UAS Prepares for Another Robust Year of Collaborative Programs with Community and University Partners

In a special meeting today, the University of Alaska Board of Regents (BOR) directed the president to work with chancellors and governance groups of all three universities to address financial challenges in a collaborative effort, while ensuring a “solid and high-quality foundation” to provide higher education programs and services vital to the State of Alaska.

Juneau, Alaska

Date of Press Release: August 5, 2020

In a special meeting today, the University of Alaska Board of Regents (BOR) directed the president to work with chancellors and governance groups of all three universities to address financial challenges in a collaborative effort, while ensuring a “solid and high-quality foundation” to provide higher education programs and services vital to the State of Alaska. UAS continues to collaborate with community and university partners and is proud of its programs and accomplishments.

UAS values its current, robust, and rich collaborations in Southeast Alaska, and looks forward to expanding as appropriate to the needs of our region and the State. UAS continues to work closely with UAA and UAF, including the Nursing program from UAA, and the Alaska Advantage program from UAF for dual enrolled students. The Master of Public Administration and the Master of Business Administration degree programs at UAS and UAF work collaboratively to support students in those programs.

Faculty participate on Common Calendar and General Education Requirements alignment committees. Faculty members from UAA, UAF, UAS participate in Faculty Alliance, a UA Wide faculty governance group. Staff participate in the statewide Staff Alliance, and students across the state participate in the Coalition of Student Leaders.

UAS works closely with its community partners including Sealaska Corporation, Sealaska Heritage Institute, the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Sitka Tribe of Alaska, First Alaskans Institute, Ketchikan Indian Community, and other Alaska Native organizations. UAS also works with Juneau Economic Development Commission and Southeast Conference to address workforce development needs.

Affordable Schools has placed the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) at #3 in its list of the 15 best affordable environmental studies Bachelor's degree programs of 2020. The affordable cost of in-state tuition, a low student-faculty ratio, close interaction with experienced professors, research involvement, and internship connections were all factors in the ranking. UAS has a strong Marine Biology and Fisheries program. With facilities located on the ocean, UAS looks forward to exploring all opportunities to grow this program, and currently has a joint fisheries program between UAS and UAF and had the first graduate from that program this past spring. Faculty at UAS work closely with their colleagues at UAA and UAF on research and grants.

UAS serves education students across the state and offers initial licensure programs in elementary, secondary, and special education and advanced programs in special education, reading and education leadership. Graduates of the programs, working in more than forty school districts, are consistently recognized as being well prepared to teach in Alaska’s culturally rich schools.

This spring the Alaska College of Education at UAS received full accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), affirming that the College’s underlying structure is sound and that there is a cohesion among the programs to ensure consistency to the students’ experience. UAS looks forward to working with education faculty at UAA and UAF to ensure that the “College of Education has clear roles and responsibilities for program delivery that address the priority of teacher education that are transparent and well integrated across the system,” as resolved by the Board of Regents at today’s meeting.

UAS offers classes both online and face-to-face. Vice Provost Maren Haavig notes, “This is the perfect time to choose UAS whether you are a high school student looking for dual enrollment opportunities, need to retool your skills because of COVID, want to complete your education, or are looking to take a course to learn about something new.”

Chancellor Karen Carey remarked, “UAS has reduced programs, staff, and administration over the past five years and have managed to operate with a balanced budget. We know we can continue to do so and make gains in our enrollment and student completion rates. UAS is open and we look forward to serving our students and communities for many years to come.”

Learn more about degrees and programs at UAS or by speak to an advisor at 907-796-6100.