Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience reached by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Kuskokwim Campus (KuC) efforts between 10/1/2022 and 9/30/2023 are Alaska Native students living in rural villages within the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region (YK Region) of Southwest Alaska. The YK Region consists of the Kusilvak and Bethel Census Areas. As of July 1, 2023, there was a total population of 26,225 in the region, of which 93.4% and 85% respectively were American Indian and Alaska Native alone. "Bethel Census Area, Alaska Quickfacts" US Census Bureau, 2023 https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bethelcensusareaalaska/PST045223 (Accessed July 2, 2024) "Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska Quickfacts" US Census Bureau, 2023 https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/kusilvakcensusareaalaska/PST045223(Accessed July 2, 2024) The Yup'ik people are the largest group of Indigenous people in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region who are living on their traditional lands, speaking their native language, and practicing a subsistence lifestyle consisting of hunting, fishing, and gathering. There are no roads connecting the communities in the YK region, or to any statewide road system. Transportation between villages is by small plane, with additional limited travel by personal boats in the summer, and snowmachines in the winter. KuC is the only institution of higher education located in this geographical region. KuC students within the YK region are comprised of three distinct student groups: high school/university dual enrollment, traditional, and non-traditional. Changes/Problems:Since the last reporting period we had two changes in PI, two key employees resigned, and a 8-9 month gap before a stable PI was fully assigned. As a result, there is a lot of work to be done with this grant. I will be requesting a no-cost extension through our university representative, because I know we can get back on track to accomplish the goals we set out in this grant. I will be holding a meeting with AVCP to specify the role we can play in facilitating professional development in the area of tribal governance. From there, we will get instructors approved and courses set up for employees to enroll in. I will work with our Student Services department, as well as the Student Success Navigator to identify potential schools and districts to build partnerships with in order to offer college-level courses. I look forward to the opportunity to get this grant back on track, and feel fully confident in our ability to do so. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?KuC has regularly utilized local high school teachers vetted through UAF's accredited instructor approval process to teach high school/dual credit college-level courses. This has been a professional development opportunity for these instructors, as there have been multiple instructors who have gone on to teach adult sections of their courses for the university. As soon as the relationship with AVCP is reestablished, we can continue working to provide training and professional development in the area of tribal governance. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have primarily been communicated to communities of interest by sharing flyers on social media, regular meetings with regional school districts and partner organizations, and by formal acknowledgement through graduation and newspaper articles. The KuC communities of interest include internal university programs such as KuC faculty, adjunct instructors, and staff. As well as University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) extended faculty and Tribal Governance department, and University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP). External communities of interest include KuC partners, AVCP, external school districts in the YK region, and Orutsararmiut Native Council (ONC). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Th plan for the next reporting period is to look at what has been accomplished, what has fallen short, and reestablishing the partnership with AVCP to be able to offertribal governance courses to their staff again. There is work to be done in the recruitment of students, especially those interested in tribal governance. There is also room for growth in expanding course offerings to local schools/school districts. As staff turnover has been an issue, focusing on specific partnerships and seeing the process through, we can successfully increase our recruitment numbers and offerings.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: Increase engagement of secondary students: In the Fall 2022-Spring 2023 academic year, course offerings were expanded to one new high school: Thunder Mountain High School in Juneau, AKand one new school district: Yupiit School District. The course offerings were TG F250 and YUP F103, respectively. TG F250 at Thunder Mountain High School had 24 registered students, with a 100% pass rate. In the YUP F103 course for Yupiit School District, 7 students registered, 3 withdrew, and 4 remained in the course. Of the 4 students who remained inthe course, 100% passed. Student tuition is supported by the school district. As for the number of highschool dual credit course registrations, we were not able to reach our goal of 176 student registrations. We had a total of 133 for the current reportedacademic year. Objective 2: Reengaging former students for degree completion:Due to staff turnover in key positions, this goal will be reexamined, and a plan will be put into place to make sure the goals of working with our partner AVCP is realized. There are many opportunities for offering the specific Tribal Government courses their staff needs for professional and career development, as well as ongoing work towards degree milestones within the university system.
