Published Feb 22, 2023 by Jack Barnwell/News-Miner

Alaska faces a workforce shortage, something the University of Alaska President Pat Pitney says has become acute.

Pitney provided an overview of what the system’s three universities and connected community colleges are doing to try and address the shortage during a speech at the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce.

“We are focused on our communities and partners to meet the broad challenges and opportunities to the state,” Pitney said. “We are empowering Alaska on developing a strong workforce in a vibrant economic future.”

She stressed the need for the university system to attract students from in-state, citing that most graduates stay within 100 miles of the university upon graduation. However, those who leave the state for college rarely return.

The Alaska Bureau of Labor Statistics, she said, cites that only 25% of students who leave the state for college return and stay long term.

“We are facing an acute labor shortage in key sectors,” Pitney said. “Today we have 25,000 fewer working-age adults than we did a decade ago.”

Teachers, certified public accountants, healthcare workers and construction workers are among them, she said.

Published Feb 22, 2023 by Yereth Rosen

After nearly a decade of budget-slashing, turmoil, uncertainty and declines, the state’s university system is now steadied and growing, University of Alaska President Pat Pitney said on Tuesday.

“I am thrilled to share: the University of Alaska has turned the corner,” Pitney said in her State of the University address, delivered to the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce. “We have fiscal stability for the first time in nine years, and this spring, a growing student body.”

Enrollment as of mid-February totaled 17,734, slightly more than 2% above the enrollment at the same point of the spring 2022 semester, according to university figures. That compares to annual declines of 8% from the fall of 2018 to the fall of 2021.

More than half of the currently enrolled students are at the University of Alaska Anchorage or its affiliated community colleges. A little over a third are at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and its affiliated colleges, and about 10% are at the University of Alaska Southeast and its community branches, according to the statistics.

State funding for the university fell by $55 million from 2019 to 2022. But that decrease was partially offset this year, as it rose by nearly $47 million.

In her speech, Pitney shared other “very exciting news” about increasing funding for university research.

Last year, the university system reached its highest level of externally funded research, “and we are about to eclipse that again this year,” she said. Pitney promoted the university system as critical to addressing the state’s economic challenges, starting with its lack of workers.

“Today, we have 25,000 fewer working-age adults in Alaska than we did 10 years ago. We are facing acute shortages in key sectors of our communities – teaching, health care, CPAs and construction workers, just to name a few. Our universities are a big part of the solution to meet those workforce needs.”

Published Feb 22, 2023 by Christopher J. Preston

The parking lot at the Sitka campus of the University of Alaska Southeast may be one of the most scenic parking lots in the nation. It sits on one side of Sitka Channel looking east across the water toward the town center. Fishing boats cruise slowly through the channel on the way to deliver their catch to local processers. Float planes and kayaks steer carefully around each other, while bald eagles and ravens wheel overhead in the salt-scented air.

At 10:00 a.m., Lauren Wild let me into the rectangular university building and took me to a small cluster of offices in its depths that house the marine scientists. When we entered her windowless workspace, her dog thumped its tail on the ground and turned a few happy circles before settling back under the desk to nap. The whiteboard behind Wild’s head mapped the tasks she needed to complete before teaching resumed in the fall.

Wild is a professor of fisheries technology. “I study depredation,” she told me. This is the phenomenon of whales preying on the fishermen’s catch after they have it on their lines or in their nets. Depredation is a growing problem for fishermen all over Alaska.

“The acoustic cue is the propeller cavitation that these boats engage in when then are hauling gear up to the surface,” she told me. “That spinning of the propeller creates bubbles, and the cavitation is really loud.” The whales have learned to associate this sound with food. “We have clocked them over ten or twelve miles beelining when a boat starts hauling gear. They know what it means. It’s like a dinner bell.”

