Jim Johnsen

James Roland Johnsen was the 14th president of the University of Alaska system from 2015 until his resignation in June 2020.[1][2]

James Roland Johnsen
14th President of the University of Alaska system
In office
July 28, 2015 – July 1, 2020
Preceded byPatrick K. Gamble
Personal details
Alma mater
Salary$325,000[1]

Education

His education includes a BA in politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, master's in political science from the University of Chicago, and an EdD in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania.[3][4]

Early career

Prior to joining the university, Johnsen held executive leadership positions in the private sector with Alaska Communications and with Doyon, Limited, and in higher education at the University of Minnesota and the University of Alaska between 1992-2008 in executive roles including director of labor relations, vice president of administration and chief of staff. He was also a visiting scholar at the Center for Studies in Higher Education at the University of California, Berkeley in 2002.[5]

President of University of Alaska system
Johnsen meeting with Senator Lisa Murkowski in 2020.

Johnsen was appointed the president of the University of Alaska system on July 28, 2015.[1] As the system president, his priorities included a systemwide Title IX compliance effort,[6] remedying UA's historic land grant deficit, restructuring of academic programs and administrative services of the university to increase student success and reduce cost,[7][8] aligning with Alaska's primary and secondary education sectors,[9] and a systemwide push to achieve the State of Alaska's goal for 65 percent of Alaska's working age population to have a post-secondary degree or certificate of value by 2025.[10]

University of Alaska System budget cuts

Johnsen assumed the role of president during a period of budget cuts.[11][12] The system had taken consecutive years of budget cuts as the state struggled with collapsed oil revenues. Johnsen made the case for supporting Alaska's higher education system,[13] both extolling the virtues of education and the role the university can play in bolstering the state's economy. In July 2019, Johnsen presented possible structuring models for the university in the wake of declaration of financial exigency after 41% cuts to state funding.[14] He said that "severe cuts were the only way to deal with the system's budget crisis".[15] With support from the Board of Regents, in August 2019 Johnsen negotiated a Compact Agreement with the Governor to reduce the 41% cut in one year to a 21% cut over three years, saving UA $265 million.

Votes of No Confidence

Johnsen has faced votes of no confidence during his tenure, in 2017 and 2019,[16][17] from both students[18] and faculty at two universities.[19][20][21] One vote, which included no confidence in the Board of Regents, voiced concern about integration of teacher education programs. Another expressed faculty opposition to using a single email platform shared with other universities in the UA system. These votes of no confidence cited "a series of coercive and intimidating letters[22] that UA President Jim Johnsen sent to the chancellors of UAA, UAF, and UAS," as directed by the Board of Regents, a letter of concern about accreditation standards regarding clearly defined governance roles from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities,[23] and "a general trend of disregard for the wants and needs of the individual campuses in favor of President Johnsen’s plans."[24]

Resignation

Johnsen tendered his resignation amid blowback from a Wisconsin job search, among other reasons.[25] Johnsen's resignation was accepted by the University of Alaska Board of Regents on June 22, 2020. He continued to be the president until July 1, 2020.[2]

Public Service

Johnsen is a commissioner on the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, a commissioner on the Denali Commission[26] and a member of the board of directors of the Alaska Aerospace Corporation.[27] He is past chair of the Alaska EPSCoR, chair of the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, vice-chair of the Alaska Student Loan Corporation, vice-chair of the University of Alaska Foundation, and member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of System Heads.[4]

Candidacy for University of Wisconsin System President

In June 2020, Johnsen was named the only named finalist in the University of Wisconsin system's presidential search.[19][28] This is due in part to other applicants for this position withdrawing their names, fearing backlash for participating in this search during the COVID-19 pandemic.[28] This led to criticism from UW faculty, students who called it a "Failed result of a flawed search process".[29] On June 12, 2020, Johnsen withdrew his name from consideration saying that the UW administration "have some important process issues to work out".[30][31]

References
  1. Edge, Josh (29 July 2015). "Jim Johnsen named new University of Alaska president". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  2. Brooks, James (22 June 2020). "University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen will resign July 1". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  3. Johnsen, James R (2006). Leadership in context: A case study of presidential effectiveness in a state university system (EdD). University of Pennsylvania/ProQuest. 174. OCLC 174127060. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  4. "Biography of James R. Johnsen, Ed.D." (PDF) (Press release). University of Alaska. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  5. "Visiting Scholars Listing: Center for Studies in Higher Education". cshe.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  6. Rivera, Daniella (June 26, 2019). "'People have been hurt': UA President Jim Johnsen discusses efforts to address Title IX complaints". www.ktva.com. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  7. Jensen, Andrew (6 April 2016). "UA president has big ideas to manage smaller budgets".
  8. Granger, Erin. "UA president plans for post-cuts future".
  9. "Support the University of Alaska". 2017-04-13.
  10. "Alaska CAN! - Alaska CAN!". 65by2025.org.
  11. Buxton, Matt. "After tough year, UA president remains optimistic".
  12. newsengin (21 February 2018). "UA president delivers grim look after years of cuts".
  13. "Q&A with Jim Johnsen, President, University of Alaska - Alaska Business Monthly - May 2017 - Anchorage, AK". www.akbizmag.com.
  14. Hazelrigg, Nick (July 23, 2019). "Alaska president offers new plans following vote of financial exigency". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  15. Mangan, Katherine (June 5, 2020). "U. of Alaska System to Eliminate Nearly 40 Academic Programs". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  16. Hanlon, Tegan (13 January 2017). "UAA faculty votes no confidence in University of Alaska president". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  17. Hanlon, Tegan (6 February 2017). "UAF faculty joins UAA's in voting no confidence in university president". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  18. "Vote of No Confidence in UA President Johnsen" (PDF). www.alaska.edu.
  19. Meyerhofer, Kelly. "UW System announces one finalist in presidential search". madison.com Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  20. "A Resolution of the University of Alaska Anchorage Faculty Senate" (PDF). www.uaa.alaska.edu.
  21. "Resolution of No Confidence in UA President Jim Johnsen" (PDF). www.uaf.edu.
  22. Maguire, Sean (24 September 2019). "UA President, Board of Regents memorandums demand support from chancellors". KTUU. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  23. "Letter of Non-Compliance". www.documentcloud.com.
  24. "Vote of No Confidence in UA President Johnsen" (PDF). www.alaska.edu.
  25. Hanlon, Tegan; Herz, Nathaniel (22 June 2020). "University of Alaska president resigns amid blowback from Wisconsin job search". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  26. "Meet the Commissioners – Denali Commission". www.denali.gov. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  27. "Dr. Jim Johnsen: Alaska Aerospace". www.akaerospace.com. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  28. "UW System Presidential Search Committee announces finalist for presidency". www.badgerherald.com.
  29. Kim, Yvonne (4 June 2020). "'Failed result of a flawed search process': UW faculty, students critical of president finalist". madison.com. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  30. Shastri, Devi (June 12, 2020). "University of Wisconsin System search for new leader in shambles as lone finalist Jim Johnsen withdraws". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  31. Whitford, Emma (June 15, 2020). "Sole Finalist Withdraws From Wisconsin Presidential Search". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
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