Education

UAF cuts $20 million from budget, eliminates scores of teaching positions

FAIRBANKS — The University of Alaska Fairbanks has announced it will cut $20 million from its budget this upcoming year.

Some of the cuts come from 150 eliminated positions, reduced campus services and widespread consolidation. The detailed budget plans were released Wednesday, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported.

UAF academic programs plan to slash 68.5 full-time positions, as well as 17 teaching assistants and adjunct faculty jobs. University spokeswoman Marmian Grimes says students will likely see more crowded classrooms and fewer duplicate offerings of required introductory courses.

Chencellor Brian Rogers sent a memo to university employees about the cuts, saying they'll mean "reduced services, slower response times in some areas and reduced central and program support. And, because UAF is a service organization, it also means fewer people."

Rogers asked the top administrators to cut 11 to 13 percent of their budgets.

"Sort of the philosophy we used on this is we have people in the departments that know these areas," Grimes said. "Why not use that expertise to make decisions about the budget?"

The cuts come as the greater University of Alaska system faces declining state funding.

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"It's commonly understood from leadership throughout the UA system that the coming year is going to be another difficult one," Grimes said.

This is the third year UAF has dealt with major budget gaps, which now total more than $42 million.

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