The leaders of the University of Alaska are coming to Juneau with tuition increases and plenty else on their minds.<\/p>\n
The UA Board of Regents will hold a two-day meeting Thursday and Friday at the University of Alaska Southeast. The meeting convenes at 8 a.m. Thursday in Room 116 of the Student Recreation Center. A public gathering allowing Juneau residents to meet the regents will take place at 5 p.m. with the conclusion of the Thursday meeting, and the work meeting will continue Friday morning.<\/p>\n
Among the items on the regents’ agenda is a proposed tuition increase for the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 school years.<\/p>\n
Under the proposal, tuition would rise 5 percent next school year and 5 percent the following year. The discount for classes at Prince William Sound and Kodiak colleges would disappear.<\/p>\n
UA President Jim Johnsen had indicated earlier this year that he could ask for a tuition hike before the start of the spring 2018 semester, but according to documents that have been presented to the regents, he has rejected that idea.<\/p>\n
Roberta Graham, associate vice president of public affairs for the university, said regents are not expected to vote on the 2018-2019-2020 tuition increase but will hear discussion about the idea.<\/p>\n
The Alaska Legislature cut the university system’s budget by $20.7 million this year, according to figures from the Legislative Finance Division<\/a>. At the same time, the university is seeing fewer students: Over the past four years, enrollment has declined 16 percent<\/a>.<\/p>\n Regents will also discuss progress on the university’s Title IX settlement with the U.S. Department of Education. In February, the university reached an agreement<\/a> with the federal government to settle charges that it had mishandled reports of sexual assault on campuses across the state.<\/p>\n As part of the agreement, the state had to improve training and response, then provide regular progress reports on those improvements.<\/p>\n