UAA Chancellor’s Report

From UAA Chancellor Sean Parnell

Busy fall semester at UAA

UAA is off to a great start this fall semester! Our campuses have come alive with kick-off events in Anchorage and Kenai to celebrate the start of a new academic year. Convocation in Anchorage and Mat-Su brought together hundreds of participants from across our university. As part of these events, we recognized the valuable contributions of UAA's long-serving employees and the recipients of this year's Chancellor's Awards.

Homecoming is right around the corner! We will welcome alumni and community supporters to campus Oct. 4-12 in celebration of UAA's 70th anniversary. The week's festivities include an exciting home hockey match-up against the defending national champions, the University of Denver. I look forward to seeing you around campus and in the community!

Alaska Leaders Archive moves forward

The Board of Regents has approved Phase One of the Alaska Leaders Archive project. This project advances UAA's role as Alaska's premier university for Arctic policy and leadership. Renovations to the Consortium Library will create a modern archive to showcase historical collections and promote civic education and research. This will allow Alaskans a unique opportunity to engage with their history. By preserving and sharing the legacy of those who have served Alaska, we will better prepare future generations of Arctic leaders here at UAA. With the regents' approval, construction of the project will begin in 2025.

Regents discuss UA tuition rates

This fall the Board of Regents will consider increasing university tuition. The proposal would raise tuition by 3% (about $8 to $9 per credit hour) beginning in fall 2025. While we have successfully held tuition flat since 2021, an increase is being proposed to address rising costs and inflation. UA President Pitney stated that the goal is to maintain student affordability while ensuring the UA System meets its educational mission. Regents will discuss the proposal in November and engage with governance and community members for public comment. You can provide feedback by sending comments to [email protected].

UAA enrollment gains showcased to regents

The Board of Regents recently held several discussions regarding student recruitment and retention. UAA's growth in enrollment caught the regents' attention. Enrollment at Mat-Su College in Palmer is up 33% over last
year, and Kenai Peninsula College (KPC) is up 11%. UAA serves more than 12,000 students; student retention is the highest in a decade. These results come from tremendous work by faculty, staff and governance. Thank you! The Board of Regents has set a goal for UAA to add 3,000 students by fall 2026. Working together, we can grow our university and advance our educational mission in Alaska.

During the recent Board of Regents meeting, I shared the story of UAA's TRIO programs. This federally funded program assists first-generation college students and supports students who might not otherwise pursue post secondary education. For over fifty years, TRIO has helped thousands of Alaskans achieve educational success at UAA and currently serves more than 700 students. TRIO is a great example of how UAA helps Alaskans overcome barriers to educational achievement, and creates a welcoming environment where all students are supported.

UAA engaging communities and industry

For the past several months, our university has actively engaged with community partners and leaders. We've welcomed policymakers and business leaders to campus to advance UAA's mission.

In July, we welcomed the CEO of Atlas Air, a global leader in aviation logistics, to announce a new partnership supporting UAA's aviation programs. UAA was active at the Arctic Thunder air show and the Alaska State Fair in Palmer. We hosted Arctic leaders and staff from the federal White House Office of Science and Technology to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Arctic Research Policy Act. This event provided an opportunity to reflect on the legacy of leaders such as Ted Stevens, and share the work of ADAC-ARCTIC and UAA's research enterprise.

UAA hosted United States Treasurer Lynn Malerba to announce the State Small Business Credit Initiative Tribal
Program. This initiative creates opportunities for small businesses in rural Alaska. I'd like to recognize Jon Bittner and UAA's Business Enterprise Institute (BEI) team, who made this initiative possible - along with tribal entities and the financial institutions that created this partnership.

Part of UAA 2027, our university's strategic plan, contains an aspiration that we are a trusted and respected community partner. By growing UAA's presence across the state, we bring more opportunities directly to Alaskans.

KPC celebrates 60th anniversary

Recently I visited KPC and joined state, local and industry leaders to celebrate KPC's 60th anniversary. What began humbly in 1964 in a spare room at a local high school, has grown to become the largest community campus in the UA System. KPC is a leader in career tech education for resource industries and one of the state's largest workforce providers. We take pride that KPC, along with all of our community campuses, are places of opportunity where all are welcome. In February, we look forward to welcoming the board of regents to Soldotna for their meetings at KPC's Kenai River Campus.

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