newsminer.com

FAIRBANKS — University of Alaska Fairbanks’ new interim chancellor, Brian Rogers, is looking for input from the community.

Rogers has started a transition process, a period to learn about university issues and help shape his tenure as chancellor.

The process consists of 15 committees covering such topics as enrollment and sustainability.

Each committee will meet during June to work on a report containing suggestions and priorities important to the committee.

The reports will be used to develop themes for Rogers’ convocation and to develop goals for the next two years.

A Web site has been set up to keep the public informed of committee meeting times and what happens at the meetings. The meetings are open to the public.

“We’re trying to get as much input as we can,” said Charles Fedullo, transition manager.

In addition to the Web site, meeting information has been sent to calendars at KUAC, UAF and the Daily News-Miner, and people on the UAF e-mail list have also received messages about meetings, Fedullo said.

The process doesn’t only focus on the university issues. Committees include the university’s role in community engagement and community economic development.

At the initial meeting on May 28, committee chairs decided to split the topic of community into two committees.

Kathryn Dodge, community economic development chair, said the separation of the two topics will allow for more exploration and understanding of each topic.

Dodge said the committee is still in the early stages of work, but is working on defining economic development and how to implement programs and practices.

She also points out the need to include areas other than Fairbanks because the university has campuses in Dillingham, Kotzebue and Nome.

Rogers said he has not been to every committee meeting, but plans to be more involved during the later stages.

He said he has heard some comments from the committees and said human resource issues are a common theme.

Rogers said he wants to keep the transition process as open and clear as possible.

He said since the Web site launched earlier this week he has received a few e-mail responses and that he welcomes more from the public.

Fedullo said the reports will be due to Rogers by July 7. Rogers will review and prepare them for public release later in the year.

“Our goal is for it to be ready for publication in early August,” Fedullo said.