Janice Park
1. What critical roles do you see UAA playing in the state in the next two years?
I would like to see the University take a leading role in training the next new cohort of educators and healthcare professionals. We live in a state with the highest proportion of seniors. The continued aging of our population demands an increase in the number of healthcare providers available.
Currently and for many years, the School of Nursing has had a backlog of student applications. I believe that we should provide funding to increase the capacity of the School of Nursing to accommodate the demand in this state. Currently local hospitals are staffing with traveling nurses at a higher cost. Increasing the number of nurses available available locally can help decrease the cost of our healthcare system, which is the most expensive in the country.
In addition, we need to train social workers, respiratory therapists and other healthcare professionals to help seniors age in place. We do not have enough beds available in senior homes, Pioneer homes and other facilities, so we must expect a large number of seniors will remain in their family homes with appropriate care..
In addition, we should be training our own teachers here in Alaska, particularly from Alaska Native and other underserved communities. Our teacher shortage has reached crisis proportions.
However, these goals would appear to be out of reach as long as we cannot provide our state University professors and staff, as well as other teachers and state employees, a defined benefit package to encourage recruitment and retention in this very competitive national job market.
2. How do you see UAA serving the constituents in your district?
As noted above, we should be providing education in state for educators and healthcare professionals
I believe that residents of this district would be better served by increasing availability of courses to families who’s children are currently leaving Alaska to go outside Alaska for advanced degrees.
Most of these young people do not return to their families in Alaska because they do not perceive they have a future here. State jobs and jobs and teaching cannot compete here with the pay and benefits available outside
Often that is the result of a lack of defined benefit retirement which would encourage young families to stay here in jobs at the University or for the state in areas of expertise where we are losing institutional memory.
3. The University of Alaska is subject to an unpredictable budget process, resulting in more budget reductions than increases during the past decade. What do you recommend as the appropriate path forward for the University budget process?
The numerous budget decreases over the last decade have contributed decreased class and major choices, causing the loss of recruitment of students from the lower 48. At one time we were recognized to have a world-class university, and these budget cuts have contributed to its decline over the years.
I believe that a robust university is an asset to the community and attracts young families which are needed to offset the number of Alaskans who are currently aging.
4. UAA has a growing need to properly maintain its facilities for housing and classrooms, and for its research, engineering, health, technical, and sports programs. What is your position on capital funding for facilities maintenance at UAA?
I believe that we have to increase funding for University facilities, and in particular for deferred maintenance. I have a history of working in the water treatment industry. Currently UAA has state of the art boilers that do not have protection from corrosion and scaling that is a common result of using unsoftened water for boilers in Alaska.
Pre-treatment of boiler water is just one example of how a capital investment can be protected thereby lengthening the life expensive equipment. Failure of the systems due to lack of maintenance would create a major budgetary crisis that can be averted with some advanced planning.
Student housing is another important area of need. Housing in Alaska is extremely expensive. There must be more accessibility for students to complete their education here. It is understandable that the university this year has been forced to implement a $100 monthly increase in housing cost.
We must invest in more housing for students as well as the general community. This is an important factor in attracting students who will stay to complete their education while enjoying the outdoor beauty and lifestyle that Alaska offers to young people; and who may eventually stay in Alaska to work and to raise their families.