Wild asked me to imagine it from the whale’s perspective. “You have like a sushi belt coming up from the bottom,” she said. “It’s really hard to resist.” Fisherman watch the whales feasting on their catch as the line comes to the surface. One Alaska fisherman reported a sperm whale laying alongside his boat while two more plucked fish from his line off the stern. He gave the whale a scratch behind the ears with a deck brush which the whale seemed to enjoy.

Wild spent several seasons as a fisheries researcher on boats out of Sitka, Juneau, and Dutch Harbor. She gained a deep respect for the knowledge and skills of the fishermen. Most of them, in Wild’s experience, do not begrudge the whales. “They are happy to share the fish,” Wild said. “They just don’t want to share the fish they have caught.”

Published Feb 22, 2023 by Greg Knight

Larry Hinzman, a longtime University of Alaska researcher and Assistant Director of Polar Sciences in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, said climate change in the Bering Strait region has implications for food security in a UAF NW Strait Science lecture.

“There’s been a tremendous amount of change that has occurred in the Arctic for Alaskans, and particularly for those in the Bering Strait region,” Hinzman said. “As you all know, the climate is changing. We’re losing sea ice, we’re eroding coastlines, the permafrost is thawing, and those have implications to food security. So, it really has direct impacts on the people in the region.”

Hinzman added that the political situation with Russia and China is also important when it comes to Arctic resilience.

“(There’s also) this crazy and changing geopolitical situation, which adds undue stress and concern to what we need to address and the urgency of it,” Hinzman said. “So, it’s important, it’s vitally important, that the federal government supports the Arctic, and helps the Arctic the people there be resilient to the climate crises.”

The principles observed by the federal government when it comes to Arctic policy include consultation, coordination, co-management with Alaska native tribes and communities, a deepening of relationships with allies and partners, and with planning for long lead time investments, Hinzman said.

“(There’s also) development of cross-sectoral coalitions and innovative ideas,” Hinzman said. “And a commitment to a whole-of-government evidence-based approach.”

Published Feb 22, 2023 by Raegan Miller

Sea otters have a critical place in the ecosystem. Scientist and University of Alaska Southeast professor Barbara Morgan said otters eat shellfish that would otherwise decimate vital kelp beds — which would be a big blow to the ecosystem. The sea urchin is the main predator for a kelp bed, and they happen to make up a large portion of the sea otter diet.

“Kelp beds are hugely important to the environment that they are in,” Morgan explained. “They provide protection for the coast that they are along. They break the power of waves as they come onshore. So that really limits how much the wave can affect the coast.”

But there wasn’t always a healthy population in Southeast. Russian fur traders overharvested the animals in the 18th century, and years later, wildlife officials started to try and build the population back up. Now, there’s thought to be more than 50,000 animals around the region. 

Now that otters’ numbers are growing rapidly, Morgan said one specific concern is that established populations on the western outer coast of Southeast Alaska will make their way into the inner channels of the Alexander Archipelago.

“And that would put them into areas that have really active shellfish fisheries, crab, in particular, shrimp, and people don’t want the sea otters to impact harvests of those fisheries and wipe them out,” Morgan explained. “Totally understandable. I’m not sure that we’re an imminent threat, though.”

But Ryan said he wants to get ahead of the issue before it becomes a bigger problem. He shared his concerns in a proposal to the Board of Game, asking the state to devise a plan to manage otter populations.

Published Feb 22, 2023 by Elena Symmes

Alaska’s teacher shortage and shrinking workforce remain complex, interwoven subjects that the members of the 33rd Alaska Legislature face.

Understaffing isn’t just a problem in K-12 education; Sen. Gary Stevens of Kodiak spoke about the faculty shortage in the University of Alaska system as a downstream effect of previous years’ budget cuts.

“The testimony from the university was that they are down because of the losses to the budget — the governor’s vetoes — they are down 500 faculty members, which is an enormous loss. I think maybe the total is something around 1,800 that they have, they lost 500 so entire programs have been lost,” Stevens said. “If we’re going to provide education for Alaskans, we need to make sure we have a fully functioning faculty.”

