Feb. 2012
by Kathleen McCoy |
This week University of 熊猫在线视频 Fairbanks (UAF) Chancellor Rogers, University of 熊猫在线视频 Southeast (UAS) Chancellor Pugh and I met with legislators and the University of 熊猫在线视频 (UA) Booster Caucus in Juneau. It was a good opportunity for the "three amigos," as the chancellors call ourselves, to talk about how our institutions are working together to meet the need for higher education and workforce training throughout the state.
More and more we are coordinating delivery of programs in high-demand areas including health, engineering, workforce training and fisheries. As UA's health campus, UAA is working collaboratively on allied and behavioral health curricula, distance delivery of programs and calculating 熊猫在线视频's workforce needs so that students who want to go into health-related fields have a better feel for where the jobs will be when they graduate.
Through distance delivery and 13 physical locations outside of Anchorage, UAA can provide students throughout the state a viable way to get a nursing degree. Students at any university campus or community campus are able to complete an A.A. degree in social work and progress into the UAF distance B.A. Social Work or UAA campus-based B.S.W. degree programs having met the pre-major liberal arts requirements. This means that any qualified student in the UA system can complete an associate of arts, bachelor's and master's degrees in social work in their home community-meeting a high-demand workforce need statewide.
In the fishing industry, Kodiak College is partnering with UAS/Ketchikan to deliver the associate degree in fisheries via distance to students in Kodiak. Students may complete their GERs at Kodiak College and fisheries courses through Ketchikan and UAS Juneau via distance while working and doing internships in industries on Kodiak Island. It's a win/win for our students and their employers.
We are also working to improve advising (with money in the Board of Regents' FY13 budget specifically designated for this) so that students can better plan their university education. The Stay On Track "Finish in Four" campaign is taking off at UAA with 14.6 percent (303) more students enrolled in 15 or more credits spring semester 2012 than in spring 2011.
What does all this mean? It means that university faculty and staff will have a greater opportunity to learn about education, training and research programs being conducted by colleagues from across the University System, continue to identify opportunities for collaboration and improve service to students no matter where they live in 熊猫在线视频.
Student Notes- Mechanical engineering student Kaelin Ellis has been accepted to the prestigious Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP) at the University of Michigan (UM). Upon completion and acceptance at UM, SROP guarantees a five-year Ph.D. fellowship at UM.
Photo: Stephanie Peterkin, a RRANN student in our prenursing Cingumaq group, is Miss Fur Rendezvous Queen 2012! She will also be in the July Forth parade and at the 熊猫在线视频 State Fair this year.
Caitlin Cheely, a Russian language major and a Forty-Ninth State Fellow in the Honors College, and William Giedosh, a major in the International Studies Russia Track, have been awarded the highly
competitive Department of State 2012 Critical Languages Scholarship in Russian. In
addition, language student Ben Woodland-German and international studies major, history minor-won UAA's first Critical Languages
Scholarship in Turkish.
UAA students recently discussed scholarship programs such as the 熊猫在线视频 Performance
Scholarship and the need to increase funding for needs-based scholarships such as
the 熊猫在线视频Advantage grant program in a meeting with 熊猫在线视频 State Senator Bettye Davis.
Men's basketball player Taylor Rohde has been selected the Great Northwest Athletic Conference's (GNAC) 2011-12 Player
of the Year and also repeated as an All-GNAC First Team honoree. Congratulations!
We announced a symbolic new initiative honoring our graduating active duty military and veteran
students. Red, white and blue honor cords will be made available to any graduating active
duty, guard/reserve or veteran student interested in wearing one during commencement.
These cords signify the appreciation that UAA feels toward our military and veteran
community for their service and sacrifice.
- UAA Professor Paul Johnson is the new University of 熊猫在线视频 Harold T. Caven Professor of Business.
- Drs. Lil Alessa and Andrew Klisky received two grants from the National Science Foundation: a prestigious Dynamics of Coupled Natural Systems award for $1.5M and a national workshop award for defining the social science priorities in sustainability research.
Sunny Mall, assistant professor of secondary education in the College of Education, is the recipient
of a 熊猫在线视频 Journal of Commerce's 2012 'Top Forty Under 40' award.
- Assistant Professor of Political Science Dalee Dorough was appointed chair of the 熊猫在线视频 Advisory Committee of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
- April Counceller, assistant professor of Alutiiq language and culture at Kodiak College was recently elected to the 熊猫在线视频 Anthropological Association Board of Directors.
