"First Evers...Best Evers"

Here’s a quick snapshot of some achievements accomplished thus far

• Bachelor's degree completion rate (full-time students in six years or less) is at an all-time high of almost 32 percent across the UA System and has increased almost 15 percent (4.1 percentage points) from FY10 to FY14 alone. This is above the national average of 31 percent for other public, open admission universities according to the National Center for Education Statistics. UAF leads with a baccalaureate graduation rate of 41.5 percent in FY14.

• Students completing 30 credits or more: increased from 13 percent (FY10) to 15.2 percent (FY14).

• Engineering degrees: from 148 in FY10 to 185 in FY14 --a 25 percent increase.

• Health degrees: from 824 in FY10 to 988 in FY14 -- a 20 percent increase.

• ACT scores: 32 percent increase in scores sent to UA between FY09 and FY14; and 41 percent MORE students indicate UA as their first choice in FY14 vs. FY09.

• Significantly reduced transfer issues and the time required to assess transfer credits throughout the system.

• Number of programs 100 percent available by eLearning is at its highest point ever – 129 programs and the average eLearning credit load per student is at its highest level ever at 3.3 credits per student across the system.

• Highest number of degrees and certificates awarded ever in FY14, over 4,900, representing more than a 30 percent increase since FY10.

• The number of high-demand job area degrees awarded grew 22 percent from FY10 to FY14.

• Grant aid awarded to UA students up $9.4 million in four years (2009-10 $20.4m, 2013-14 $29.8m).

• Scholarship aid awarded to UA students up $10.6 million in four years (2009-10 $19.2m, 2013-14 $29.9m)

• Total financial aid awarded to UA students is $137.0 million, up 14 percent since 2008-2009. (2009-10 $120.1m, 2013-14 $137.0m)

To find out more about "UA First evers, best evers", click here!

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Student Success--the heart of Shaping Alaska's Future

Enrollment has grown 4 percent over the last five years, despite a decline in high school-aged demographics. Today more than 33,000 full and part-time students are enrolled in UA universities and community campuses. In 2012, UA launched its Stay on TRACK awareness campaign, designed to inform full-time students how to graduate in four years, thus reducing costs for themselves and providing the workforce Alaska employers need.

Staff and faculty play important roles in student success. Reducing institutional red-tape, improving the credit transfer process between UA universities and providing comprehensive advising are just a few of the new initiatives created from Shaping Alaska's Future.

Click here to read UA in Review-2014

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Issue and Effect Statements

The Issue statements below address compelling concerns raised by Alaskans through more than 80 listening sessions. The Effect statements associated with each Issue statement express what UA intends to achieve as a high-performing education institution.

ISSUE A: Like other non-selective and open-admission institutions, UA’s graduation rates are lower than those of selective peer institutions. UA students on average take longer to complete degrees than students at peer institutions.

Effect: Full-time baccalaureate degree-seeking students graduate in four to five years at rates competitive with those at our established peer institutions. Full-time associate degree-seeking students graduate in two to three years at rates similar to those at peer institutions. Part-time students complete their degrees in proportionate time frames. The three universities will ensure that academic standards are rigorously maintained.

ISSUE B: Like those of many large and complex institutions, UA processes and procedures can be challenging for students to navigate.

Effect: Students experience UA as accessible, efficient and transparent in all areas.

ISSUE C: UA students must demonstrate skills and knowledge in their particular majors. In all aspects of their UA educational experience, students also must develop critical thinking skills, good judgment, high ethical standards and an understanding of diversity to be responsible citizens and leaders.

Effect: Students take responsibility for meeting their educational objectives, and both students and graduates demonstrate personal, community and civic responsibility, high ethical standards and respect for others.

ISSUE D: UA needs to increase national and international recognition of its quality education, programs of distinction and exceptional research in order to enhance recruitment of undergraduate and graduate students and faculty.

Effect: UA’s reputation for academic quality, programs of distinction and research makes it an attractive, highly competitive choice for undergraduate and graduate students and faculty.

ISSUE E: UA recruitment, retention and graduation rates are low, especially for disadvantaged and minority populations and for Alaska Natives.

Effect: UA graduates reflect the diversity of Alaska.

ISSUE F: Alaska has serious unmet needs for advanced degree graduates, and UA has opportunities to meet those needs both internally and through partnerships with other institutions.

Effect: Alaskans have more opportunities to earn advanced degrees and more advanced degrees are earned at UA, especially those that fulfill Alaska’s specific needs.