University of Alaska Anchorage

The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) is a public research university located in Anchorage, Alaska. UAA also administers four community campuses spread across Southcentral Alaska. These include Kenai Peninsula College, Kodiak College, Matanuska–Susitna College, and Prince William Sound College. Between the community campuses and the main Anchorage campus, over 20,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students are currently enrolled at UAA. This makes it the largest institution of higher learning in the University of Alaska System, as well as the state.

UAA's main campus is located approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of its downtown area in the University-Medical District, adjacent to the Alaska Native Medical Center, Alaska Pacific University and Providence Alaska Medical Center. Nestled among an extensive green belt, close to scenic Goose Lake Park, UAA has been recognized each of the past three years as a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. Much of the campus is connected by a network of paved, outdoor trails, as well as an elevated, indoor "spine" that extends east to west from Rasmuson Hall, continuing through the student union, and terminating inside the Consortium Library.

UAA is divided into six teaching units at the Anchorage campus: the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Public Policy, the Community and Technical College, College of Education, College of Engineering and the College of Health.  UAA offers Master's Degrees and Graduate Certificates in select programs, and the ability to complete certain PhD programs through cooperating universities through its Graduate Division. As of May 2012, the university is accredited to confer doctoral degrees. UAA is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.


> History

The University of Alaska Anchorage traces its origins back to 1954, five years before Alaska became the 49th U.S. state. That year, Anchorage Community College (ACC) was founded and began offering evening classes to 414 students at Elmendorf Air Force Base. This was the first time that college-level courses were offered in the Anchorage area. In 1962, ACC, along with other community colleges around the state, was incorporated into the University of Alaska statewide system. Five years later, ACC began offering both day and evening classes at the current campus location. ACC provided academic study for associate degrees, the first two years of work toward baccalaureate degrees, and a wide variety of adult learning, career and continuing education programs.

In the late 1960s, strong interest in establishing a four-year university in Anchorage brought about the birth of the University of Alaska, Anchorage Senior College (ASC). While ACC administered the lower division college, ASC administered upper division and graduate programs leading to baccalaureate and master’s degrees, as well as continuing education for professional programs. In 1971, the first commencement was held at Anchorage’s West High School, where 265 master’s, baccalaureate and associate degrees were awarded. ASC moved to the Consortium Library Building in 1973. The following year, when the first classroom and office facility was completed, daytime courses were offered for the first time. In 1977, ASC became a four- year university and was renamed the University of Alaska, Anchorage (UA,A). Ten years later, ACC and UA,A merged to become what is now known as the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA).

Since 1987, the university has continued to grow and expand; it is increasingly a university of first choice. More than 200 programs, ranging from certificate programs to associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees are offered at campuses in Anchorage and community campuses and extension centers throughout Southcentral Alaska. The university's mission is to discover and disseminate knowledge through teaching, research, engagement and creative expression.

Today, UAA remains committed to serving the higher education needs of the state, its communities and its diverse peoples. The University of Alaska Anchorage is an open-access university with roughly 17,000 students and actively seeks to maintain a rich, diverse and inclusive environment. In addition to thousands of students from across the state, the university retains a large commuter population from in and around Anchorage, many of whom are non-traditional or returning students. Nearly ten percent of the student population is from outside of Alaska or the United States. UAA also has the largest population of student veterans in the state.

> Academics

>> 3+3 Law School partnerships

The University of Alaska Anchorage currently partners with the University of Washington School of Law and Willamette University College of Law in Salem, Oregon to provide qualified students with the opportunity to earn a baccalaureate degree and law degree on an accelerated schedule, typically in six years rather than the usual seven. These are often referred to as 3+3 programs or an Accelerated JD Program because students spend three years as undergraduates and three years in law school.

>> Aviation technology

UAA offers Associate of Applied Science and Bachelor of Science degrees[9] in:

Air Traffic Control
Aviation Administration
Professional Piloting
An associate of applied science degree is also offered in:

Aviation Maintenance
The University of Alaska Aviation Technology division is part of Center of Excellence for General Aviation (CGAR)[10] which is a collaborative research effort between the following member universities:

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Florida A&M University
University of North Dakota
Wichita State University

>> Colleges and schools

College of Arts and Sciences
College of Business and Public Policy
College of Education
College of Health and Social Welfare
Community and Technical College
School of Engineering
School of Nursing
School of Social Work
University Honors Program
Graduate Division

>> Libraries

UAA/APU Consortium Library
Alvin S. Okeson Library (Matanuska-Susitna campus)
Carolyn Floyd Library (Kodiak College campus)

>> Financial-aid

Alaska Advantage Education Grant
GEAR UP
University of Alaska Grant

>> Centers and Institutes

As a center of research and understanding, UAA sponsors research, training, public service and other activities related to northern populations and in support of local and regional economic development. The state’s vast resources and unique challenges are central to these sponsored programs and specialty research. They address concerns of Anchorage and Alaska communities as well as issues of national and international interest. Below is a list of institutes and centers that support the university's mission:

Alaska Center for Rural Health/Alaska’s Area Health Education Center (ACRH/AHEC)
Alaska Center for Supply Chain Integration (ACSCI)
Alaska Natural Heritage Program (AKNHP)
Alaska Small Business Development Center (Alaska SBDC)
Center for Alaska Education Policy Research (CAEPR)
Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies (CAAS)
Center for Behavioral Health Research and Services (CBHRS)
Center for Community Engagement and Learning (CCEL)
Center for Economic Development (CED)
Center for Economic Education (CEE)
Center for Human Development (CHD)
Environment and Natural Resources Institute (ENRI)
Ethics Center
Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies (ICHS)
Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER)
Justice Center
Montgomery Dickson Center for Japanese Language and Culture
Psychological Services Center (PSC)