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UA & the Alaska Native CommunityOur Relationship

Dana L. Thomas Ph.D.Vice President for Academic Affairs

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Topics Addressed (as requested)

1. UA Overview2. Courses and Programs3. Student Services and Support4. Research and Sponsored Programs5. Students, Faculty and Staff6. Contributions to the University7. Beneficial External Partnerships

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UA Overview

Four Separately Accredited Institutions• University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA)• University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)

• University of Alaska Southeast (UAS)• Prince William Sound Community

College (PWSCC)

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UA Overview• Instruction (credit based)

– Certificate and degree programs (expanding eLearning)– Coursework for non-degree seeking students

• Research and Creative Activity– Developing new knowledge and methodology– Documenting and archiving knowledge systems

• Service (non credit)– Cooperative Extension Service– Marine Advisory Program– 4 H– Workforce training – UA Corporate Programs

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UA OverviewThe Strategic Direction Initiative

• Student Achievement & Attainment• Productive Partnerships With Alaska’s Schools• Productive Partnerships With Alaska’s Public and

Private Industries (FSMI, Mining)• Research & Development to Build and Sustain Alaska’s

Economic Growth and Enhance Communities• Accountability to the People of Alaska

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UA Overview34,983 Students

UA Anchorage UA Fairbanks UA Southeast0

6,000

12,000

18,000

24,000

30,000

36,000

18,299

8,8503,440

AK Native2,400 (12%)

2,299 (21%)

603 (15%)

Total 20,699

11,149

4,043

Alaska Native Student Population by Major Adminis-trative Unit

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UA Overview - Funding

Source: UA Operating Budget Distribution, FY12 Yellowbook.

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UA Overview- External Funding

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UA Overview – Financial Aid

2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-120.0

20,000.0

40,000.0

60,000.0

80,000.0

100,000.0

120,000.0

57,290.9

Federal107,330.1

20,239.3 State 7,466.88,669.2

Institutional 13,167.3

5,527.7 Native 6,525.63,968.7 Private 4,604.61,618.6 UA Foundation 2,349.4

Financial Aid Distributed to UA Students ($1,000)

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UA Overview - Research

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UA OverviewProgress on 2011 Priorities

• ANCSA Course – web based• ANCSA Course – General Education Requirement• Increased tax credit – eliminate sunset clause• Executive MBA• ANCSA Conferences• High School Outreach Camps

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Courses – Broad Areas

• Languages• Alaska Native Art, Dance, Music, Literature• Alaska Native Studies – Peoples, History and Cultures• Politics, Justice and Law• Rural Development and Human Services• Tribal Management

See pages 2 - 5 for a complete list of courses

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Academic ProgramsBroad Program Areas• Alaska Native Studies• Alaska Native Languages, e.g. Yup'ik, Inupiaq• Rural Human Services, Rural Development, Rural Nutrition

Services• Tribal Management• Nursing – Bethel, Dillingham, Kotzebue, and Nome• Other workforce related programs – engineering (energy),

accounting, mining, pre-law, pre-med, telecommunications, IT, education, fisheries, construction trades, and tourism

See reference page 6 for complete list of programs

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Student Services & Support

• UAF – Rural Student Services• UAA – Native Student Services & The Alaska Native

& Rural Outreach Program • UAS - Native & Rural Student Center

Staffs in these offices are trained not only in the procedures and protocol of the university setting, but typically have a direct connection to rural Alaska – which often allows a greater sense of understanding in working with students new to urban environments.

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Research and Documentation Centers• Alaska Native Language Center (UAF)• Center for Alaska Native Health Research (UAF)• Center for Circumpolar Health Studies (UAA)• Alaska Native Film Series (UAS)• Institute for Social and Economic Research (UAA)• Alaska Native Curriculum Project (UAA-ISER)• Alaska Native Knowledge Network• Alaska Center for Energy and Power• International Arctic Research Center – Climate change

and its impactsSee http://www.alaska.edu/bor/policy/10-02.doc

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External Grants – Research and Other Sponsored Program Areas

Current Research:• Health• Climate• Energy• Language• Oral History• Education and Teachers

FY14 budget proposals: • Chinook salmon research• Energy solutions• Enhanced mapping• Oil spill response

See pages 9 - 14 of reference handout for complete list of FY12 grants.

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Student Demographics

UA Scholars (2,030)

First-Time Freshmen (3,764)

Ages 30 - 39 (5,511)

Under age 20 (7,050)

Ages 20 - 24 (10,088)

Full-Time (14,029)

Female (20,691)

Enrollment (Total 34,983)

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000

1,636

3,188

4,700

5,892

8,696

12,101

17,230

Other29,818

394(19.4%)

576(15.3%)

811(14.7%)

1,158 (16.4%)

1,392(13.8%)

1,928 (13.7%)

3,461 (16.7%)

Alaska Native5,165 (14.8%)

Alaska Native Student Population, Fall 2011

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Degrees and Certificates Awarded

FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY120

200

400

600

800

13864

14074

Certificates 128

148

125

152145

Associates151

130

142

153150

Bachelors172

30

39

68

56

Graduates62

446372

516428

Total: 515

2

33

Doctoral2

Alaska Native Graduates by Degree Level

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Degrees and Certificates Awarded, continued

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Degrees and Certificates Awarded, continued

For a complete list of high demand job area programs, see www.alaska.edu/swbir/performance/metrics/HDJA-List-2-3-12.pdf.

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Alaska Performance Scholarship(Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education)

• About 8% of Native high school graduates were academically eligible for the APS compared to 38% for Caucasian students

• 17 % of Alaska high school graduates from rural areas were eligible for the APS scholarship compared to 32% of urban students.

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Faculty and Administrators

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Staff

2007 2008 2009 2010 20110

100

200

300

400

500

600

3866.9%

4057.1%

5098.8%

4998.5%

Staff479

8.1%

UA Alaska Native Staff

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Financial Contributions

105 contributions from 33 groups, totaling more than $8 million, FY07 – FY12

Thank you!

See pages 15 – 18 of reference handout for a detailed list of contributions

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Student Financial Aid ($)

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Educational Partnerships, Bridging and Support Programs

• Effie Kokrine Early College • Future Educators of Alaska & Alaska Statewide Mentor Project • Retention of Alaska Natives into Nursing• Rural Alaska Honors Institute• Upward Bound• Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program • Early Scholars Program• Preparing Indigenous Teachers and Administrators for Alaska’s Schools• Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program

See page 7 for full list of Bridging and Support programs, and page 19 for full list of partnerships.

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Current Student Issues

• Preparation– ACT scores fell from about 17.1 to 15.5

http://www.act.org/newsroom/data/2012/pdf/profile/Alaska.pdf

– SAT scores fell slightly http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/research/AK_12_03_03_01.pdf

– APS eligibility low for Alaska Native and rural• Initiation – admission, financial aid, housing• Completion - gap

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Discussion

Is UA meeting the Alaska Native Corporation needs in the following areas? If not, what is needed?• Workforce development• Cultural education• Research• Non credit courses