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Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience reached by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Kuskokwim Campus (KuC) efforts between 9/1/2021 and 8/31/2022 are Alaska Native students living in rural villages within the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region (YK Region) of Southwestern Alaska. Thie YK Region consists of the Kusilvak and Bethel Census Areas. As of July 1, 2021, there was a total population of 26,917 in the region, of which 91.1% and 84.6% respectively were American Indian and Alaska Native alone. * "Bethel Census Area, Alaska QuickFacts." US Census Bureau, 2021, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/bethelcensusareaalaska? Accessed 1 November 2022. "Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska QuickFacts." U.S. Census Bureau 2021. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/kusilvakcensusareaalaska Accessed 1 November 2022. The Yup'ik people are the largest group of Native Americans in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region who are living on their traditional lands, speak their native language, and practice a subsistence life style consisting of hunting, fishing, and berry picking. There are no roads connecting the YK Region communities to each other or to any statewide road system. Transportation between villages is by small bush plane with additional limited travel by small boats in the summer and snow machines in the winter. KuC is the only institution of higher education located in this geographical area. KuC students within the YK Region are comprised of three distinct groups: High School/University Dual Enrollment students, Traditional University Students, and Non-traditional/working students. Changes/Problems:In order for KuC to reach all potential students in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region, the number of distance courses has increased over the past four years. While KuC faculty and adjunct instructors are willing and able to teach quality distance-based courses, a major limiting factor to effective online, real-time distance teaching is the restricted bandwidth in the region, including at KuC. Teleconference audio numbers remain as a backup solution for all KuC distance courses and KuC faculty and adjunct instructors are able to print and mail out course material to students who are experiencing internet difficulties. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?KuC continues to work with partner, Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP), to offer Tribal Governance courses. The partner instructor taught another section of Tribal Governance TM F103 "Introduction to Tribal Administration" last academic year and has recently expressed interest in expanding Tribal Governance course offerings to regional students. KuC has regularly utilized local high school teachers vetted through UAF's accredited instructor approval process to teach high school/dual credit college level classes. KuC worked with two such instructors who now have their own sections of UAF courses (independent of dual enrollment). This has been a professional development opportunity for the two adjunct instructors providing additional employment in the region that would not otherwise be available. These instructors have enabled KuC with the ability to provide more course offerings to adult students in the region. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Yes, school districts, ANSEP program, traditional/non-traditional students. Results are primarily communicated to communities of interest by sharing fliers on social media, routine meetings with regional school districts and partner organizations, and by formal acknowledgement through graduation and newspaper articles. The KuC communites of interest include internal university programs such as KuC faculty, adjunct instructors, and staff, University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) extended faculty and Tribal Governance Department, and University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP). External communities of interest include KuC partner, AVCP, external school districts in the YK Region, and OrutsararmiutNative Council (ONC). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?KuC will continue to focus on growing the dual enrollment program with regional school districts and help high school counselors with offering high school students information on academic pathways for college preparation, academic admission requirements, financial aid, and placement testing for higher education. This will be accomplished through planning meetings and in person informational sessions by KuC Student Services Personnel (Advisors and Financial Aid Coordinator). KuC received a supplemental award to this grant that will now allow the opportunity to use the KuC Consortium Library Technician's expertise in community outreach. KuC plans to use this staff member to focus on tribal student recruitment, retention, and milestone completion by assisting with KuC students with resources to complete academic assignments, promoting further education and learning, and sponsoring community events.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: Increase engagement of secondary students In the September 1, 2020 to August 2021 progress report, it was stated that KuC planned to increase awareness of the Tribal Governance program to additional school districts in order to allow all regional students the opportunity to take high/school/dual enrollment courses in Tribal governance and/or the opportunity to take general education requirements to give students a solid start to their university careers. While the COVID-19 pandemic created many challenges to offering education, the KuC College Readiness Coordinator was able to continue advocating and planning for dual enrollment partnership opportunities. Fall 2021 was a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic because KuC and local school districts opened back up in person (allowing students to take advantage of internet access within the organizations). For the academic year 2021-2022, the College Readiness Coordinator was able to grow the dual enrollment program to include 6 school districts, 22 dual credit course sections, and had 242 students registered for courses. This was an impressive increase over academic year 2020-2021 where there were 3 school districts, 8 dual credit course sections, and 104 registered students. Project Year 1 / Dates School Districts Course Sections # Students Year 1 2020-2021 3 8 104 Year 2 2021-2022 6 22 242 Objective 2: Reengaging former students for degree completion For academic year 2021-2022, this grant opportunity helped fund the tuition of 3 adult students who are working their way through academic milestones. Student 1 is taking courses and is on track to complete a Certificate in Tribal Governance by December 2022. Student 1 is now admitted into the Bachelor of Arts degree in Rural Development. Student 2 is admitted into the Bachelor of Business Administration program with a minor in Tribal Governance. Student 3 is admitted into the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Information Technology and currently has completed 65 percent of the required coursework. An unexpected accomplishment for KuC during this progress reporting period is the final approval of a Yup'ik Language Competency Occupational Endorsement (officially available Fall 2022). Students who have taken the required courses can retroactively earn their Yup'ik Language Competency Occupational Endorsement. This milestone consists of mastery of proficiencies in three Yup'ik courses (plus two pre-requisite Yup'ik courses) and recognizes the acquisition of Yup'ik language skills of speaking, reading, writing, grammar and composition which are workforce skills needed by organizations throughout the YK Region. * "OEC, Yup'ik Language Competency." The University of Alaska Fairbanks Department of Alaska Native Languages, https://catalog.uaf.edu/endorsements/occupational-endorsement-programs/yupik-language-competency/ Nov. 11, 2022. Some examples of workplace skills include: transcription, broadcasting public service announcements in Yup'ik, assisting in the State of Alaska Election Divisions polls, and creating fliers, brochures, posters, and digital media in Yup'ik. The Occupational Endorsement certificate courses provide students with a pathway to the Yup'ik Language Proficiency Certificate, Associate's Degree in Yup'ik Language Proficiency, and a Bachelor's Degree in Yup'ik Language and Culture. KuC will be formally recognizing three students with the Yup'ik Language Competency Occupational Endorsement (retroactively) in academic year 2022-2023.
