A few days ago, I started working on my courses for the fall semester at UAA. I prepared syllabi and began revamping lectures and assignments. Then, on Friday, the governor vetoed the budget, and I fear that now I will have no program to teach for when August arrives.
Like many dedicated faculty across the UA system, I uprooted my life elsewhere to move to Alaska for my job. Since my arrival in 2012, I have sacrificed time and sometimes my own well-being to teach my courses, pursue an active research agenda, mentor students, develop curriculum, create an internship program for students in my discipline, and serve on university and professional committees. My students have undertaken service learning and community engagement. Now, none of that will matter, as the university will be compelled to fire even tenured faculty like me.
The governor’s draconian and ill-advised vetoes will not only implode my career but they will also do untold damage to the university and the state. Educational opportunities for Alaskans will shrink. Students will be cut off mid-degree. For those whose programs are not cut, tuition costs will rise. Talented and intelligent young people will have to leave the state for their college educations. Studies have shown that most of them will not return.
In the meantime, I will be spending significantly less money at local businesses because I am now compelled to save for a future move out of Alaska. It’s a shame because I really loved it here. I loved my students and colleagues. They all deserve better than this.
Rachael Ball, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of History, UAA
Anchorage
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