November 2014

Sam Gingerich, incoming interim provost on Dec. 1; Retirement party for Provost Elisha "Bear" Baker is Nov. 19 in Wells Fargo Sports Complex; Cory Gordon’s, M.S.W. '14, documentary "Ililirstait (The Helpers)" will screen at film festivals in San Francisco and Los Angeles this month.

Dear Community,

I’ve learned over many years that in times of uncertainty it is not productive to act quickly upon every recommendation or criticism. Lower oil revenues, a smaller state budget and university budget shortfalls are just a few of the uncertainties we face. Over the long haul, though, commitment to our mission and values will take us where we need to be.

Last week, UAA hosted two peer evaluators from Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities as part of a mid-cycle accreditation site visit. One was from Western Washington University and the other from the College of Southern Nevada. They were here to offer their advice and help UAA work toward a sustainable and “less exhausting” accreditation process as we prepare for our comprehensive Year Seven Evaluation in 2017. The takeaway: Institutions across the country have weathered the challenges we are facing—some battles are worth fighting, others are not and peer colleagues and institutions help us distinguish these. The bottom line: continuous mission improvement.

Our mission, in its broadest interpretation, is to serve our students and the state of Alaska. I am very proud of all that UAA faculty, staff and students are doing every day to fulfill this mission.

This month we are holding our first Chat with the Chancellor of the season, 9–10 a.m., Nov. 19, on the second floor of the Alaska Airlines Center, in the concession area. I invite you to join me and the chancellor’s cabinet for an update and Q-and-A.

 

UAA partnerships and student achievement

Associate Professor of Social Work Kathi Trawver is receiving a Health Resources and Services Administration G02 Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training award to increase the number of trained social work professionals to meet the behavioral health needs of Alaska's youth. The grant awards UAA $300,000 over three years to expand M.S.W. practicum internships in settings providing integrated health and behavioral health care to youth and transitional-age youth at risk of developing—or who have developed—a serious behavioral health disorder, and also reach out to their families.

  

UAA partnership with K-12 and business

ANSEP Middle School Academy student

Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) is expanding its Middle School Academy with 650 additional students each year for the next three years with support from a $1 million pledge from Alaska Airlines to transport 6th-, 7th- and 8th-grade students from around the state to Anchorage.

Research in support of Alaskans

UAA is a partner in an National Institutes of Health-funded Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) collaborative to help develop new approaches that engage researchers, including those from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical sciences, and prepare them to thrive in the NIH-funded workforce.

         

Seawolf Athletics update

UAA men’s and women’s cross country teams are both nationally ranked, our volleyball team is in the running for a Great Northwest Athletic Conference title and, for the first time ever, a Seawolf gymnast appeared at Worlds. More here..

  

Accountability to Alaska

The Alaska Center for Rural Health/Alaska’s AHEC signed the Alaska Forget Me Not Coalition for Service Members, Veterans and Families on Sept. 11. The agreement includes a coalition of agencies to better coordinate housing, education and health-related services for our service members, veterans and their families. AHEC’s new director, Gloria Burnett, is the former dean of students at Iḷisaġvik College.

UAA hosts events for Alaska Native/Native American Heritage Month and Veterans Appreciation Week this month.

If you missed “North to the Future: Opportunities and Change in Alaska’s Emerging Frontiers,” sponsored by the Justice Center and including panel discussions on climate change impact, environmental law and Alaska Natives, and climate change adaptation, you can listen to the podcast here.

As a community service, the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center has converted hard copies of Alaska’s uniform crime report publications from 1976 through 1999 into searchable PDF documents available on the AJSAC website.

  

Enjoy all that UAA has to offer, and stay safe!

Best regards,

Tom Case