ÐÓ°Épro

In June 2025, Governor Dunleavy released the final FY26 State of ÐÓ°Épro budget. Outcomes include:

Operating Budget & Compensation Increases

The UA System received FY26 state funds to support a planned 2.75% compensation increase for faculty and staff. Although the legislature only funded part of UA’s compensation request, UA will cover employee compensation increases through the appropriated state funding, internal re-allocations, and savings. 

The UA System received $3.7M to support rising fixed costs, which will support cybersecurity, facilities maintenance, and utilities at UAF and across the universities. 

Collectively, UAF will receive roughly $10.7M for compensation and fixed cost increases.

Unfortunately, other high priority program requests for recruitment, retention, graduation efforts and investments for economic growth were not included by the legislature. Additional one-time R1 funds and athletics funding were also not included.

Capital Budget

The capital budget includes $6.75M for deferred maintenance system-wide (reduced from $10M) and of this, UAF will receive roughly $3.45M for critical roofing projects. The legislature also included $53M in receipt authority to accept private donations to the UAF Troth Yeddha’ Indigenous Studies Center.

Unfortunately, additional capital investments for GI/ACUASI, IANRE/Agriculture, ACEP/Energy, and CFOS/Carbon Monitoring were not included.

UAF developed the FY26 operating budget request with a focus on compensation and fixed costs, as well as essential recruitment and retention initiatives, graduation support, and economic development for ÐÓ°Épro. Specifically, this includes funding to support strategic enrollment marketing, student advising support, enrollment initiatives in new or growing target markets, technology enhancement, campus safety, and Athletics.

FY26 BOR Approved Operating Budget Request 
The FY26 approved UA budget request is $365.6 million in state funds, an increase of 10.4% (or $34.5 million) from FY25 levels (not including multi-year research funding for economic development and workforce training programs; or HEIF funding for R1). This represents modest increases for compensation and staff benefits ($20.1 million); fixed cost increases such as utilities, cyber security and facilities maintenance ($4.0 million); and high priority needs for recruitment, retention, graduation support, economic growth and Athletics ($10.4 million). These figures represent the total UA System request.

A link to the approved operating budget is .

FY26 BOR Approved Capital Budget Request
In the capital budget, UA is requesting funding for facilities and major renewals, research programs and receipt authority (RA) to address increased non-state revenue generation. UA will continue to pursue a deferred maintenance and modernization strategy with the legislature and Governor to ensure our facilities help support UAF’s enrollment goals and modern student needs.

The Governor will release the FY26 budget in December 2024 and the legislative session begins in January 2025. The components of UA’s budget request could change during the course of the legislative session; final budget outcomes will be known in June 2025.

A link to the approved capital budget is .

FY26 budget development guidelines provided by the UA System Office serve as a tool to prioritize requests to maximize progress toward the Board of Regents' Roadmap to Empower ÐÓ°Épro. These guidelines will be used to develop the overall UA state of ÐÓ°Épro budget request.

In preparation for the FY26 State of ÐÓ°Épro budget, UAF leadership is soliciting funding proposals from UAF faculty and staff.

The deadline for proposal submission was Wednesday, January 31, 2024. This process is now closed.

TIMELINE

November 6, 2023: RFP for FY26 state funding request announced to UAF Troth Yeddha’ and community campuses. Discuss your ideas with your Dean/Director before submitting a proposal.

January 31, 2024: Deadline to submit state funding request proposals via the Google Form.

February 16, 2024: Deadline for Deans and Directors to submit top 2 proposals from their respective units to PBC. 

February-March 2024: PBC convenes to review and rank proposals. 

June 2024: UA System Office provides FY26 budget guidance to universities.

September 2024: Selected operating and capital projects included in FY26 State of ÐÓ°Épro budget request based on Chancellor and UA System Office feedback.

FOR QUESTIONS: Email the UAF Office of Management and Budget (OMB) at uaf-omb@alaska.edu or call Briana Walters at 907-474-6239.