Training Tomorrow's Workforce Today
Preparing a qualified workforce is one of the most important missions of the university, as is represented in the UA Workforce Development Priorities and Guidelines. UA is committed to preparing today's students to be the next generation workforce, recognizing that tomorrow's careers will require advanced skills, greater knowledge and more flexibility than ever before. The Office of Workforce Development's role is to facilitate industry-driven training and degree programs focused on providing skilled Alaskan workers for Alaska jobs.

Teri Cothren
Associate Vice President
Workforce Development
(907) 786-1171
tgcothren@alaska.edu

UA provides various dual enrollment options to expand access to postsecondary for K-12 students, from classroom or online courses to middle college to college-level courses being delivered through agreements with school districts.
- The University of Alaska offers more than 200 programs in workforce development from
non-credit industry certifications to advanced degrees.
- UA and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development collaborated to produce workforce reports on key Alaska industries.
- The workforce reports illustrate UA graduate outcomes and employment success.
- Data demonstrates that higher education increases income, reduces unemployment, increases
Alaska hire rates and increases job retention.
- Reports can be used to assess UA programs and graduate outcomes, guide program development and investment and aid students in program selection.
Career Coach

Career Coach is a free tool for current and prospective students to match interests to a career, learn about in-demand careers, browse programs tied to jobs and find current job postings in Alaska. Download: Flyer 1 or Flyer 2
UA Workforce Development News
UA Workforce Development has a blog. Click here to learn about funding opportunities, see what is new in workforce development around the state and receive information on federal initiatives. To receive regular updates, provide your email address on the left column of the blog.
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Reports show value of UA workforce development programs
May 11, 2021
Quantifying the impact of postsecondary education on the workforce across Alaska industries has long-been a challenge for the state and university. In an effort to address this, the State Department of Labor and Workforce Development partnered with the University of Alaska (UA) to create workforce reports that demonstrate UA graduate outcomes in 10 key industries: … Continue reading Reports show value of UA workforce development programs
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University of Alaska’s teacher education programs support Alaska’s future
May 13, 2021
Amidst a nationwide teacher shortage, the University of Alaska is focused on increasing its teacher pipeline to provide the state with the workforce it needs and help shape the future of Alaska. “We know that when incoming students weigh their career options, they’re looking at choices from an economic perspective,” said Steve Atwater, executive dean … Continue reading University of Alaska’s teacher education programs support Alaska’s future
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