Stevens worked as a professor at the University of Alaska for 25 years and now serves as the Senate President.

Published Feb 22, 2023 by Alex DeMarban

Roofs across the city generally are not at risk of buckling under the snow, except perhaps for rare cases with unique circumstances, such as homes with extensive ice-damming or windblown snow that’s overloading a section of a roof, they say.

“It’s too early to panic,” said Scott Hamel, chair of the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Alaska Anchorage and a structural engineer.

“If we get another two feet of snow, we may potentially need to take some mitigation measures,” especially if there are no warm temperatures to melt the new snow quickly, he said.

Roofs are currently at only about two-thirds of their design capacity when it comes to snow loads, said Hamel, who is on the eight-member Snow Load Committee for the Structural Engineers Association of Alaska.



Published Feb 22, 2023 by Ashley Carrick and Zack Field

For many skilled professions, the University of Alaska system, Alaska Pacific University, AVTEC, and other training institutions prepare Alaskans to enter great careers. State policy-makers should work with these institutions of higher education to ensure we have adequate educational and training capacity for the wide range of skilled white and blue collar jobs across our state.

We’re hearing from business leaders that we face a workforce crisis. Working age families are leaving Alaska, and far too many jobs are unfilled. Labor shortages mean higher costs, and it is impractical for Alaska to simply import skilled labor. We need to train our workforce right here in Alaska, allowing us to earn all the benefits that flow from improved Alaska hire. Strengthening our workforce is achievable if we work together with partners in business, labor, and higher education.

During this year’s legislative session, we are committed to strengthening child care and rebuilding our Career and Technical Education system, from K-12 through apprenticeship and the University.

Published Feb 22, 2023 by Anna Canny, KTOO

Mushrooms have always been a hobby for Johnson. Growing up in California, she started by cultivating shiitakes on logs. But the hobby grew to a full-on passion after she transferred to the University of Alaska Southeast during her sophomore year.

She was taken by the diversity of Southeast’s forests, where she made frequent trips for “mushroom forays,” gathering mushrooms to identify, study and eat. As the founder of the UAS mycology club, she started inviting others to join her.

“I put up some fliers announcing my first foray. And I was really shocked at how many people showed up. I think the first group was about 35 people,” she said. “I didn’t realize that there are other people who were also super passionate about learning about fungi.”

Now, Johnson regularly leads forays for tourists and locals alike. Equipped with wicker baskets and a stack of field guides, she works to demystify fungi as food.

Published Feb 22, 2023 by Maggie Nelson

Unalaska’s school district will have a new superintendent in the upcoming school year.

School board members voted unanimously Feb. 18 to appoint Kimberly Hanisch to lead the district.

Hanisch teaches educational leadership as an assistant professor at the University of Alaska Southeast. Before that she worked as the director of instruction and curriculum for the Kodiak school district.

Hanisch earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Physical Education from Chadron State College in Nebraska and has a Master of Arts in Biology from Bemidji State University in Minnesota. She also holds a Type B Administrative Certificate from the University of Alaska Anchorage and a superintendent's endorsement from the University of Alaska Southeast.

Published Feb 22, 2023 by Alaska Department of Labor

Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) is providing a $300,000 grant to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Mining and Training Petroleum Service (MAPTS) to train local residents for jobs at the Kinross-operated Manh Choh project located on Tetlin tribal land near Tok.

“Our department created a pilot project following Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s tour of the Delta Mine Training Center last year. The pilot project will support the training of up to 28 residents from the Tok area and bring high-paying jobs to the rural community. This is a win-win for all involved,” stated Acting Commissioner Cathy Muñoz.

“We are excited about the new job opportunities that Manh Choh will provide Tok residents interested in working on the project,” said Meg Smith, Human Resources Manager for Manh Choh. “The partnership between the DOLWD, MAPTS and theKinross-operated Manh Choh project is an example of how to prepare a local workforce for mining careers that are in high demand in Alaska. We are already scheduling several job fairs for the week of March 21st in the surrounding communities.”

