AMEC: 2024 Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training Education

The University of Alaska (UA) and the Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC) have established a formal partnership, the Alaska Maritime Education Consortium (AMEC). The mission of the AMEC is to “collaborate to prepare Alaskans for afloat and ashore careers that will support and strengthen the maritime workforce” by combining efforts to provide maritime training and education across the state.

JUNEAU, Alaska — The Alaska Maritime Education Consortium was designated as a Center of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. The designation recognizes and promotes support to post-secondary maritime training programs that prepare students for careers in the maritime industry.

Maritime education and training is important for all of Alaska. I am proud of the work done by AVTEC and the University to provide nationally recognized training to Alaskans in this important industry.

Cathy Muñoz, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development

The Center of Excellence designation, which is valid for five years, reflects the ongoing commitment of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the University of Alaska to train Alaskans to work in in-demand jobs across the state.

Read the full press release here.

Source: Department of Labor and Workforce Development

UAF CTC: Responding to Community, Workforce Needs

UAF Community and Technical College offers a comprehensive welding program, where students can advance through various skill levels in hands-on welding classes, providing a pathway to mastery in the art and science of welding. UAF photo by JR Ancheta.

Responding to community and workforce needs, the UAF Community and Technical College (CTC) launched new — and refreshed existing —academic programs aligning with interests of partners and industry.

New and updated offerings include License Practical Nursing (LPN), wildland fire science occupational endorsements, construction management expansion, culinary arts, and many other high-demand areas.

One of CTC’s greatest strengths is its connection to the community and employers.

Bryan Uher, UAF CTC Interim Dean

Connecting students to employers is a mission that CTC holds in high regard, and it is through the dedicated and passionate staff and faculty of the college that this is accomplished.

Read the full article here.

Source: UAF News and Information

UAF’s K-12 Outreach/Educators Rising Alaska to Host Over 200 Participants in Juneau

Participants of the 2023 Educators Rising Alaska Conference gathered for a group photo, which was held on the UAF Troth Yeddha’ Campus. UAF photo by Eric Engman.

Middle and high school students and their teacher leaders from across Alaska will attend the annual Educators Rising Alaska State Leadership Conference, held this year on the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) Juneau campus, Feb. 22-23. The annual state conference rotates amongst UA’s three main campuses: UAF, UAA and UAS to provide an immersive experience in the education field. This years’ conference is expected to have over 200 attendees. 

The state conference kickoff will be Thursday, Feb. 22 on the UAS Campus where attendees will hear from inspirational speakers including 2023-24 Alaska Teacher of the Year, Catherine Walker, Interim UAS School of Education Dean Carlee Simon, and state leaders. Students will then attend breakout sessions for two days, relating to entering college, education careers and more.

An award ceremony in the Juneau Arts and Culture Center will wrap up the conference on Friday, Feb. 23 to recognize those who competed. Students will see presentations from UA President Pat Pitney, UAS Chancellor Aparna Palmer, Senator Lisa Murkowski and Representative Mary Peltola, followed by a closing ceremony including performances from Woosh.ji.een Dance Group and All Nations Children’s Dance Group.

Read the full story here. Link to watch ceremonies: bit.ly/42EQw25

Educators Rising Alaska is a diverse, teacher and student-led grassroots movement that aims to inspire high school and college students to serve their communities by entering the field of education. School-based chapters are in every U.S. state, where students practice the necessary skills to lead a classroom while adding student voice to State and National discussions around education.

Source: UAF News and Information.

Alaska’s First Veterinary Technician Degree Program is Coming to Mat-Su College

A new Mat-Su College course is intended to remedy a statewide shortage of veterinary technicians through Alaska’s first degree program, scheduled to start in September. The new University of Alaska Anchorage program at the Mat-Su College campus will run 2 1/2 years or six semesters and is open to 16 students, said professor Dr. Judith Montalbano, who has worked at private clinics in the Mat-Su and helps oversee the college’s current veterinary assisting certification program. The application deadline is March 1. All classes will be in-person in Mat-Su, she said.

Read the Anchorage Daily News feature here.

Source: Austin Osborne, Director. UAA Department of Marketing & Communications.

Alaska Economic Trends (February 2024)

Hiking in Denali National Park, photo by Cody Badger Creative Commons by nc-sa 2.0.

Rob Kreiger of the Alaska Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development discusses the significant role nonresident workers play in Alaska’s recovery from the 2020 pandemic. The number of Alaska resident workers is still bouncing back from COVID — nonresident workers have exceeded them. Kreiger highlights industries currently relying on nonresident workers and the paths these workers take to fill the state’s workforce gaps.

The February edition also provides 2022 worker residency data, and the monthly report Gauging the Economy.

Read the full edition here.

Trends is a nonpartisan, data-driven magazine that covers a variety of economic topics in Alaska.

Source: Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development, Research & Analysis