UA President Jim Johnsen will discuss progress on solving the university's land grant deficit at Commonwealth North luncheon, April 25
WHO: University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen
WHAT: A luncheon presentation to the Commonwealth North membership on the university's federal land grant deficit, what UA is doing to secure its full allotment and the role the land grant plays in UA's budget. In his presentation, Johnsen will discuss the impacts of a small land grant to UA, and current efforts in Washington, D.C. to secure the additional 360,000 acres to which UA is entitled.
Land grant universities received federal lands from the federal government to create an investable income to support public university programs.
WHEN: Noon-1 p.m. on Thursday, April 25.
WHERE: Commonwealth North luncheon, the Petroleum Club of Anchorage, 3301 C Street.
LAND GRANT BACKGROUND:
The University of Alaska has the second-smallest land grant holdings of any U.S land grant institution in the country. When Alaska became a state in 1959, all previous federal legislation that awarded land to UA was repealed. The Statehood Act gave the new state rights to a large selection from which it was expected to provide lands to UA. However, as result of a series of historic circumstances, the university is still owed about 360,000 acres of public land. Today, UA owns approximately 145,000 acres. Income from the university's Land Grant Trust Fund provides for a $12,000 scholarship awarded to the top 10 percent of graduates from every Alaska high school, and supports teaching and research. For more information, visit http://www.ualand.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=UniversityLands.Home.
For more information, contact Roberta Graham, associate vice president of public affairs at 907-360-2416 (cell).