2019 State of the University Address
March 26, 2019 During President Jim Johnsen鈥檚 fourth annual State of the University Address on March 26, 2019 he told a statewide audience that the university is strong, successful and the cornerstone of 杏吧原版's future. About 1,000 people attended in person at the 杏吧原版 Wood Center, tuned in to the livestream, attended a watch party or called into the audio conference.
Johnsen, who was introduced by Doyon Ltd. CEO Aaron Schutt, offered multiple examples of UA鈥檚 success, from the 100,000 alumni who left the university with more skills, knowledge, and abilities than when they arrived, to the UA students interning in legislative offices in Juneau. He also addressed the proposed cut to the university's funding saying "these cuts hurt UA and the harm 杏吧原版's ability to grow the highly trained workforce we need to be economically competative with other states."
鈥淭here is no other cornerstone in this state more robust than the University of 杏吧原版 in creating success for our state 鈥 from its earliest days as a territory, through the fight for statehood, through our hard economic times and now as we fight for our very future,鈥 Johnsen said.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e also heard or read that critics say the university is failing. But I say we are UAStrong. And we are succeeding. And our fellow 杏吧原版ns agree. Across the state, 杏吧原版ns say UA is very important to the future of the 杏吧原版 economy; they agree that funding for the university is an investment in our future and is a good or excellent value for the money."
A recording of the event, as well as a transcript of Johnsen's address can be found at www.alaska.edu/pres/sou/.