By BRENDA JOSEPHSON
The University of Alaska (UA) Board of Regents has proposed revisions to Regents’ Policy 04.02, which would eliminate affirmative action language to align with federal mandates and emphasize merit-based hiring. The board introduced these changes during its meeting in Juneau on September 5-6. The revisions aim to ensure fairness and compliance while securing access to essential federal funding.
The current Regents’ Policy 04.02 commits the university to equal employment opportunity and outlines an affirmative action program designed to recruit and promote “protected classes.” It mandates that major administrative units develop their own affirmative action programs and appoint affirmative action officers to oversee and monitor progress.
The proposed amendments would eliminate these provisions and introduce a clear focus on “merit-based advancement opportunities” and “equal opportunities and access in employment to all individuals, free from any unlawful discrimination based on legally protected status.” The role of “affirmative action officer” would be changed to “human resources officer,” indicating a move toward more streamlined and impartial hiring practices.
This move is in response to a January 2025 executive order from President Donald Trump, which rescinded Executive Order 11246, a 1965 mandate that required federal contractors to implement affirmative action programs. By aligning with Trump’s federal directive, UA seeks to protect millions in federal grants that are essential to its operations.
In a news release, the university claims that the elimination of affirmative action language will not change its practices. The release states, “As a practical matter, if adopted by the board in November, the policy updates will not result in changes to UA’s current hiring or admission practices, which remain consistent with long-standing federal guidance barring discrimination.”
This development builds on other changes in 2025 that updated university practices. In February, the board voted to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) terminology from websites, publications, and job titles, a move that clarified UA’s commitment to fairness and compliance with federal expectations.
In June, further updates eliminated references to “affirmative action” in favor of language that emphasizes equal access and merit. These modifications, reviewed alongside updates to public records policies during the September meeting, demonstrate an effort to keep UA competitive and financially secure.
The proposed revisions, presented as a first reading, are scheduled for a final vote in November. University officials emphasize that these updates will safeguard UA against potential funding losses while strengthening a hiring process that prioritizes qualifications over quotas. This approach reflects a broader national trend toward policies that emphasize individual merit, ensuring fairness and opportunity.
For more details on the policy revisions and board activities, visit alaska.edu/bor.
Brenda Josephson is a board member of Alaska Gold Communications, Inc., the publisher of Must Read Alaska. You can contact her via email at [email protected].