DOWLD funding provides unique Surface Mine Training necessary for employment at Manh Choh. This training provides both the actual skills necessary for entry level surface mine related jobs and the employability skills necessary to continue employment. Many of these lifelong skills are transferrable. According to leading researcher McDowell, the average wage of an employee at the Manh Choh mine employee will be more than $130,000 annually, excluding benefits, providing families with an excellent quality of life.

Published Feb 21, 2023 by Gary Black/News-Miner

Registration is open for spring Master Gardener classes in the Matanuska-Susitna region.

The classes teach the fundamentals of gardening and can lead to the official title of Alaska Master Gardener. Participants who want the title also must commit to volunteer 40 hours of community service involving horticulture.

Topics covered will include botany, soil science, entomology, greenhouse design and management, organic and conventional fertilization, lawn care, vegetable-growing techniques specific to Alaska, and more.

Stephen Brown, the agriculture and horticulture agent for the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service in Palmer, will teach the series.

Published Feb 21, 2023 by K13XD

"I'm thrilled to share the university of Alaska has turned the corner. We have fiscal stability for the first time in nine years, and this spring, a growing student body. Last year, we reached the highest ever levels of externally-funded research, and we are about to eclipse that again this year."

We plan to have more on the state of the university address tomorrow (wed). 

Published Feb 21, 2023 by Derek Arnold, Katja Berghaus, KJ Janeschek, D. Skye Kushner, Allex Mahanna, Patrick Pragman, Abigail Schiffmiller and Sofia Sytniak

Last month, we as Academic Student Employees (graduate and undergraduate teaching, research and service assistants) at the University of Alaska filed a petition with the Alaska Labor Relations Agency to form a union with supermajority support.

As university employees, we provide the critical labor that helps make the University of Alaska a world-class institution. We teach courses to undergraduate students, conduct important research, and manage vital programs and centers across the campuses.

Beyond the university, the work we do helps grow the economy, support local industries and improve sustainability in our state. Many of us will go on to work in mining and resource extraction industries, wildlife biology, fisheries, environmental and mechanical engineering, tech and computer science, disaster security and prevention, education, counseling and more. We are part of the economic future of this state. We will take our degrees from the University of Alaska to build this state and make it a better place to live for future generations.

Despite the importance of our labor, we have no representation, and we find that what little support we receive from the university doesn’t match the immense value of our contributions. By organizing a union in our workplace, we are seeking to negotiate as equals with the University of Alaska administration over wages, benefits and workplace conditions.

The University of Alaska has proven that, without being held accountable through collective bargaining, it will not proactively improve our conditions. The university raised our minimum pay rate for the first time in 15 years at the start of 2023 -- after union organization was well underway – but this raise is insufficient (with inflation, we still make less than we did 15 years ago) and did not include any improvements to health care or workplace issues that graduate employees are currently dealing with.

Published Feb 21, 2023 by Staff report

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration will fly higher thanks to a regulatory waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The program announced the waiver in a news release last week, noting the release will allow manufacturers to test and certify their unmanned aircraft in real-world applications, said ACUASI Director Cathy Cahill.

“The FAA is allowing the test site to test and evaluate larger drones under real-world conditions,” Cahill said in a statement. “This will allow us to support the development of a strong drone economy in Alaska and across the nation.”

The four-year waiver covers unmanned aircraft that weigh up to 300 pounds under a range of research and development operations.

The FAA’s current process for applicants wanting to test drones requires an extensive process to secure a special certificate and various regulation exemptions.

“[T]he FAA finds that these operations are consistent with aviation safety because they occur in defined remote locations, which have been evaluated by the Air Traffic Organization to minimize exposure to people and property,” the letter reads.

The waiver cuts the red tape, but ACUASI will be responsible for safety and assessment of its customers’ unmanned aircraft flight-worthiness.

