07-01-19 Special Update for UAS students

Dear UAS students:  

Just two months ago I had the joy of celebrating the graduation of some 650 UAS students who understand that a college degree or workforce credential creates a better life for themselves, their family, and their community. Remembering the smiles on the faces of our graduates made it even  more difficult to hear last Friday of Governor Dunleavy’s veto of the University of Alaska Budget, cutting 41% ($134 million) from undesignated general funds that are essential to our programs. As UAS Chancellor, I fear that this veto will have a dramatic impact on the programs and services that we provide to you at our three UAS campuses. 

But the Governor’s action is not the end of this story. We need your help now in advocating for a legislative override of his action. This can happen when the legislature reconvenes during the week of July 8-12. Our legislators across the state have an opportunity to vote for an override that will restore most of the university’s funding. 

As a student, your voice is particularly important. All legislators need to hear why a University of Alaska education is important to you. I strongly encourage you to speak up now in support of a legislative override of the governor’s veto. 

Even in these turbulent times, all of us at the University of Alaska Southeast continue to advocate and focus on providing you with quality education at an affordable cost.  Your success is our foremost goal. We will do our best to keep you informed about changes that may come given this budget challenge. But just now, it is very important that all who care about the University of Alaska and our UAS programs and campuses reach out to legislators in support of a legislative override.

Thank you for your support and for your patience as we work through these challenging times.

Sincerely,