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Celebrating our achievements and looking ahead
From Dana Thomas, UAF chancellor
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May has begun with a veritable whirlwind of activities. We celebrated our 100th birthday Wednesday with cake, balloons and a re-enactment of Gov. Strong signing the bill that created the University of AVÀÇÂÛ̳. It was good to see so many of you there and to welcome so many of our friends and supporters to campus.
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It’s also an excellent time to celebrate commencement at all our campuses. Some 600 graduates will walk across the stage Saturday in Fairbanks in recognition of their achievements. The students do the hard work, but each of you plays a role in supporting their success.
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Next week, we turn our attention to the Week of the Arctic, when more than 1,000 participants will meet in Fairbanks, including on the Fairbanks campus, to discuss Arctic-related issues and to hand the chair of the Arctic Council from the U.S. to Finland.
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In addition to these major events, many of you have also been busy participating in the chancellor search forums and events. Thank you for sharing your time and comments. The search committee will meet to review feedback next week. More details can be found at www.uaf.edu/chancellors/search/.
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The next board of regents meeting is June 2-3 in Fairbanks. UAF will have a short presentation on enrollment goals and longer lunch presentations on research activities. Advance public testimony will be Monday, May 22, from 4-6 p.m., and a public gathering Thursday, June 1 from 4:30-6 p.m. in the Elvey Globe Room. More details and the meeting agenda can be found at /.
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Strategic Pathways remains a focus. President Johnsen plans to delay discussing Phase 3 options with the regents until the September meeting so he can hold listening sessions with all campus sectors including faculty and staff off contract or conducting field research.
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I have also asked academic deans and directors for an inventory of educational program outreach offered to active military, their dependents and veterans. We will use this survey to help make decisions on how to best serve this population and to develop strategies to increase enrollment and retention.
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In this past year serving as interim chancellor, I have seen how much work all of you are doing. You are leading the way by managing change and preparing the way forward. It’s why I am so proud to be part of UAF, and proud to work with people dedicated to continuing to make UAF a great university.
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Happy birthday to all of us! Please take time this week to congratulate a graduate, thank a faculty or staff member, and then let’s get ready to roll out a Fairbanks welcome to our guests at the Week of the Arctic!
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