The University of Alaska Board of Regents began a two-day series of meetings met at Kenai Peninsula College on Thursday. It’s the first time the board has convened at KPC since April of 2012 when they attended a groundbreaking for the community college’s Career and Technical Education Center.
After the first round of meetings concluded, the board’s presence was celebrated in an event showcasing the C&TE Center. Several dignitaries from the Kenai Peninsula and around the state were in attendance, including the University of Alaska-Anchorage Chancellor Sean Parnell, the University of Alaska-Fairbanks Chancellor Daniel White, Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland, and more.
“What you see here, representatives, you see a Board of Regents that hasn’t been here in 12 years, but they decided that it was important to get your Community College, your director Cheryl Siemers stepped up, gave the invite, and they are here getting a first-hand experience to see what you all do,” said UAA Chancellor Sean Parnell. “What you do here is hugely important, not just for Kenai Peninsula residents, but for all of Alaska. You’re creating opportunities for your students here. You’re creating opportunity for your communities, which are creating the greater Alaska for the rest of us and for all of us.”
The Board of Regents meetings began at 8:00 a.m. Thursday and concluded at 5:30 p.m. They resume on Friday morning and conclude in the afternoon. Meeting topics range from academic programs and community partnerships to the future of higher education in Alaska.
Meeting agendas can be found here.
