University of Alaska Southeast

The Tlingit and Haida Elder Dance Group performs during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Áakʼw Tá Hít building at the University of Alaska Southeast on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

New Áakʼw Tá Hít building at UAS seeks state-of-the art science with traditional wisdom

Building that hosted ribbon-cutting Friday is first at Juneau campus with a primary name in Lingít.

 

The University of Alaska Southeast class of 2024 receive their degrees during a commencement ceremony Sunday at the UAS Recreation Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

New University of Alaska Southeast graduates cherish the moment and the challenges yet to come

More than 300 degree recipients honored during Sunday’s commencement ceremony.

 

From left to right, students Kelby Randall, KC Abad and Sage Chavez smile as they sit outside during a lunch break Monday afternoon at the University of Alaska Southeast campus in Juneau on the first day of the 2023 fall semester. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

UAS fall semester kicks off with a sunny start and increased enrollment

New chancellor reports 4% increase in overall enrollment, 87% increase in Indigenous programs.

 

New University of Alaska Chancellor Aparna Palmer speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

New UAS chancellor talks student access, visibility ahead of semester start

Aparna Palmer shared her goals with the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce.

New University of Alaska Chancellor Aparna Palmer speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Graduates Emily Hatley, Lara Millette, Autumn Levy, Rosaline Westfall, Rylee Johnson and Jarvis Evans throw their caps in the air after the commencement ceremony held Sunday afternoon at the University of Alaska Southeast. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

UAS celebrates annual graduation ceremony

Indigenous students were honored in annual Native Graduation Celebration.

Graduates Emily Hatley, Lara Millette, Autumn Levy, Rosaline Westfall, Rylee Johnson and Jarvis Evans throw their caps in the air after the commencement ceremony held Sunday afternoon at the University of Alaska Southeast. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
University of Alaska Aparna Dileep-Nageswaran Palmer, shown in this photo, was recently selected to be new chancellor of the University of Alaska Southeast.

Q&A: Get to know the next UAS chancellor

Incoming chancellor talks workforce development, fiscal sustainability and student access

University of Alaska Aparna Dileep-Nageswaran Palmer, shown in this photo, was recently selected to be new chancellor of the University of Alaska Southeast.
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File The sun partially shines on the University of Alaska sign in late February. University of Alaska President Pat Pitney announced Wednesday her selection of Aparna Dileep-Nageswaran Palmer as the new leader of the University of Alaska Southeast.

UA announces selection of new UAS chancellor

Aparna Dileep-Nageswaran Palmer is expected to begin the role in July

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File The sun partially shines on the University of Alaska sign in late February. University of Alaska President Pat Pitney announced Wednesday her selection of Aparna Dileep-Nageswaran Palmer as the new leader of the University of Alaska Southeast.
The University of Alaska Southeast recently announced the selection of five final candidates in the running to fill its chancellor position six months ahead of the expected retirement of current Chancellor Karen Carey. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

University of Alaska Southeast announces chancellor finalists

The position is set to begin July 1, following the retirement of the university’s current chancellor

The University of Alaska Southeast recently announced the selection of five final candidates in the running to fill its chancellor position six months ahead of the expected retirement of current Chancellor Karen Carey. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau residents register for COVID-19 vaccinations at Centennial Hall in April of 2021. Bartlett Regional Hospital and other city-owned institutions provided virus tests and vaccinations in a multitude of locations during the pandemic, as well as providing at-home tests and coordinating with other entities such as the Alaska Native-owned SEARHC. (Bartlett Regional Hospital)

Study: Juneau’s COVID-19 response a role model for success

Control of hospital and airport, public communication, coordination with tribes cited as key assets

Juneau residents register for COVID-19 vaccinations at Centennial Hall in April of 2021. Bartlett Regional Hospital and other city-owned institutions provided virus tests and vaccinations in a multitude of locations during the pandemic, as well as providing at-home tests and coordinating with other entities such as the Alaska Native-owned SEARHC. (Bartlett Regional Hospital)
A humpback whale breaches near Juneau. (Heidi Pearson/ NOAA/NMFS)

New paper explores whales as carbon sinks

University of Alaska Southeast biologist was lead author on the paper

A humpback whale breaches near Juneau. (Heidi Pearson/ NOAA/NMFS)
A school bus sits in the parking lot of the University of Southeast Alaska Tech Center downtown. In the fall of 2024, a new commercial driver’s license education training program is expected to be offered at the campus. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

UAS to establish Juneau-based CDL program amid driver shortage

New program could put driver shortage in the rear-view mirror.

A school bus sits in the parking lot of the University of Southeast Alaska Tech Center downtown. In the fall of 2024, a new commercial driver’s license education training program is expected to be offered at the campus. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
The entrance of the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau as seen on May 25, 2022. (Lisa Phu / Alaska Beacon)

University of Alaska faculty union ratifies contract

United Academics certified the ratification vote results Monday.

