2013 Year Three Self-evaluation Report

The University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) is a regional university serving all of Southeast Alaska through campuses in Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka.A number of its programs are offered throughout the State of Alaska via e-Learning or online delivery.With no community colleges in the area, UAS is presented with the challenge of providing community college, baccalaureate, and graduate programs within one institution.UAS has long been recognized throughout the state for offering programs of distinction in teacher education, marine biology, business and public administration, health information management, and fisheries technology.UAS was formed from three independent entities-the Juneau Douglas Community College (JDCC), Ketchikan Community College, and Islands Community College.In 1980, the University of Alaska Southeastern Senior College merged with JDCC to become the University of Alaska Juneau.Under a substantial reorganization of the UA system in 1987, UA Juneau was combined with the colleges in Sitka and Ketchikan, establishing it as one of the three Major Administrative Units (MAUs) in the statewide system and renamed the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS).Under the 1987 reorganization, the former colleges in the central and interior regions of the state became branch campuses of the University Alaska Anchorage and the University of Alaska Fairbanks, respectively.In Southeast Alaska, however, the Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka campuses were brought together to form a single institution.Functioning as three campuses of one regional university, this level of integration reflects the university's strong regional ties, a desire to leverage resources, and a commitment to meeting the full array of student postsecondary educational needs, from pre-college preparation to master's degrees.Southeast Alaska is geographically remote from the rest of the state and accessible largely by water or air travel; only Haines and Skagway in northern Southeast Alaska are connected to the continental road system.The Alaska Marine Highway, which connects Southeast communities by ferry, is a vital part of regional transportation.Alaska Airlines is the only major carrier serving the region.The economy of the region is largely dependent upon government, tourism, fisheries, and mining.Southeast Alaska is the ancestral home of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples.Their presence extends back at least several thousand years.Nearly 14 percent of UAS students are Alaska Native/American Indian.The conservation, preservation, and advancement of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures and languages are increasingly reflected in UAS programs and events.Nearly 4000 students attended UAS in Fall 2012, representing a 5% percent increase in four years.Although the majority attends part-time, a growing percentage of the student body is full-time, especially in Juneau.Most students come from Alaska and nearly two out of every three students are female.The 18-29 year old age range now represents over 40% of UAS students.Despite the increase in its student numbers, UAS maintains small class sizes with a low student-faculty ratio.The geographic isolation prompted UAS long ago to develop a robust offering of online and distance courses.UAS began offering distance courses more than three decades ago and continues to be a leader in expanding e-Learning degree opportunities.In AY2013, UAS offered 42 degrees, endorsements, and certificates largely or entirely by e-Learning 1 .An additional 40 programs were offered in blended or hybrid delivery, combining face-to-face instruction with e-Learning.In two recent studies 2 , both current students and graduates praised access to fully online programs as a major attraction of UAS.Nearly half (47 percent) of UAS students take advantage of e-Learning courses from the University's geographically dispersed campuses and over 40 percent are enrolled primarily through e-Learning.Many are located outside of the region in south-central, interior, and western Alaska.Support for these students is thoroughly integrated into all departments on all three campuses; for example admissions, registration, advising, counseling, disabilities, library, Blackboard, and information technology.UAS programs are delivered through four schools: Arts and Sciences, Education, Management, and Career Education.The rich natural, social, and cultural environment of Southeast Alaska provides generous opportunities for teaching, research, and creative expression in the arts, humanities, and fieldbased science programs of the School of Arts and Sciences.In the formerly NCATE, now CAEP 3accredited School of Education, students intern with master teachers in diverse elementary and secondary settings across the entire state.Offering graduate degrees in special education, school administration, education technology, mathematics education, and reading the School of Education recently agreed to operate the Alaska Learning Network (AKLN), Alaska's virtual high school.This articulation of secondary and post-secondary education is designed to advance opportunities for Alaskan students-especially those in remote communities-to prepare successfully for post-secondary education.The graduates of all Education programs are sought by K-12 school districts statewide.Building upon its location in Juneau-Alaska's capital city-the UAS School of Management offers a variety of training opportunities related to employment in state and local government positions.This School also provides e-Learning programs in public and business administration to meet the needs of students widely distributed throughout Alaska.Over time, this has included opportunities for students in Canada's Yukon Territory (geographically close to Southeast Alaska) to complete their MPA through the UAS program.The School of Career Education offers diverse workforce development programs such as health information management and fisheries technology programs in Sitka, underground mine training in Juneau, and maritime training in Ketchikan, Sitka, and Juneau.Students have numerous opportunities to expand employment skills through occupational endorsements, certificates, and associate degrees.UAS collaborates with other UA units to expand offerings for its students and leverage available resources.In the healthcare arena, for example, UAS cooperates with the University of Alaska Anchorage-designated a decade ago as the lead institution in the state for healthcare education.UAA provides nursing programs with pathways to additional training and advanced degrees in Southeast Alaska.There are also close ties with the University of Alaska Fairbanks for UAS BA and BS degrees in Geography.Even during years of economic difficulties, Alaska has provided relatively stable support for its institutions of higher education, although the current fiscal climate suggests reductions are on the horizon.Internally, the university has been provided with modest flexibility to make internal funding reallocations 4 .

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