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This move is in response to a January 2025 executive order from President Donald Trump, which rescinded Executive Order 11246, a 1965 mandate that required federal contractors to implement affirmative action programs.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].
I am glad to see this. As an Alaskan Native I’m sick of employers only looking at my skin color and not for my qualifications!
University of Alaska Board of Regents = Stuffed shirts who get paid and do nothing.
Here is what they say ‘ “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 is nothing but double-speak from stuffed shirts. Does this mean they haven’t been following their own policies toward “protected classes” whatever the hell those are? if there’s nothing to change, why are they changing?
they mean they will not call it affirmative action, but the affirmative action hiring policies will remain the same.
This requirement shouldn’t even have to be through an Executive Order. What universe does the University of Alaska live in today? Affirmative Action is no longer code language for any legal reason to discriminate. Hiring any racial, sexual, age related, place of origin related, etc …..or any category that places identification of an individual into question for purposes of preferential employment is DISCRIMINATION on its face.
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The UA system is not only far behind the times, it is operating catagorically as an outlaw institution.
UA system is full of old hipocrites, Marxist lefties pretending to be academics.
A step in the right direction. Hope it passes.
Merit matters.
Defining and applying meritorious principles has always been and will continue to be difficult.
The press release put out by the University is revealing and problematic.
Our University system would serve us well by being more mission focused instead of focusing excessively on topics like merit.
“Our University system would serve us well by being more mission focused instead of focusing excessively on topics like merit.”
Huh?
Did you mean ……..instead focusing excessively on topics like affirmative action/protected classes?
Isn’t our entire educational system based on merit? You do the course work, pass the class by getting a grade for the effort you put in and eventually a diploma?
Please elaborate.
It’s just COMMON SENSE!
The definition of common sense is rooted in one’s experiences. Common sense for an electrician is different than common sense for a dentist.
I would applaud this if it were being done out of principle. But it is not, it is only being done as a spineless way to ensure a constant flow of federal money.
You are right! Students of UA system are deeper in school debt than any other university. Its. been a proven fact. Huge salaries paid for from federal money and student money. Dunleavy, Parnell and the ole buddy system!
Protected classes?. What a joke Mr Parnell was to the USA system. It was a Sub par university and now it running with a protected class in its administration and teachers.
Well, that’s so nice.
So, they’re going to decide whether or not they’ll hire the most qualified people?
What a concept that our educational system might even benefit if they decide in favor of it.
Brilliant!
Ok Mr Faulkner. Finally a news articke that stirs up some difference in opinions. Debate is on!
Proposing! Affirmative Action and D.E.I. is unlawful! Equal Rights / Merit Based is the only policy…Period!
I was around when the unconstitutional, unfair, and ridiculous Affirmative Action became national policy. It was always discriminatory and wrong, and even Black Americans spoke out against it (e.g., Ward Connerly, who vigorously fought against it in the school systems). It should never have been allowed (let alone promoted), and it led to the phenomenon of wondering whether various people got their jobs because of merit or because of skin color; THAT was very unfair to all of those who worked hard to get ahead.
I suppose the proof will be in the pudding so to speak. Let’s see, who they hire to be the new chancellor.
On further reflection it seems interesting that UAA claims nothing will change in their hiring practices, yet they deliberately set up an “affirmative action program” which specifically sought out individuals in “protected classes” to promote and hire. It would be nice to see their “merit-based” hiring and promoting in action.
Why is it so hard to just hire/promote the best person for the job?
I do feel a bit of sympathy for major educational systems. The last four years DEI was king and I might add enthusiastically embraced, now all that is supposed to go away. Maybe this back to basic is going to bring some sanity back to the education of our future leaders, where words are NOT violence and debate is actually sought out and embraced.
I’d feel better about this “change” in direction if they were firing everyone hired under DEI and this decision wasn’t forced on them. Seriously, most of the corporations and educational institutions are just re-branding it to be JEDI or some other acronym….as I’ve been told “our objectives have not changed, just how we’re talking about it”
Deck chairs on the Titanic