current three-year contract in May 2016.
The timing of the retention incentive, while offered with good intentions, has been
difficult to justify in the public eye as UA works to meet current and expected budgetary
and enrollment challenges, Gamble said. It comes at a time when higher education nationally
is undergoing rapid change, as students and parents expect greater results, more efficiency
and more accountability from public colleges and universities. The retention incentive
has become a negative distraction at a time when there is a great need for all levels
of the university community to pull together, Gamble said.
"I very much appreciate the board's support, but this issue will remain the elephant
in the room every time we meet with faculty, staff, a donor or a legislator," Gamble
said. "The decision ultimately is up to the board, but the timing isn't right and
I think the board is very sensitive to that now."
Gamble made the remarks during a noon presentation of the Greater Fairbanks Chamber
of Commerce Tuesday, Sept. 2. He said he couldn't predict what the board will do,
but feels certain the board will consider the situation with the public sentiment
in mind.
The regents approved the retention incentive at the June 5-6, 2014, meeting. It was
intended to reward performance, with a powerful inducement for Gamble to remain on
the job through the end of his contract in May 2016 and to continue forward momentum
on the Shaping Alaska's Future initiative.
"I'd like to put this issue to rest, and for myself, my administration, all of our
campus leaders and the regents to focus on the tough tasks ahead, moving the University
of Alaska into a stronger, more efficient and highly effective student-centered institution
that is worthy of the highest expectations of Alaskans," Gamble said.
CONTACT: Kate Ripley, 907-460-8102 or klripley@alaska.edu.