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Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project includes three groups of students: High School/University Dual Enrollment students, Traditional University Students, and Non-traditional/working students. High School/Universtiy Dual Enrolled students - TM F101 "Introduction to Tribal Government" (3 credit course) was offered during Spring 2021 and 8students completed and passed the course. KuC's Cooperative Extension Agent, Leif Albertson, facilitated a discussion via Zoom with the high school students on food safety and preservation. Traditional University Students - one traditional universtiy student earned his Associate of Applied Science Degree in Tribal Governance. Non-Traditional/Working students - two non-traditional/working students took courses during Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 and earned their Certificate of Tribal Governance in May 2021. Each of these students are planning to continue coursework in Fall 2021 to earn their Associate of Applied Science Degrees in Tribal Governance. Additionally, in Spring 2021, our grant partner, Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP) conducted a 1 credit Tribal Governance Course, TM F103 "Introduction to Tribal Administration", which had 14students villages throughout the Yukon-Kuskokwim region. 13 out of 14 students completed and passed this course. During the TM F103 course, KuC's Cooperative Extension Agent, Leif Albertson, was a guest speaker and facilitated discussions on air quality in surrounding villages. The students were able to discuss challenges in their villages due to dust and come up with solutions including, watering the roads and4-wheeler speed limits. Changes/Problems:The unexpected COVID-19 pandemic caused one of KuC's planned activities/inititiatives to be postponed. Each year, AVCP brings in members for 56 YK Delta member Tribes for training in Bethel, Alaska, where Kuc is located. KuC anticipated supporting the members to achieve universtiy credit for their face-to-face training. Since travel was banned to reduce the spread of COVID-19, KuC and AVCP were not able to offer this opportunity. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During Spring semester 2021, Martha Whitman, Director of Compacting at Associate Village Council Presidents (AVCP) - KuC's grant partner, taught TM F103 "Introduction to Tribal Administration", a 1 credit course. This course was attended by 14 students throughout the Yukon Kuskokwim region (13 out of 14 completed and passed the course). The KuC Cooperative Extension Agent, Leif Albertson, was a guest speaker within the course and facilitated a discussion on air quality in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region. The students, who are working professionals at AVCP, came up with several solutions to improving air quality: watering the roads and promoting a speed limit on 4 wheelers (transportation in the villages). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?During Spring semester, 2021, AVCP Director of Compacting and KuC Assistant Director were interviewed and spoke about the project on the KYUK radio station, offering public media for Alaska's YK delta region. In May 2021, three KuC students were publicly recognized for their university achievements during a live streaming of the KuC Commencement; 2 receiving their Certificates in Tribal Governance and 1 receiving an Associate of Applied Science degree in Tribal Governance. The participating school district for Spring 2021 participates in frequent meetings with KuC and has recognized that the Tribal Governance courses are compelling to students, allowing students to learn relevant things for their region, and ultimately has committed to providing TM F101 again in Spring 2022. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?To accomplish KuC's goals during the next reporting period, KuC plans on increasing awareness of the Tribal Governance program to additional school districts in order to allow all regional students the opportunity to take high school/dual enrollment courses in Tribal Governance and/or the opportunity to take general education requirements to give students a solid start to their university career. KuC will continue to work with project partner, AVCP to promote degeee completion by AVCP administrative staff and Tribal people in the YK region. KuC will assess students' current academic process and aid them in developing individual academic plans to achieve degree completion.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters, three students were able to identify the coursework needed to achieve an educational milestone and as a result, two of the students earned their Certificate in Tribal governance and one student earned his Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) in Tribal Governance. The two students who earned certificates have committed to coursework in Fall 2021 in order to ultimately earn their AAS degrees in Tribal Governance.
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