02 NEWS
Prioritization: A review under review By Evan Erickson
eerickson@thenorthernlight.org Faculty and administration are working to iron out the kinks in the juggernaut that is prioritization. Many details of the massive assessment of programs and services at UAA are still undecided, but several decisions have been reached following motions passed by the Faculty Senate. The first motion passed at the Oct. 4 Faculty Senate meeting was a motion to reconsider the quintile ranking system. The UAA website still reads, “all quintiles must contain an equal number of programs,” meaning 20 percent of all programs at UAA would find themselves in quintile five, “subject to further review, consider for reduction or phase out.” The University of Guelph in Ontario released an 81-page report last month detailing the findings of their own prioritization process, which also relied on a quintile ranking system. The report finds many undergraduate programs ranked poorly due to “lack of demand and difficulty demonstrating quality outcomes” and that “minors tended to score poorly, with 80 percent of minors scoring in the 4th and 5th quintile.” A progress report released by UAA’s Academic Task Force last Friday reads, “Several decisions have been made in regards to changing the quintile system and those decisions will be explained soon.” The second motion filed by Faculty Senate was a request to open program prioritization meetings to members of the university. The University of Alaska is a public entity subject to the Alaska Open Meetings Act based on a 1983 Alaska Supreme Court ruling, but exceptions were later added. UAA Faculty Senator Clayton Trotter, who made the motion concerning transparency, says prioritization meetings may be protected under
a clause that exempts “meetings of an employee group established by policy of the Board of Regents of the University of Alaska or held while acting in an advisory capacity to the Board of Regents.” “I don’t understand why they feel they need to do this in secret. If they want to have an executive session to deliberate, that makes sense,” Trotter said. Academic Task Force co-chairs responded at last Friday’s Faculty Senate that weekly notes and monthly progress reports of task force meetings will be made available. A prioritization blog is also being created for faculty and staff to voice their many concerns. The third motion deals with the prioritization timeline and recommends that faculty be given until December 2014 to complete academic templates. Both Chancellor Tom Case and Provost Elisha Baker disapproved it in an advisory capacity. Baker, who was out of town, responded in a letter also released last Friday that included a draft of the post prioritization process. The draft process lists May 9, 2014, as the release date for academic task force’s report. The draft includes a reconsideration process beginning August 2014 for programs that fall into the 5th quintile, but the chancellor is to release the final report by Jan. 30, 2015. The draft recommends that UAA’s Program, Budget and Administration Committee “integrates prioritization recommendations and chancellor’s decisions into budget process ... PBAC investment must be guided by the prioritization rankings without exception (no consideration for investment if not so prioritized).” The draft goes on to recommend program prioritization every five years in replacement of the current program review process. Provost Baker’s letter represents some of the first information made public concerning how the findings of program prioritization might be implemented.
FINISH: Getting it done C ontinued
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line. Advising can also help students stay on track. Every degree program has advisers, so once a major has been chosen, be sure to meet with an adviser at least once a semester. Meeting with an adviser to schedule classes will ensure each enrolled credit will count toward a student’s enrolled degree. If this seems like a lot, there are resources for students who are struggling to meet the requirements of their courses. Gaines suggests that all new students go through New Student Orientation. One of those resources is the Learning Resource Center, which offers a variety of tutors made available through student fees. Gaines also says if the tutors in the Learning Resource Center are not enough, the New Student Orientation Office can help students find more specialized tutors or connect with clubs specifically designed for tutoring. Working less and making school a priority is a sure way to graduate on time. However, if working less is not an option, then take advantage of summer courses. At UAA, there are two five-week sessions and one 10-week session per summer. Students who are behind can catch up on credits by enrolling during the summer. Those who will be away from campus or traveling during the summer can take online distance learning courses during this time as well. Falling behind in credits can add up to extra time and money spent in university. Wolf Pack leaders are other resources offered to students through the New Student Orientation Office. A Wolf Pack leader is a fellow student who knows his or her way around the UAA system. They will check up on new students and offer them advice or direct them to resources when needed. This help is vital to staying on track, because it’s been proven that students who are more engaged on campus are more likely to graduate. For more information about how to stay on track, visit the Stay on Track website at http://www.alaska. edu/stayontrack. New students can contact the New Student Orientation office at 907-786-1224.
AROUND ANCHORAGE
PHOTOS BY DAN DUQUE
Laura Comer of Beyond Coal speaks for Alaska Pacific University’s SAVE club about the exportation of coal outside Alaska state lines.
Senator Mark Begich addresses Boy Scouts Oct. 27 about the need for their involvement in public services.
THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, November 5, 2013
NEWS BRIEFS
Shooting at Los Angeles International Airport: Paul Ciancia opened fire Friday at Los Angeles International Airport, killing a Transportation Security Administration officer and wounding Brian Ludmer, who remains in fair condition at the UCLA Medical Center. Ciancia was carrying five magazines of ammunition and a note that referred to the New World Order and anti-government claims. Ciancia has been federally charged with the murder of a federal officer and commission of violence in an international airport, and he could face the death penalty.
Suicidal father leads to daughter’s burned body A Georgia father called 911 saying his daughter was dead and he was suicidal. Upon arrival, the father pointed first responders to a trashcan, in which they found the burned body of a girl around 10 years of age. The father claimed his daughter drank some kind of chemical. The girl’s father and stepmother were taken into custody and charged with felony murder, first-degree cruelty to children and concealing a body.
Honda minivans recalled for brake malfunction Honda is recalling 344,000 Odyssey minivans for a sensor issue that causes the vans to brake on their own. The recall is for vans from 20072008. No accidents or deaths have been reported due to the issue. The resolution is to install a new sensor, but the sensors won’t be available until 2014. Honda suggests starting the van with the wheels facing forward. If the braking sensation occurs to tap the brake pedal, which will stop the action.
News briefs compiled by Suhaila Brunelle
WEEKLY BUZZ
New underwater tunnel links Europe and Asia Europe and Asia are now connected through an underground railway tunnel called the Marmaray Link. The tunnel is the first installment in a $4.5 billion project that includes a new airport, a parallel canal for the Bosphorus river and a third suspension bridge began in 2004. However, many archeological discoveries made during the construction delayed the project. During construction, 8,500 new artifacts were discovered. The artifacts traced Istanbul’s history back 8,500 years — 2,500 years earlier than ever before.
Roman sculpture found in England A Roman sculpture was found in England last week at a site slated to be the home of a new hotel. The sculpture is of an eagle with a serpent firmly gripped in its hooked beak. The statue is carved of limestone and is 26 inches tall.
New animal species discovered Several new species of vertebrates were discovered this week in Australia’s Cape Melville mountain range. A leaf tail gecko, a gold colored skink and a brown potted yellow boulder dwelling frog. New species have also been discovered in the Amazon since 2010 — 400 to be exact — and include a monkey that purrs like a cat and a piranha that eats vegetables.
Assault victims told to wait until daytime Due to a shortage of sexual assault nurse examiners in Anchorage, rape victims are being told to wait until morning to proceed with the specialized exam. Alaska has the highest rate of sexual assault per capita with one in three women having been assaulted. Forensic exams after an assault are an important step in the collecting of evidence and convicting offenders.
Weekly Buzz compiled by Suhaila Brunelle