University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen announced Thursday that the Fairbanks campus will not get a new chancellor as the university system faces a multimillion budget gap and looks into a new accreditation model.
Johnsen made the announcements in an email sent to UA students and staff. Johnsen said he will not move forward with the search for the University of Alaska Fairbanks' next chancellor, even though finalists have already been named for the job.
"The candidates for the position each had strengths, but I cannot in good conscience bring someone in knowing that we will be evaluating single accreditation that could result in elimination of that position," Johnsen said in the email.
Johnsen said he will work with UAF to name another interim chancellor to replace Mike Powers. Powers started as the interim chancellor in September and will step down in August, the email said.
Meanwhile, Johnsen is also looking into an overhaul of the UA's accreditation system. He said he will propose at a June UA Board of Regents meeting that the university "actively explore" going from three separately accredited universities to having a single accreditation.
Daniel White, UA vice president for academic affairs and research, wrote a letter to the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities in April that said UA was asked by state officials and the regents to investigate moving to a single-accreditation model.
"I hope to consult with you on this matter," White wrote to the president of the commission.
Currently, UAF, University of Alaska Anchorage and University of Alaska Southeast each operate under their own accreditations.
Johnsen said in the email that potential advantages to single-accreditation include greater flexibility, fewer top-level administrators and lower operating costs.
"We need to ensure that these potential advantages are real and that we understand all the implications of moving in this direction — hence my recent outreach to the Northwest Commission," Johnsen said in the email.
He said the current accreditations would remain as the university considered the new model. White's letter said that if the university chose to go with a single-accreditation model, it would likely take two years to implement.
Johnsen's email did not mention how much money moving to a single-accreditation model could save.
Uncertainty remains about UA's next budget. The Legislature's conference committee proposed a $50 million cut to UA's budget in April, but that number could be subject to bargaining as lawmakers try to negotiate a compromise budget.
Johnsen said while the university hopes lawmakers restore some funding, the uncertainty has left officials planning for the worst. The $50 million cut would come in addition to $25 million in unfunded mandates and contractual obligations, he said in the email.
He said the UA system will have to reduce its operating costs and its number of academic and certificate degree programs.
"We must refine our scope of operation to be within our core mission," he said. "We must make it more convenient for our students to tap the resources of the entire UA system and our campuses and reduce intercampus competition."
Johnsen said that as UA's administration became more integrated, he expected to find redundant positions and anticipated the need to reduce a "substantial number" of high-level administrative positions starting this year. He said the goal from that reduction is to save about $5 million per year.