University of Alaska Anchorage

Summary of FY15 Operating Budget Requests

FY15UAA Operating Budget Request

Revised August 7, 2013

Program Increments and Fixed Costs Requests

PROGRAM INCREMENTS
MAU Ranking / Program SDI Area / Title / GF / NGF
1 / Partnerships: Public/Industry / Alaska Health Workforce Pipeline (AHEC) / 652.9 / 75.0
2 / Partnerships: Public/Industry / Improving Alaskans’ Access to Health Care Through Workforce Supply / 190.0 / 40.0
3 / Research & Development / Alaska Center for Economic Development Entrepreneurship Activities / 300.0 / 50.0
4 / Partnerships: Public/Industry / Response to Mining Industry Training Needs in Geology / 200.0 / 20.0
5 / Partnerships: Public/Industry / Aviation Technology Flight Operations Safety and Oversight / 160.4 / 20.0
6 / Partnerships: AK Schools / Strengthen Education Methodologies for Alaska Native Students / 100.0 / 25.0
7 / Partnerships: Public/Industry / Diversifying Funding Streams for a Sustainable Future / 362.0 / 150.0
8 / Partnerships: Public/Industry / Support Engineering Technical Instruction Needs / 87.0 / 10.0
9 / Student Achievement / Advising Tools to Provide Clear Pathways / 75.0 / 5.0
10 / Partnerships: Public/Industry / High Demand Health Career Expansion-Dietetics and Nutrition / 139.4 / 20.0
11 / Partnerships: Public/Industry / Mat Su Valley Center for Arts and Learning Facility Manager / 75.0 / 75.0
Total Program Requests / $2,341.7 / $490.0
FIXED COST INCREMENTS
1 / Fixed Costs / AK Airlines Center (Sports Arena) Operating Costs / 2,720.0
2 / Fixed Costs / Mat Su VCAL Operating Costs / 465.0
3 / Fixed Costs / Bragaw Office Building 3-1901 / 167.4
4 / Fixed Costs / PWSCC Wellness Center Addition Operating Costs / 54.5
5 / Fixed Costs / UAA KPC Career Tech Operating Costs / 28.8
Total Fixed Costs / $3,435.7
GRAND TOTAL – PROGRAM INCREMENTS AND FIXED COSTS / $5,777.4 / $490.0

Program Increments:

  1. Alaska Health Workforce Pipeline$652.9 GF

$75.0 NGF

Theme: Productive Partnerships with Public Entities and Private Industries

Alaska’s small population and remote geography creates a challenge for recruiting and retaining a quality healthcare workforce, particularly in rural and underserved communities.Eight years ago, UA and multiple public and private stakeholders organized an effort to receive federal Area Health Education Center (AHEC) funding to address the health care workforce needs of Alaska. The AHEC mission is to achieve three goals:

  • developing and sustaining a strong local health workforce in Alaska by engaging youth and others to enter health careers
  • recruiting health students to consider working in rural and underserved areas of the state by providing clinical experiences in these communities during their training
  • retaining health professionals in these regions by providing accessible continuing education and professional development opportunities

This healthcare pathway effort has been very successful in Alaska, supporting 3,733 students to complete 7,999 clinical rotations across Alaska; reaching over 2,492 youth through engagement activities, and providing 505 continuing education opportunities to professionals.Since 2006, 1,089 students have graduated and employment locations were tracked for 762 through the State of Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD). According to DOLWD, 18% work in a rural borough or census tract, compared with national rural recruitment rates for new graduates of 8-12%.

Today, the Alaska AHEC program is at a critical juncture due to scheduled severe reduction (over 70%) of federal grant funding for four of the five AHEC regional partner sites, those based in Bethel, Fairbanks, Ketchikan and Anchorage. This request will maintain efforts in those communities. Without funding, engaging, preparing, recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals will be critically compromised, negatively affecting access to quality health care for Alaska residents. Without stable funding, at least two regional Centers will likely close, as the reduced federal funds do not cover even one staff person. Other activities will have to be greatly curtailed.

