The University of Alaska Anchorage has released a list of programs that may be eliminated or suspended to cope with budget cuts arranged by the university system and Gov. Mike Dunleavy last year. The proposal, posted on the university’s website on Tuesday, does not recommend the suspension or deletion of any programs at Kenai Peninsula College.
This year, the University of Alaska system is facing a second consecutive $25 million cut in state funding, which will be followed by another $20 million cut in 2020-2021, UAA’s website says. To address the funding cuts, UAA is seeking to reduce the number of degree programs they offer. In his proposed FY20 budget, Dunleavy called for a $135 million cut to the university system, but that number was reduced to a $70 million cut over the three years.
All programs offered at the University of Alaska Anchorage, which includes the Kenai Peninsula College, MatSu College, Prince William Sound College and Kodiak College, were included in the review process.
No Kenai Peninsula College programs were identified for suspension or deletion, Gary Turner, the college’s director, said. However, the college’s corrections occupational endorsement certificate and undergraduate certificate programs will undergo revision, Turner said. The general business associate’s degree is a program shared across campuses and is recommended for a continued review, Turner said.
In their proposal, the university said the majority of UAA’s degree and certificate programs will not be impacted by the budget reductions. To figure out what should stay and what should go, an expedited academic program review began this month and will conclude in June when the Board of Regents makes its final decisions.
The proposal released Tuesday includes six recommendation options: the enhancement of the program; continuing the program with no changes; revising the program; reviewing the program again in a two-year time period; suspending the program and stop accepting new students; and deleting the program within a defined period of time.
There are nine programs at UAA that are being considered for deletion, including the Master of Arts in anthropology, Master of Science in clinical psychology, Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and literary arts, Master of Education in early childhood special education, Master of Arts in English, Bachelor of Science in environment and society, legal studies and paralegal undergraduate certificate, bachelor’s degrees in sociology and Bachelor of Arts in theater.
There are 10 programs being considered for suspension at UAA, including Associate of Applied Science in aviation administration, undergraduate certificate of civic engagement, Bachelor of Arts in hospitality administration, Associate of Applied Science and occupational endorsement and undergraduate certificates in logistics and supply chain operations, Bachelor of Business Administration in management information systems, occupational endorsement certificate in office foundations and support, occupational endorsement certificate in radiologic tech and limited radiography and Associate of Applied Science in welding and nondestructive testing.
Some programs were recommended for enhancements, like nursing, accounting, fire and emergency services technology, health sciences, pharmacy technology and social work.
The recommendations are not final decisions for each program. The Board of Regents will make a final decision in June.