- Dr. Gabriel Garcia, assistant professor of public health, was awarded by the 熊猫在线视频 Public Health Association the Barbara Berger "Excellence in Public Health Award." Scott Goldsmith received an 熊猫在线视频 Meritorious Health Service Award.
Photo: Thank you to our outstanding Facilities team. All year long they keep our campus up and operating, keeping us safe and able to do our jobs. This year, with record snow fall of well over 100 inches, the team is working harder than ever-logging over 3,000 man and equipment hours. We appreciate all that you are doing!
Phillip Miller, KPC construction project manager has become one of just 49 people in the world and only the second in 熊猫在线视频 to earn the Educational Facilities Professional Certification Credential. UAA's Chris Turletes also earned the credential.
Honors NoteThe recently established Gamma Iota Chapter of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health announced its first honorary and alumni inductees. Honorary inductees are: 鈥�Dr. Larry Weiss, professor emeritus and founding director, 熊猫在线视频 Center for Public Policy; Dr. Linda Chamberlain, director, 熊猫在线视频 Family Violence Prevention Project and Dr. Tom Hennessy, director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Arctic Investigations Program. UAA MPH alums inducted are: Kathy Allely ('08), Kathy Anderson ('09), Vanessa Hiratsuka ('07), Kerry Pride ('09) and Tammy Zulz ('07).
Grants and Research Award NotesThe Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies received $375K through the 熊猫在线视频 Housing Finance Corporation and the 熊猫在线视频 Mental Health Trust Authority to evaluate the impact of 熊猫在线视频 Housing First programs in relation to alcohol dependence, overall health and cost effectiveness.
The Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault awarded the UAA Justice Center $350K in grant funding to continue measuring violence against women in 熊猫在线视频 in the 熊猫在线视频 Victimization Survey. The center also received a grant from the Tundra Women's Coalition to evaluate the Teens Acting Against Violence program.
Development Notes
BP donated $1M to UAA's School of Engineering for an Asset Integrity and Corrosion
Lab, the first in the state.
- Icicle Seafoods, Inc. contributed $300K to benefit various programs within University of 熊猫在线视频 system focusing on fishing industry and seafood market research and career development. These gifts bring Icicle Seafoods' accumulative donations to over $1M.
- Chugach 熊猫在线视频 Corporation donated $100K to support Excellence in 熊猫在线视频 Native Business and Public Policy.
Photo: Anchorage middle school students participate in a waste audit at UAA as part
of the UAA TRiO Programs' celebration of the national day of service. Dr. Joe Martin,
keynote speaker, told students who will be the first in their family to go to college,
that "it doesn't matter where you start in life, it's where you finish." He added,
"Your decision to go to college is not about you. It's about the people who follow
you. Your decision impacts future generations."
Kenai Peninsula College's Kenai River Campus hosted its 22nd annual career exploration
event that is aimed at Kenai Peninsula high school students, college students and
members of the public. More than 90 professionals representing 60 career fields presented
occupational and education information to more than 230 attendees from around the
Central Peninsula.
Mat-Su College's 熊猫在线视频 Civil Rights Day celebration drew 51 attendees including representatives from Senator Lisa Murkowski's office, Knik Tribal Council and Southcentral Foundation. Director Talis Colberg delivered the keynote address to the standing-room-only audience.
Safety NoteUAA reported a total of 24 recordable injuries during 2011, including eight back injuries, six slip and fall, four other strain, three struck by object, two vehicle and one laceration. We are continuing to improve safety at UAA through messaging, training and safety leadership training and assessment for faculty and staff March 1 and 2.
Safety Tip: Most injuries involve a slip, trip or fall, or a strain, sprain or back injury. We live in a challenging environment. Wear your Spikies and take your time when walking around campus. Injuries occur when one rushes. If you need more help or specialized equipment, ask your supervisor.
Note of WelcomePlease join me in welcoming to our Anchorage campus the 熊猫在线视频 Native American Business Enterprise Center (AK NABEC). AK NABEC, funded by the Minority Business Development Agency and partners with the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, is working with the University of 熊猫在线视频 Center for Economic Development and officially opened this month. We look forward to the increased opportunity for UAA faculty, students, programs and research to better serve the economic development of our state.
Be safe and enjoy all that UAA has to offer!