The AHEC system is a high priority of the University’s partners in the Alaska Health Workforce Coalition, including the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, Alaska Hospital and Nursing Home Association, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Alaska Primary Care Association, and many others.

  1. Improving Alaskans’ Access to Health Care Through Workforce Supply$190.0 GF

$40.0 NGF

Theme: Productive Partnerships with Public Entities and Private Industries

Based on evidence derived from applied research, the Office of Health Workforce Development at UAA works collaboratively with the colleges and campuses of the University of Alaska system to implement, improve and articulate health professions programs to respond to Alaska’s workforce needs, and to distribute them through e-learning across the state whenever feasible. Working in synchrony with external industry and agency partners, the Office facilitates multi-MAU alliances, work groups and major projects within UA to make the best use of scarce resources to address workforce shortages and prepare Alaskans for high demand, legacy jobs in health care. The Office also manages the activities of the Alaska Health Workforce Coalition, a collaborative partnership of health care industry, education and government entities. It coordinates the implementation of the Coalition’s 2010 Workforce Plan, and is responsible for many of the Plan’s action items. An increased and related responsibility to coordinate and carry out collaborative health systems and workforce research has also developed.

The Office manages the Recruitment and Retention of Alaska Natives into Nursing (RRANN) program and supports other health pathways programs. Working with school districts and communities to engage youth into health careers and providing required continuing education for health professionals are also core functions of the Office.

The workload burden of the Office increased when the responsibilities of the UA Office of Health Programs shifted to it in 2010. Previously supported by federal infrastructure funding that is no longer available, the Office requires funding to maintain existing personnel and level of effort.

  1. Entrepreneurship Activities Spur Economic Growth of Alaska$300.0 GF

$50.0 NGF

Theme: Research and Development to Sustain Alaska’s Economic Growth and Enhance Communities

The University of Alaska Center for Economic Development (UACED) requests base funding for the Entrepreneurship Initiative (CEDEI) to promote and encourageentrepreneurship activities throughout the University of Alaska system and throughout Alaska. A new CEDEI Director will develop and teach entrepreneurship interdisciplinary courses, conduct research, and develop a UA student consulting program. The Director will coordinate programs such as the veteran’s Boot Camp prisoner entrepreneurship program, Lemonade Day and other efforts to establish entrepreneurial capacity and support systems. Funding will create student intern positions to support specific industry sectors (fisheries, mining and energy) as well as conduct analysis of student/faculty ideas that have a high potential for commercialization. An Entrepreneurship and Leadership seminar series will include successful entrepreneurs, researchers, investors and innovators who are focused on emerging market sectors important to Alaska’s economy. Funding will educate and encourage new and innovative thinking, venture competencies, and leadership to assist local businesses, and positively influence the economic growth of Alaska. The UACED serves the entire State of Alaska—with special attention focused on rural and largely native Alaskan community areas.

  1. Response to Mining Industry Geology Training Needs$200.0 GF

$20.0 NGF

Theme: Productive Partnerships with Public Entities and Private Industries

UAA’s Geology program has partnered with the Mining Industry to produce graduates that are well trained to meet the growing needs of Alaska’s resource extraction economy, however, an assessment of industry needs facilitated by the Department of Geology’s Community Advisory Board and conversations with mining industry representatives highlighted two important needs. First, UAA’s Geology program needs to provide more emphasis on economic geology, and, second, it needs to be more thoroughly grounded in environmental geology. To meet these needs, two tenure track faculty in Geology are requested: one in Economic Geology (to replace temporary funding by industry), and one in Environmental Geology to meet the additional need for trained geologists. Geology is a recent degree at UAA and has grown to a program of over a hundred majors with excellent job placement within the field.

