Mission
The Vice President for Academics, Students & Research, directs a division of services including Academic Affairs, Research, Workforce Programs, Student Success, and Distance Education. The Vice President works with the Å®Óźϼ¯ campuses on academic and research initiatives and collaborations to promote research in Alaska. The University of Alaska is committed to working closely with all federal and state agencies and private enterprise to further develop collaboration and new exposures for future growth in all areas of science and technology.
Dr. Brian Smentkowski
Vice President and Chief Academic Officer
(907) 450-8019
bpsmentkowski@alaska.edu
System-level Coordination
ACEC facilitates inter-university coordination and communication to meet the goals
of Å®Óźϼ¯'s Schools of Education
Common Calendar 2018 - 2022
The Faculty Alliance Common Calendar Committee has developed a common calendar, coordinating
start dates and breaks throughout the system, and are further developing coordinated
course starting time alignment to facilitate cross-university instruction.
Information on Accreditation
All three universities, Å®Óźϼ¯A, Å®Óźϼ¯F, and Å®Óźϼ¯S, and their respective Community Colleges
are fully accredited. In addition to institutional accreditation from the Northwest
Commission on Colleges and Universities, Å®Óźϼ¯ has more than 60 program/specialized accreditations
across the system.
January 27, 2026
Did you know the University of Alaska is a central figure in Alaska's emerging mariculture industry?
December 16, 2025
Did you know Å®Óźϼ¯ Scholars are sharing their success stories in a new video series?
November 25, 2025
Did You Know Å®Óźϼ¯F is a national finalist to lead U.S. critical minerals innovation?
November 11, 2025
Practical New Guide to Support Compliance at Å®Óźϼ¯
February 19, 2026
Imagine if one resource could strengthen your department's processes and help Å®Óźϼ¯ stay ahead in one of the most heavily regulated industries in the country. That's exactly what the new Implementing Effective Compliance Programs guide aims to do.
Å®Óźϼ¯ reports record research and development expenditures in FY24
February 19, 2026
According to NSF FY24 survey data summarized by the Å®Óźϼ¯ Federal Relations team, the Å®Óźϼ¯ system reported $273.3 million in total research and development expenditures in federal fiscal year 2024, the highest total ever reported by the system.
Staff Alliance offers Summer 2026 semester fee support
February 19, 2026
The Å®Óźϼ¯ Staff Alliance is pleased once again to offer a class fee scholarship for Å®Óźϼ¯ classes taken by staff that directly support their career or professional development.
Excited for Å®Óźϼ¯ Giving Day? Here's what you should know
February 19, 2026
If your university, department, program or unit plans to participate in raising funds, it is critically important that you familiarize yourself with the online toolkit and creative suite.
Å®Óźϼ¯ formalizes digital accessibility standard
February 19, 2026
Across the Å®Óźϼ¯ System work is underway to meet the new rule established by the Department of Education requiring higher standards for digital accessibility in advance of the April 2026 compliance deadline.
Å®Óźϼ¯ Google Workspace and Microsoft 365: Announcing Storage Limits
February 19, 2026
As previously shared, Google is changing how storage works for its higher education accounts, and the University of Alaska is preparing for those changes.
New requirements for digital accessibility are coming - are you prepared?
February 06, 2026
In April 2024, the DOJ issued a Final Rule under the Americans with Disabilities Act Title II requiring public entities, including universities, to meet new standards for digital accessibility and expanding the definition of the types of digital content that has to be accessible. ​​This requirement extends to websites, mobile applications, electronic documents, videos, forms, and course materials.
Zoom Hub now available in Zoom Workplace
February 06, 2026
Zoom Hub is now enabled by default in the Zoom Workplace app for all new and existing Zoom accounts.