The University of Alaska’s board of regents is considering whether to consolidate the school’s education programs into one college based in Fairbanks, a move that has drawn criticism from the university’s Juneau campus.
The Juneau Empire reports (http://bit.ly/2fghis2 ) the board is expected to decide sometime this week on what university President Jim Johnsen has called a cost-saving measure.
Under the single systemwide college of education, there would only be one dean, instead of the three that currently operate within the university system.
The advisory council for University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau passed a resolution Monday expressing “overwhelming disagreement” with Johnsen’s plan.
Juneau Mayor Ken Koelsch has also opposed the change, arguing that centralizing education programs in Fairbanks could potentially hurt the “long-term viability” of the University of Alaska Southeast.
