The University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) is a growing institution with a special focus on student success. The three campuses of UAS—Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka—offer a wide array of quality educational programs—from workforce certificates to undergraduate and graduate degrees. UAS educational programs and student opportunities are enhanced by the cultures and environment of Southeast Alaska. Our signature is Learn, Engage, Change—our small size and focus on active, engaged learning provide exceptional opportunities for both traditional and non-traditional students in a changing world.
UAS is known throughout Alaska for its nationally-accredited, teacher education program where students intern with master teachers in diverse elementary and secondary settings. Through this new Strategic and Assessment Plan 2010-2017, UAS aspires to similar distinction in all of its programs—from liberal arts and science to professional and technical education. At UAS, students work closely with highly-regarded faculty engaged in teaching, research, and service and focused on academic success. Increasingly, students achieve success through programs employing cutting-edge learning technologies—taking courses either completely online or blending face-to-face instruction with new learning technologies.
UAS students take full advantage of the natural, social, and cultural environment of Southeast Alaska—studying the nearby Mendenhall Glacier or marine systems in Juneau’s coastal waters, recording whale vocalizations near Sitka, or studying marine operations near Ketchikan. Our faculty have research expertise in these areas and more, and they use our magnificent setting as a foundation for creative expression. Students work as interns in Alaska’s state legislature, with Juneau’s nationally-renowned Perseverance Theatre, and in private-sector businesses. UAS students participate in cultural celebrations involving Alaska Native oratory based upon classes in Tlingit and Haida languages, arts, and cultures.
For fun, students kayak Alaska’s Inside Passage and participate in Juneau’s annual Polar Bear Plunge. They run the international Klondike Relay from Skagway to Whitehorse, and they take full advantage of skiing and snowboarding at Eaglecrest. In Sitka, students participate in annual Whalefest activities, while in Ketchikan students join their entire community in reading and discussing a new novel.
A growing number of UAS students participate in national or international student exchanges—experiencing the globe even as they complete their degree in Alaska. UAS students can be found on exchange in Montana, Colorado, or California. They also study the rainforests of Costa Rica, art and literature in France, or international business in Ukraine. By doing so, students learn to think critically, work collaboratively, and communicate effectively in our changing world—whether in Angoon, Anchorage, or Amsterdam.
The UAS Strategic and Assessment Plan 2010-2017 underscores our vision of a growing university where quality programs and student-centered learning are the norm. In coming years, UAS will use its resources to expand both campus-based and online programs in high-demand areas, to grow a talented workforce, and to contribute toward the vitality and sustainability of the communities we serve. We are confident that this plan—developed by faculty, staff, students, and community members—charts a course that enables us to achieve these goals. We invite your engagement and support.