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March 10, 2025
UAF faculty and staff,
Thank you to everyone who has been working constructively to respond to the federal
environment and the changes. I appreciate that UAF’s response has resulted in very significant progress
towards meeting the board’s direction. While there are many unknowns, I believe that
we have reached a substantial level of alignment and we continue to make progress.
Thank you!
As promised in my communication last week, I want to provide a little more context
to our current path — at least from a risk standpoint. While UAF operates with a strong
sense of identity and purpose, our path forward is shaped by externalities we don’t
control. In the weeks since the , I have received a handful of messages from employees urging UAF to push back. That
we, as an organization, should refuse action. Refusing to act would neither comport
with the decision the Board of Regents made in their motion, nor would it be in the
best interest of our institution, in my own view. I want to reflect for a moment here
on why.
Risk assessment factors into my own decision-making and that of our top level leaders
at UAF every day — now more than ever. In every case, we must assess both the probability
and severity of the outcome of a decision. Risks come with high and/or low probability
and severity. The decisions that require special care are those with high severity
and/or high probability. Since the majority of UAF’s funding comes from federal sources
- both for teaching and research, the threat of losing all or even a substantial portion
of either could be existential. So, we know the severity is very high. I think everyone
gets that.
But what about the probability? There has been a lot of discussion about the probability
of the federal funding being cut, given that some parts of various guidances have
been enjoined by the courts. While it is true that the courts have temporarily stayed
actions, reducing probability, it is not zero. And even if the probability is low
(and we don’t know for sure that it is), the risk is just too severe to not act. Either
way, the board acted by their motion. I believe that they acted in the best interest
of the University. I also believe that we can continue to meet our students’ needs,
and serve our mission at the same time.Ìý
There is a great deal of uncertainty right now and we know that more changes will
be coming. Changes from federal grant funding agencies are yet to be resolved, and
changes to the Department of Education are yet to fully materialize. Through it all,
we will be here and doing our important work. Our actions today are critical to ensuring
UAF remains strong for the future. Now is the time to lean into success for our students
— for every student.
I appreciate your engagement. I will send out a message next Monday.
Thanks for choosing UAF!
—ÌýDan White, chancellor
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