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NEWS| May 25, 2010
AMP: Goals in plan are still in drafting process; retention and cultural awareness to be adressed CONTINUED FROM COVER
cultures; between fostering partnerships with business and industry and pursuing knowledge of artistic creation for their intrinsic worth; and between valuing Alaska for its unique opportunities and celebrating all the nation and world has to offer.” One major goal of the AMP is to increase the retention and graduation rates of students. To achieve this goal, UA will have to deliver developmental education that prepares students to succeed in degree programs so they can reach their educational goals. Alaska has the lowest baccalaureate degree completion, within six years, for first-time full-time baccalaureate-seeking freshmen of any state, according to the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. Only 27 percent of Alaskans ages 25 to 64 have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Thus, the AMP aims to, “develop and implement programs to increase timely graduation rates, including financial aid, advising and academic support.” “There’s no single silver bullet cause for low retention. Basically, a number of students are not fully prepared for college work when they come to the university,” Gary Rice of the Office of Institutional Research at UAA said. “The change of culture, especially for the Alaska Natives coming from rural Alaska to an urban setting, is highly difficult having to adjust
in combination with taking on college level work.” Fortunately, UAA retained an all time high of 68.7 percent of its first-time fulltime students in FY09. The performance was 2 percent above the previous period’s retention rate and 2.7 percent above the FY09 target. UAA anticipates maintaining a 68 percent retention rate into the future. In addition, the AMP aims to develop more academic support and enrichment for students in PK-12 districts or schools with fewer college graduate parents. The university must work with the PK-12 education system in Alaska to increase the number of high school graduates who plan to attend college and have had preparation to do so. The AMP articulates specific criteria that guide decisions regarding the placement of programs on all campuses. Important to the improvement of the UA system is the creation of new programs and augmenting existing programs. A significant mandatory criterion for new or significantly augmented programs is that either the same or similar program does not exist at another location within UA. Doctorate degrees may only be awarded by UAF, with the exception of the clinicalcommunity psychology Ph.D. being awarded jointly by UAA and UAF. “We have to make difficult choices and the Ph.D. programs tend to be far more expensive per student than undergraduate
programs,” Petraitis said. This duplication policy means that students will have to switch to a different UA campus or transfer universities to seek certain degrees. “The university can’t be all things to all
‘It takes a lot to put together a plan like this that people from each one of the campuses can agree to, so there was a number of drafts that got kicked around.’ John Petraitis UAA professor and SAC member
people, so we have to spend our nickels and dimes carefully,” Petraitis said. “However, UAA Faculty Senate has responded to the AMP and has pointed out the current prescription for duplication as maybe being foolish. It is being discussed.” In some instances, replication of
programs is needed, so with ‘sufficient justification,’ it is permitted. Replication is permitted for the education degree and certificate programs. A need for well-prepared teachers exists in every region of Alaska, especially for teachers in remote communities, for special education teachers and for math and science teachers. Students are not involved in the drafting of the AMP, but they are encouraged to comment on the draft that gets circulated. “We certainly want students to respond to it,” Petraitis said. “If students have responses, particularly collectively, like student government, I think they should compile some responses and send it to the SAC.” Students, for the most part, are satisfied with the university’s actions, but a number of them are concerned that the university cannot obtain the vision stated in the AMP. Having attended UAA for two years, criminal justice major Eric Hoffman believes the university lacks the organization to establish connections between the university and businesses, or the initiative to promote Alaska’s heritage and culture. “I would like to see better organization in the university,” Hoffman said. “I feel like nothing is organized at a satisfactory level for the students, and I feel like the university leaves students in the dark too much when it comes to policy.”
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