The University of Alaska, Anchorage Board of Regents, in an effort to cut expenses and trim the athletic department at UAA, voted on Thursday at the Board of Regents meeting to discontinue funding to men’s hockey, gymnastics, and men’s and women’s alpine skiing effective June 30, 2021.
The UAA Chancellor Cathy Sandeen removed UAA’s nordic ski program from the considered motions; thus saving the nordic skiing programs from the vote to discontinue. The elimination of the four sports amounts to a savings of approximately $2.2 million. The Board of Regents, by not including nordic skiing, agree to funding approximately $262,000 for nordic skiing in the athletic budget.
Provision for Reconsideration
The UAA Board of Regents has established a means for the programs cut by the board’s actions to gain reinstatement.
The programs must raise the equivalent of two years of operating expenses (half of the money in cash and half in firm pledges) by February 2021.
Amount of funding needed by program:
…Mens Hockey $3,000,000
…Gymnastics $880,000
…Mens and Womens Alpine Skiing $628,000
Original Motions on agenda
MOTION #1
“The Board of Regents approves discontinuation of women’s gymnastics at the University of Alaska Anchorage, effective June 30, 2021. This motion is effective September 10, 2020.”
MOTION #2
“The Board of Regents approves discontinuation of men’s and women’s skiing at the University of Alaska Anchorage, effective June 30, 2021. This motion is effective September 10, 2020.” This motion was revised to alpine skiing, removing nordic skiing from consideration.
MOTION #3
The Board of Regents approves discontinuation of men’s hockey at the University of Alaska Anchorage, effective June 30, 2021. This motion is effective September 10, 2020.”
All three motions passed by a 9-2 vote, with (regents) Andy Teuber and Cachet Garrett voting no on each motion. Dale Anderson, John Bania, Sheri Buretta, John Davies, Darroll Hargraves, Mary Hughes, Gloria O’Neill, Lisa Parker and Karen Perdue voted yes on all three motions.
Photo: SoHi’s Sadie Fox, past member of UAA nordic ski team
