AK SJR8

Urges the Alaska congressional delegation, U.S. Department of Interior, and Governor to facilitate a land grant endowment to the University of Alaska to resolve a long-standing issue.

Notes the University of Alaska received the smallest land grant among states (except Delaware) for higher education, receiving none under the Morrill Land-Grant College Act of 1862 and only a fraction of the 1915 Wickersham land grant.

References a 2009 Alaska Supreme Court ruling that invalidated transfers of approximately 250,000 acres to the university under prior legislation as violating the state constitution's prohibition on dedicated funds.

Urges the Alaska delegation to reintroduce the University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act, which would allow up to 360,000 acres of federal land to be conveyed to the Board of Regents of the University of Alaska to be held in trust.

Urges the Department of Natural Resources to work cooperatively with the University of Alaska to identify suitable lands for the endowment.