Budget update: Feb. 27
February 27, 2019
— by Dan White, chancellor
During the first week of February, members of our ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ Association visited the halls
of the Capitol, working hard to share their stories about the university’s value to
our community and state.
Last week, I spent a day in Juneau with fellow members of the Greater Fairbanks Chamber
of Commerce board. We were there for the chamber’s annual fly-in, a great opportunity
to promote UAF to legislators and other public officials.
Leaders in the Associated Students of UAF are acting at their own initiative, spearheading
a letter-writing campaign to ensure that our elected officials hear how much their
university means to them and their future.
Thank you to our alumni, students and community partners for their efforts. It has
been so encouraging to see so many people supporting the university and advocating
on UAF’s behalf.
As advocacy efforts ramp up, we need your help. When you talk to your friends, neighbors
and elected officials about why UAF is important to you, your family and our community,
you are helping to build support and keep our university strong. To assist with your
efforts, we have created on my website. It includes talking points, fact sheets, contact information for legislators
and helpful tips on how to tell your story in the most effective way possible. You
can also find advocacy materials and information on UA statewide’s .
I have received calls from alumni and business leaders who are not currently in ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥
but have business interests in ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ or have their students enrolled at UAF asking
how they can help. The court of public opinion looms large in this debate.
UAF students are working to organize a rally in support of the university on March
6 at 5:30 p.m. Faculty, staff, students, alumni and members of the community are free
to attend. More information about the rally will be shared when it is available. In
the meantime, please join me in advocating on UAF’s behalf. Together, I am confident
we can make a difference.
To keep you all abreast of actions from the Chancellor’s Office I am posting memos
on my website at . The latest memo issued on Feb. 25, 2019, addresses a mission focus task that I am
working on with vice chancellors, at the president’s request. It also discusses my
request of deans and directors to begin thinking about collaborations that will allow
UAF to cooperatively streamline functions.
Thank you for all that each of you do for UAF.