  1. Aviation Technology Flight Operations Safety and Oversight$160.4 GF

$20.0 NGF

Theme: Productive Partnerships with Public Entities and Private Industries

UAA operates the only flight training program offered by the University of Alaska system in conjunction with the associate and bachelor degree programs in professional piloting. This increment will fund the flight operations general manager and the flight operations coordinator—two positions critical to the continued safety and success of the Aviation Technology Division’s FAA-approved Part 141 flight training program. Flight operations personnel play a pivotal role in risk management and professional supervision of flight training, including the program’s emergency response procedures. The flight operations manager selects, manages and mentors the program’s certified flight instructors. The flight manager performs the final quality-control flights with piloting students before they take their FAA check rides to earn their licenses or certifications. The coordinator maintains records of the financial transactions for the pay-as-you-go flight operations and coordinates aircraft assignments in real time to accommodate aircraft maintenance, weather, and/or other flight delays. These are continuing positions in support of Alaska’s high-demand career fields in aviation and transportation. The positions have been funded since FY08 by TVEP funds which are scheduled to discontinue in FY15.

  1. Strengthen Education Methodologies for Alaska Native Students$100.0 GF

$25.0 NGF

Theme: Productive Partnerships with Alaska’s Schools

While Alaska’s indigenous students comprise approximately 25% of the State’s student population, representation of Alaska Natives in the education workforce is only 5-7%. The College of Education (COE) seeks support to establish a Center of Alaska Native Education and Pedagogical Studies. The mission of this unique Center will be to transform education for Alaska’s indigenous peoples through the preparation of Alaska Native educators who are knowledgeable about both Western and indigenous educational practices, histories and philosophies. The pedagogical studies component will seek not only to impart best practice for the education of indigenous students but also to contribute to the field through research conducted by students and faculty. Outreach programs for non-Native students and other interested parties will be developed, as will partnerships with appropriate entities. The Center of Alaska Native Education and Pedagogical Studies will draw on current COE faculty expertise for resources and research currently located in the COE. Additional funds are requested to support one new position: a facilitator for the center who will coordinate internal efforts, facilitate collaboration betweenUAA faculty/staff and outside agencies and organizations, connect with schools and district offices, liaise with potential and current students, and publicize center activities, efforts and issues.

  1. Diversifying Funding Streams for a Sustainable Future$362.0 GF

$150.0 NGF

Theme: Productive Partnerships with Public Entities and Private Industries

A well-supported University Advancement operation will expand pursuit of private funding for research; educate the public on progress in high demand job areas; support large infrastructure projects; and increase fund development for student scholarships and other access, persistence and completion strategies. Over the last five years, the UAA Advancement office has raised an average of over $10 million per year and has seen the successful roll out of UAA’s Branding Campaign. However, a continuing lack of administrative support in the fundraising and in the public relations units within Advancement has become a limiting factor to productivity and needs to be addressed. This request will fund an assistant director of annual giving, a development specialist and a development coordinator. These positions are instrumental to ensuring an influx of new donors to UAA, cultivation and stewardship of existing donors and the on-going solicitation of major gifts. It will also fund a new social media specialist, an essential position for communications with students and the campus community. An additional public/media relations specialist will provide critically important redundancy in our crisis response and media relations functions.

All of these positions are now necessary to the department substructure in support of university advancement, public relations and development work at UAA.

  1. Support Engineering Technical Instruction Needs$87.0 GF

$10.0 NGF

Theme: Productive Partnerships with Public Entities and Private Industries

Funding and authority are requested to hire a permanent full-time Computers and Software Coordinator to maintain specialized School of Engineering (SOE) teaching and research software, to coordinate hardware needs of 6 SOE computer labs with ITS, to train and supervise student lab monitors, and to support audiovisual synchronous distance delivery for the Project Management program at the University Center. This position is currently being filled with a temporary position; a permanent position is necessary to continue specialized support for unique hardware, software, and A/V resources, as well as for continuity as the school prepares to relocate to new and renovated buildings. This position provides internal assistance to SOE faculty and staff and provides a single point of contact for UAA IT Services support. A permanent presence is required within the school to manage unique software licenses and a specialized IT and A/V equipment inventory. An embedded position within SOE enables frequent and continuous contact with faculty to verify technical requirements and ensure the latest versions of software are installed.

