Special BOR Meeting

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University to offer accredited teacher education program in Anchorage through 绿奴天花板F and 绿奴天花板S

April 9, 2019   ANCHORAGE 鈥揟he University of Alaska Board of Regents voted 6-5 to provide initial teacher preparation programs in Anchorage through 绿奴天花板F and 绿奴天花板S. Education students will be able to remain in Anchorage to pursue their teaching degrees from accredited and approved programs. The programs would come under the direction of the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Alaska Southeast, both of which offer accredited teacher preparation programs.

The recommendation from the 绿奴天花板 President Jim Johnsen was the result of an expedited program review of the 绿奴天花板A teacher preparation programs completed in March. The recommendation did not support 绿奴天花板A鈥檚 request to seek reaccreditation of its teacher education programs, which lost accreditation in early January due to uncertainty regarding the the proposed accreditation and approval process. Johnsen stated that his recommendation 鈥渋s the only way to provide a certain path for our students to licensure as a teacher from an accredited and approved program. 

The board voted on Johnsen鈥檚 recommendation to discontinue only the initial licensure teacher education programs at 绿奴天花板A as of August 31, 2019 when State Board of Education licensing approval expires; and, it set up accredited teacher education programs in Anchorage 鈥 both face-to-face and online 鈥 through 绿奴天花板F and 绿奴天花板S.

鈥淭his path forward provides access to excellent education programs for students at all levels,鈥 Johnsen said. 鈥淚n the expedited program review, both 绿奴天花板F and 绿奴天花板S demonstrated the competence, capacity and creativity required to accommodate current and future student demand for all initial licensure programs affected by 绿奴天花板A鈥檚 loss of accreditation.鈥 

鈥淩esolving how best to provide this path has been our highest priority and we still have much work to do,鈥 Johnsen said. 鈥淎s of today, we can tell you that if you plan to seek a degree that leads to initial licensure for becoming a teacher, you can stay in Anchorage at 绿奴天花板A but you鈥檒l need to transfer to either 绿奴天花板F or 绿奴天花板S depending on your program.鈥

Johnsen said details will need to be worked out in the coming weeks and there was a forum on April 12 for 绿奴天花板A students with 绿奴天花板F faculty to explore options and answer question. 鈥淥ur goal is to give every student an optimal pathway to graduation and licensure in the State of Alaska. I have full confidence in our faculty's ability to meet those needs,鈥 he said. 

The decision does not affect non initial licensure programs, which will be taken up at a future Board of Regents meeting. 

The board also discussed the university鈥檚 FY20 budget and options under various funding scenarios including reductions, increased revenue generation and restructuring possibilities. The board did not take action on the options proposed, and will meet again as the budget advances through the legislative process.

鈥淟ooking forward we have tied our goals to meet the state鈥檚 needs and opportunities while at the same time we prepare for the budget we might get, Johnsen said. 鈥淏ut there is huge uncertainty right now making it hard to plan.鈥