University of Alaska

The UAS chancellor says programs with larger enrollments are more likely to be retained. But he adds that some smaller programs, like Alaska Native languages, are critical to the mission of UAS.

The bill would accept $89 million in vetoes, including $20 million in cuts to the University of Alaska, a $49 million cut to school bond debt reimbursement and a $20 million cut to rural school construction.

The declaration comes as the university grapples with a roughly 40% funding cut from Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s line-item veto and legislators’ failed attempts to override the veto.

As the Alaska Legislature continues to grapple with the state’s budget, Juneau is dealing with the direct and indirect impacts of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes.

The announcement comes despite concerns expressed by the accreditation commission’s president, who has warned that cuts to the University of Alaska’s budget could jeopardize accreditation in the future.

The University of Alaska system is known as a leader in climate change research, studying melting permafrost to shrinking glaciers. But there’s growing uncertainty about the future of such projects with steep cuts to state funding.