Published Feb 21, 2023 by Mark Sabbatini

After a 39-year career in public education Bridget Weiss is again becoming a college freshman, of sorts.

The Juneau School District superintendent has been named the first-ever liaison for the University of Alaska College of Education Consortium, which works on collaborative efforts between various university programs as well as the state’s public school system. Among her new challenges will be luring more high schoolers to become teachers and motivating them to pursue careers in Alaska.

“I can’t really undo 39 years of energy and understanding I have,” she said Tuesday. “I’m really not just ready to walk away from that.”

Weiss’ last scheduled day as superintendent is June 30 and she officially begins her new job July 1 (which is a Saturday, meaning in reality she’ll get the holiday weekend as a transition period). She said she will remain in Juneau, which was an important consideration as she looked for opportunities after her tenure with the school district.

When asked what she expects her new day-to-day duties to be like, she said at the onset it will largely be a learning experience.

“It hasn’t been done before,” she said. “This is a new position, so I’m approaching it from an innovative stance of assessing the needs.”

Specific goals are likely to include increasing dual enrollment of high school students who get an early start on college by enrolling in university classes, Weiss said.

“We know when students get a head start on credits they are more likely to enroll,” she said. “Certainly from my k-12 perspective we need to remove some obstacles. It will really mean reaching out to districts that don’t have these opportunities yet and see what some of those obstacles are.”

Having more “home grown” students in the university’s teaching program also means more are likely to remain in the state when pursuing careers, Weiss said. A similar mentality in luring out-of-state students is also a goal.

“We know we will always rely on a Lower 48 pool and we want them to come to Alaska, but we want them to come here for a career,” she said.

Published Feb 21, 2023 by Mark Sabbatini

An optimistic theme of finances and student enrollment rebounding from tough times — with a “yes, but” about staffing shortages having critical impacts statewide – was expressed by University of Alaska President Pat Pitney during her “State of the University” address Tuesday before an audience of business leaders in Fairbanks.

“I’m thrilled to share the University of Alaska has turned the corner,” she said in a line getting widespread applause. “We have fiscal stability for the first time in nine years and (as of) this spring a growing student body. And very exciting news — last year we reached the highest-ever level of externally funded research. We are about to eclipse that record again this year.”

Pitney also spent much of her 30-minute speech focusing on future-looking topics such as efforts to increase retention and subsequent in-state employment of students, and projects such as a drone program she said could make Alaska the first state with a commercial unmanned vehicle industry.

Mindful she was speaking to Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce, Pitney acknowledged “I know some of you are frustrated by our inability to respond to your workforce needs.” But she also used the speech to highlight efforts to university is making to ensure more students graduate and pursue careers in Alaska — and how partnerships with businesses can help.

”Our universities are a big part of the solution to meet those workforce needs,” she said. “Over the last 10 years, we’ve awarded over 44,000 degrees and certificates – 72% of them in Alaska’s highest-demand employment fields. Eighty percent of our graduates are working here in Alaska within a year after graduating.”

In contrast to past years when top university officials have had harsh words for Alaska politicians responsible for budget and program cuts, Pitney was largely complimentary toward both state lawmakers as well as the congressional delegation. She praised U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, among others, for helping to to pass the University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act, which will allow the university to triple its land holdings to more than 500,000 acres.

“We won’t be able to monetize that land overnight,” Pitney said. “It will take years. But we finally have the path.”

The address came a day after she and other top university officials offered a more in-depth overview of the university’s situation to the state Senate Education Committee. Pitney emphasized that not “grappling with major state budget reductions” for the first time in years has been critical to more than just the university’s being able to balance its budget.

“With that financial stability has come focus and the ability to promise students their programs are going to be there and the ability to promise students that their financial aid is going to come through,” she said. “That confidence to our students is absolutely essential. It doesn’t take a ton. It just takes stability, that it’s there and it’s not going to be gone tomorrow.”