The entrance of the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau as seen on May 25, 2022. (Lisa Phu / Alaska Beacon)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire X̱’unei Lance Twitchell sits next to a fire at a celebration of life ceremony hosted at the University of Southeast Alaska’s Noyes Pavilion in honor of late UAS professor Sol Neely Saturday evening.

‘I’m not quite sure what we’re going to do now that he’s gone’: Residents celebrate the life of former UAS professor Sol Neely

“He was a mentor, he was a friend, he taught me so much…”

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire X̱’unei Lance Twitchell sits next to a fire at a celebration of life ceremony hosted at the University of Southeast Alaska’s Noyes Pavilion in honor of late UAS professor Sol Neely Saturday evening.
Amanda Triplett, at right on overhead screen, discusses the University of Alaska’s “Did You Know” program while faculty members in the background hold up signs protesting a labor contract stalemate during the Board of Regent’s meeting Friday in Juneau. The program highlights cooperative efforts the university is participating in with communities such as workplace experience and dual enrollments with other educational institutions. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Title IX more than mere sport for UA leaders

Chancellors praise campus anti-discrimination programs, but board member calls changes “insidious”

Amanda Triplett, at right on overhead screen, discusses the University of Alaska’s “Did You Know” program while faculty members in the background hold up signs protesting a labor contract stalemate during the Board of Regent’s meeting Friday in Juneau. The program highlights cooperative efforts the university is participating in with communities such as workplace experience and dual enrollments with other educational institutions. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Sean Parnell, a former Alaska governor and current chancellor at the University of Alaska Anchorage, discusses partnerships with local schools and other community groups during the University of Alaska’s Board of Regents meeting Thursday at the University of Alaska Southeast. In the background employees with the faculty’s union hold up signs protesting a stalemate in contract negotiations that has lasted more than a year. The two-day meeting continuing Friday is the board’s first in Juneau since 2018. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

‘Excitement’ and challenges factor into UA board meeting

Board members hear about revitalized students, demoralized staff at first Juneau meeting since 2018

Sean Parnell, a former Alaska governor and current chancellor at the University of Alaska Anchorage, discusses partnerships with local schools and other community groups during the University of Alaska’s Board of Regents meeting Thursday at the University of Alaska Southeast. In the background employees with the faculty’s union hold up signs protesting a stalemate in contract negotiations that has lasted more than a year. The two-day meeting continuing Friday is the board’s first in Juneau since 2018. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
UNAC supporters Angel Collins, JoMarie Alba and Lisa Hoferkamp hold signs Thursday morning in the middle of a Glacier Highway roundabout near the University of Alaska Southeast campus in Juneau. The University of Alaska Board of Regents began a two-day meeting at UAS on Thursday. University of Alaska and the faculty union have not come to an agreement after over a year of negotiations. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Union rally greets university regents

Faculty union, supporters make presence felt morning of two-day meeting.

UNAC supporters Angel Collins, JoMarie Alba and Lisa Hoferkamp hold signs Thursday morning in the middle of a Glacier Highway roundabout near the University of Alaska Southeast campus in Juneau. The University of Alaska Board of Regents began a two-day meeting at UAS on Thursday. University of Alaska and the faculty union have not come to an agreement after over a year of negotiations. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A rainy Monday morning marked the first day of fall semester at the University of Alaska Southeast which comes just days before the university announced its search for a new chancellor to begin June 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire) A rainy Monday morning marked the first day of fall semester at the University of Alaska Southeast which comes just days before the university announced its search for a new chancellor to begin June 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

UAS announces search for new chancellor

Current chancellor is set to retire in late June after serving three years in the position.

A rainy Monday morning marked the first day of fall semester at the University of Alaska Southeast which comes just days before the university announced its search for a new chancellor to begin June 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire) A rainy Monday morning marked the first day of fall semester at the University of Alaska Southeast which comes just days before the university announced its search for a new chancellor to begin June 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Students smile as the walk to their classes for the first day of fall semester at the University of Alaska Southeast on Monday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Fall semester starts at the University of Alaska Southeast

For many returning students, it also marks the first day back after the news of loan forgiveness

Students smile as the walk to their classes for the first day of fall semester at the University of Alaska Southeast on Monday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows the University of Alaska Southeast campus in Juneau. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

UAS enrollment sees slight decline overall

However, newly enrolled and transfer students are up 40%.

This photo shows the University of Alaska Southeast campus in Juneau. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Insulation can be seen through broken shingles on the Novatney Building’s roof. Funding for maintenance work on the roof was among Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s over $215 million in budget cuts. Design work for the effort has long been completed, said UAS facilities maintenance and operations manager Adam Zenger. The roof does not currently leak, he said, but in light of roof’s condition he said there’s concern that could change. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Scholarships and grants to continue but UAS roof will have to wait

UAS loses out on roof repair.

Insulation can be seen through broken shingles on the Novatney Building’s roof. Funding for maintenance work on the roof was among Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s over $215 million in budget cuts. Design work for the effort has long been completed, said UAS facilities maintenance and operations manager Adam Zenger. The roof does not currently leak, he said, but in light of roof’s condition he said there’s concern that could change. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)