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 UA campuses on academic and research initiatives and collaborations to promote research in Alaska. The University of 91Ö±²¥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 UA'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, UAA, UAF, and UAS, and their respective Community Colleges
are fully accredited. In addition to institutional accreditation from the Northwest
Commission on Colleges and Universities, UA has more than 60 program/specialized accreditations
across the system.
February 24, 2026
January 27, 2026
Did you know the University of 91Ö±²¥is a central figure in Alaska's emerging mariculture industry?
December 16, 2025
Did you know UA Scholars are sharing their success stories in a new video series?
November 25, 2025
University of 91Ö±²¥Regents praise continued progress on student support and success initiatives
February 20, 2026
Regents meeting at UAF's Bristol Bay Campus discussed enrollment growth, recruitment and retention outcomes, and advanced revised FY27 operating and capital budget requests.
Capitol Report: February 20, 2026
February 20, 2026
House Advances Supplemental Budget with Critical Higher Education Investment Fund (HEIF) Repayment; UA Outlines Highest Budget Priorities in House Subcommittee; Legislators Meet with UAS/UAA/UAF Alumni in Juneau.
Practical New Guide to Support Compliance at UA
February 19, 2026
Imagine if one resource could strengthen your department's processes and help UA 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.
UA reports record research and development expenditures in FY24
February 19, 2026
According to NSF FY24 survey data summarized by the UA Federal Relations team, the UA system reported $273.3 million in total research and development expenditures in federal fiscal year 2024, the highest total ever reported by the system.
UA formalizes digital accessibility standard
February 19, 2026
Across the UA 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.
UA 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 91Ö±²¥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.