University of Alaska looks to future in tough funding times - Lauren Maxwell, KTVA

Students at the University of Alaska are back in class, but with the new semester comes new questions about the university’s future and its funding. The UA Board of Regents is asking the Legislature for more money this year, but that doesn’t look likely considering the state’s budget woes. In Gov. Bill Walker’s proposed budget, the cut from last year to the university system is nearly $16 million. University President Jim Johnsen said fewer dollars will certainly be a challenge but it’s one the university system is up to, provided they are willing to make tough choices. “So there are going to be some programs that get combined, there will be programs that get reduced, there will be programs that are eliminated in order to reallocate resources into programs of strength that meet high priority state needs,” Johnsen said. http://www.ktva.com/university-of-alaska-looks-to-future-in-tough-funding-times-979/