Tag: UAF

UAF School of Education to ensure graduates are prepared for distance learning

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) The Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce continues to conduct its weekly business luncheons online. Tuesday’s topic: preparing teachers for Alaska’s future at the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Education.

School of Education director at UAF, Amy Vinlove, discussed initiatives for the program, including recruiting and supporting Alaska Native students pursuing teaching degrees.

“We are currently at the mid-point in a nine [to] 10-year grant partnership, with some external funding from a philanthropic organization, to really try to build up those strategies and those support systems and consolidate them,” Vinlove said. “This has been area where UAF has been on the forefront for almost 50 years.”

Adapting to the changing times was a topic as well. The school of education is looking to better prepare their graduates for distance learning, as many teachers and students are experiencing right now through digital and assignment-based activities.

Read the article here.

Source: UAF School of Education to ensure graduates are prepared for distance learning – KTVF

Building community, contribution and care in the time of COVID

Jim Johnsen

The University of Alaska has demonstrated resilience and resolve over many years and across many challenging issues. Alaskans support the university in helping our students, employing our graduates, providing generous contributions, and offering their time and expertise on advisory and governing boards. This partnership with our state is highlighted by how the university is giving back to help our communities and our state during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I continue to be impressed by how our faculty, students, and staff collaborate, support one another, and conduct innovative and meaningful work. I am proud to be a part of a university system that serves our communities and our state as we work daily to build a stronger, more resilient Alaska. I believe it is UA’s responsibility to examine both current and far-reaching impacts of the current crisis and to help identify solutions.

Read the full article here.

Source: Building community, contribution and care in the time of COVID – Anchorage Press

UAF Hosted Virtual Equity and Student Success Event

Guest Speaker Dr. Timothy Renick, Senior Vice President for Student Success and Professor of Religious Studies at Georgia State University (GSU) presented about effective models that higher education institutions can implement to close equity gaps and support student success.

“GSU is a national model for student success. Over the past decade, the university has increased our graduation rate by 23 points. We’re graduating 2,800 more students a year than just five years ago and we’ve reduced the time to degree by half a semester, saving students $18 million a year. We’ve eliminated achievement gaps based on race, ethnicity or income. Learn more about how we’ve come so far, so fast.”

https://success.gsu.edu/

Source: UAF – Dr. Timothy Renick – Equity & Student Success

Federal Aviation Administration Awards nearly $2.6M in Drone Grants to Universities

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will give nearly $2.6 million in grants to universities for research into drones. The FAA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation, said the universities will comprise the agency’s Air Transportation Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems(AUS), also known as the Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE).

According to the FAA, there are 1.7 million drones in the AUS fleet, which is expected to grow to 2.2 million by 2023. The grants are for enhancing the safe and successful integration of drones into American airspace.

“The research funded by these grants will provide valuable data as the Department leads the way to chart a course for the safe integration of drones into our national airspace,” Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said. “In addition to providing grants, we are also supporting activities that provide operational experience like the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program, all of which move us more quickly toward full integration.”

The four different grants are provided for specific projects and goals. Grants were distributed to 14 universities across the country, including the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Source: Federal Aviation Administration awards nearly $2.6M in drone grants to universities – Transportation Today

Up-and-coming fishermen meet with legislators at summit -The Cordova Times

Sen. Gary Stevens meeting with fishermen from Kodiak and Prince William Sound. Photo courtesy of Chelsea Haisman

Eight scholarship recipients traveled to a fisheries training and networking event in Juneau, where they met with lawmakers, scientists and fisheries officials.

Source: Up-and-coming fishermen meet with legislators at summit -The Cordova Times