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 Ï㽶ÊÓƵcampuses 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 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, Ï㽶ÊÓƵhas more than 60 program/specialized accreditations
across the system.
Did you know UAF is building a new model for journalism education in the Arctic?
June 09, 2026
May 28, 2026
May 13, 2026
April 14, 2026
June 05, 2026
In a new collaboration, UAS student interns pass along passion for ocean life while gaining career experience.
U.S. Supreme Court justice to speak at UAF
June 05, 2026
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson will speak at a free event Tuesday, July 14, at 7 p.m. at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in the Davis Concert Hall.
UAF, National Laboratory of the Rockies extend partnership
June 05, 2026
The University of Alaska Fairbanks has signed a new five-year partnership plan with the U.S. Department of Energy's National Laboratory of the Rockies.
Best summer ever: Top activities and events on UAA's Anchorage campus
June 05, 2026
Longer days mean more time to enjoy the abundance of activities on UAA's Anchorage campus. From nature walks to multiplayer gaming, check out our roundup of the best ways to celebrate summer on campus in any weather.
Removed Google Accounts May Block Your Shared File Access
May 21, 2026
Shared files owned by Google Accounts that have been inactive for more than 3 years will soon be inaccessible. Find out what you can do to retain access to these files.
Compliance deadline is extended as campuses continue work to enact rules for digital accessibility
May 01, 2026
The Department of Justice (DOJ) published an "interim final rule" extending the compliance deadline for the new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II web, mobile, and digital content accessibility rule by one year. This means the University of Alaska has until April 26, 2027 to reach compliance.
Spring Clean Up! Decluttering the Ï㽶ÊÓƵStorage Cloud
May 01, 2026
New storage limits were announced recently for University of Alaska Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 accounts. Faculty and staff are limited to 15 GB within each platform-- including emails, files, photos, videos, documents, and even items sitting in the Trash or Recycle Bin.
New Ï㽶ÊÓƵdirectory is live: review and update your profile
May 01, 2026
The Ï㽶ÊÓƵDirectory is now live at directory.alaska.edu. You can start using it today to search for colleagues, departments, and contacts across all Ï㽶ÊÓƵcampuses.