  1. Advising Tools to Provide Clear Pathways$75.0 GF

$5.0 NGF

Theme: Student Achievement and Attainment

Funding is needed to continue production of 12 Career Cluster Guidebooks and 133 Educational PathwayFact Sheets used in advising for every degree and certification program in the Anchorage MAU. The Pathway Fact Sheets are updated continually and re-printed with eachupdate. The Career Cluster Guidebooks were finished and printed this year and are being distributed to high schools and other entities statewide. The CareerCluster Guidebooks utilize an interest survey and explain how different educational pathways lead to a career in a desired trade or field. All UAA academic departments purchase the Fact Sheets to use during advising appointment and for promoting their programs. Advising and Testing andother offices such as Native Student Services, Student Support Services, and Disability Support Services purchase the sheets for advising purposes. Discontinuation of the program would leave departments without current high quality career/major guidance materials. Moreover, the Fact Sheets providea consistent presentation of UAA Academic information – allowing students to effectively compare different programs. This too would be lost if theprogram closes – making more difficult for current and future students to compare programs and plan a path to graduation. Technical Vocational Education Program (TVEP)funding for the program coordinator (0.75 FTE) will end after FY14.

  1. High Demand Health Career Expansion- Dietetics and Nutrition$139.4 GF

$20.0 NGF

Theme: Productive Partnerships with Public Entities and Private Industries

In AY11, UAA opened two statewide, distance-delivered bachelor’s degree programs in the high-demand career fields of dietetics and nutrition. These programs were designed by a joint industry-university planning group to meet the state’s needs for more healthcare professionals educated in these fields. The dietetics baccalaureate program prepares students to enter UAA’s graduate internship in dietetics, the internship meets the requirements for becoming a registered dietician. High student demand for the nutrition bachelor’s degree exceeded program capacity and admissions were suspended in 2012 until new resources were secured to accommodate program growth; 105 majors enrolled in the B.S. in Nutrition in 2011-2012, with 20 additional majors enrolling in the dietetics program. Coursework offered in dietetics and nutrition also supports other high-demand programs such as nursing, medical laboratory technology, radiology, dental hygiene and early childhood education. In response to high student demand for the nutrition major, and for the online dietetics and nutrition courses, an additional term faculty position was funded by TVEP in FY13; this increment is to provide permanent general funds for continuing this faculty position.

  1. Mat-Su Valley Center for Arts and Learning (VCAL)Facility Manager$75.0 GF

$75.0 NGF

Theme: Productive Partnerships with Public Entities and Private Industries

With the passage of the statewide GO Bonds in the fall of 2010, funding was secured for the VCAL facility on the Mat-Su College campus. As the design and the construction of this facility are completed, MSC will recruit and hire appropriate personnel to manage and operate the theatre/auditorium. A facility manager is a key staff component and will schedule and solicit facility uses, develop operational policies and procedures and participate in the latter stages of the construction to better understand and operate the facility. Operationally, VCAL will have both community and college uses. University generated revenue and increased semester credit hours will be impacted starting in FY15 by theatre operations and additional classes held in the facility.

Fixed Costs:

  1. UAA Alaska Airlines Center (Sports Arena) Facility Operating Costs $2,720.0 GF

The UAA Sports Arena comes on line in July 2014. M & R is estimated at $1.64M (1.5% of TPC $109M); Operating (utilities, custodial, grounds) is $1.08M ($5.50/GSF x $197,000 GSF.)

  1. Mat Su VCAL Operating Costs and Facility Coordinator $465.0 GF

Mat Su Valley Center for Arts and Learning (VCAL) comes on line in July 2014. M & R is estimated at $300K (1.5% of $20M TPC); Operating is $165.0 ($5.50/GSF x 30,000 GSF.)

  1. Bragaw Office Building 3-1901 $167.4 GF

Bragaw Office Building 3-1901 comes on line in Spring 2014. M&R and operating costs of $612.4 are offset by savings from the Diplomacy Building of $445.0, for a total request of $167.4.

Bragaw: M & R $240.0 (1.5% of $16M); Operating $372.4 ($5.50/GSF x 67,700 GSF.)