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University of Alaska Southeast

Undergraduate School

Mailing Address
11066 Auke Lake Way
Juneau , Alaska 99801
Phone
(907) 796-6100
School Information
As the smallest of the University of Alaska universities, the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) specializes in providing students experiential learning opportunities in every program, along with individual attention and strong student support. The University of Alaska Southeast is comprised of three campuses in Juneau (a residential campus), Sitka, and Ketchikan. On-campus and online programs in education, liberal arts, environmental science and studies, biology, marine biology, business, Alaska Native languages, outdoor studies, along with career training in nursing, mining, power/marine technology, and construction.
General Information
The University of Alaska Southeast has undertaken a systematic effort to implement anti-racism and diversity, equity, and inclusion into its university functions. Its Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) and Advisory Committee on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Cultural Safety express goals such as encouraging faculty to “decolonize” their curriculum and increasing non-white enrollment and hiring. UAS’s “Alaska Native Success Initiative” laid out a comprehensive set of objectives for the university to begin rolling out. Some of these policies include creating a DEI office and officer, an anti-racism vision statement and punishment for non-compliance, studies on the status of race at UAS, mandatory cultural safety training for students and faculty, and assistance for incorporating inclusivity and diversity in class teaching, curriculum, and research. The school’s library provides links to books advocating critical race theory. The UAS Student Engagement and Leadership organization provides links to the official Black Lives Matter movement. More information can be found below:

Actions Taken

Admissions Policies
  • The Advisory Committee on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Cultural Safety vows to "Recruit, employ, and retain a diverse faculty." Its "staff profile [must] reflect the diversity of Southeast Alaska demographics."
  • On July 7, 2023, UA issued a statement in response to the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action which reads in part as follows: "For now, we don’t anticipate the Court’s decision on affirmative action will have a significant impact on admission processes, although UA Leadership is still reviewing the ruling...admission to UA is open to anyone who meets the minimum academic requirements of the university to which one applies, and race is not a factor in whether a student is admitted...Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion across the UA System remains a central goal of President Pitney and the Board."
Anti-Racism, Bias, and Diversity Training
  • UAS's "Alaska Native Success Initiative" plans to "Integrate cultural safety training within the Learning Center and Native and Rural Student Center, and Student Services." (Page 10)
  • The Advisory Committee on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Cultural Safety seeks to "Prepare UAS students to lead and manage in a diverse and changing society by incorporating diversity and inclusion in significant ways in teaching, learning, and research."
  • The school plans to “increase accessible and relevant DEICS professional development training opportunities.”
Curriculum Changes and Requirements
  • The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) at UAS expresses its "commitment to equity and cultural safety." It "strives to help faculty incorporate decolonized histories, values, and perspectives in [its] curriculum, and to protect the cultural safety of members of [its] campus community."
  • UAS's "Alaska Native Success Initiative" plans to create "guidance and training on how to develop inclusivity plans and reviews" for "programs and departments." It adds, "Curriculum/instructional support position specializing in culture and diversity added to provide support for faculty, research, curriculum development and course integration" (Page 10)
  • The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching provides links to resources such as "Inclusive Teaching and learning," "Intercultural competence toolkit," and "Difficult dialogues."
Disciplinary Measures
  • UAS's "Alaska Native Success Initiative" aims to "Develop an articulated vision statement on anti-racism to establish an organization standard and assessment for continued growth." UAS plans to "Develop a process for reporting and investigating violations of standards." (Page 9)
Faculty/Staff Requirements
  • UAS's "Alaska Native Success Initiative" lays out its plan for race-based faculty and staff hiring (pages 7 and 8).
  • UAS's "Alaska Native Success Initiative" plans to "Develop and implement a mandatory training with an evaluation component for both new (on-boarding) and existing UAS personnel. (faculty and staff). (Page 9)
  • The school announced on December 19, 2023, that the DEICS committee will “require DEI statements for new applicants (starting with faculty, benefited staff, and administrative positions).”
Political Actions and Support for Anti-Racism
  • "UAS Student Engagement and Leadership" provides links to campaigns supporting the "Black Lives Matter movement." It notes that it does not endorse all of the material it links to. Some of the resources include a "Toolkit for White People," "Racism in Trump's America," and the official Instagram account of the Black Lives Matter Global Network.
Resources
  • The Chancellor created an "Advisory Committee on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Cultural Safety."
  • UAS's "Alaska Native Success Initiative" seeks to "Explore the feasibility of a Diversity, Equity office/officer." This office or officer would oversee "data reports related to race and diversity." (Page 10)
  • UAS Library offers books on critical race theory and racial pedagogy.
  • The school made an announcement on December 19, 2023, that “in an effort to ensure its class offerings are sufficiently training students to embrace key tenets embedded in critical race theory, the University of Alaska-Southeast is soliciting survey responses from participants at the completion of their courses.”
Last updated June 25th, 2024
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