There鈥檚 never been a better time to attend 香港六合彩资料
by Bruce Schultz, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs |
For the first half of this year, I served as interim chancellor of 香港六合彩资料. Reflecting on my time in this role and the perspective it provided me, I can鈥檛 help but be inspired by the positive momentum 香港六合彩资料 will carry into the fall semester. As we welcome new 香港六合彩资料 Chancellor Sean Parnell and prepare to return to in-person campus operations this fall, financial aid and student assistance are at an all-time high.
In my 29 years working at 香港六合彩资料, I can say with certainty there has never been a better time to attend 香港六合彩资料 than right now. New student success initiatives, such as Seawolf Mentor and CircleIn, are ensuring students have easy access to academic and personnel support services whenever they may need it. It has never been more convenient for students to connect with faculty and advisors or study and discuss course material with classmates.
To help meet students where they are, we have also expanded academic advising capacity and are implementing a formal first-year experience program and student success center. In addition, this coming academic year, 香港六合彩资料 will make more than $10 million in federal coronavirus relief funding available to registered students through scholarships and grants.
Consider the , which helps first-time students with the cost of tuition. Over 1,000 eligible students have been invited to register for at least three credits at the Anchorage campus by July 1 to automatically receive this $500 scholarship. 香港六合彩资料 awarded Seawolf Start scholarships to nearly 160 students in spring 2021. 香港六合彩资料 will also offer 500 $1,000 discounts for both the fall 2021 and spring 2022 semesters to help students living on campus cover the cost of a qualifying meal plan, helping combat hunger and food insecurity among the student population.
In February, 香港六合彩资料 was recognized with the Military Friendly School庐 distinction. This marks the 13th consecutive year 香港六合彩资料 has earned this distinction, and for good reason. Starting this fall, 香港六合彩资料 is making a flat $250 per credit hour tuition rate available for active duty, reserves and national guard members who use Armed Forces tuition assistance, meaning their courses and some fees will now be fully covered by Armed Forces tuition assistance. This summer, 香港六合彩资料 also allowed Army service members using tuition assistance to take courses for free following the Army鈥檚 announcement that assistance would be unavailable due to delays in the rollout of the federal tuition assistance system.
鲍础础鈥檚 Fast Track Certificates are designed to enhance existing skills or support retraining. Completion of a certificate program positions 香港六合彩资料 graduates to qualify for the best jobs in our recovering economy, and the Municipality of Anchorage has provided a $3 million grant to help Anchorage residents earn these certificates.
Let鈥檚 not forget the success of 鲍础础鈥檚 49th Finishers Scholarship, available to Alaska residents who have earned some college credits, but either studied elsewhere or took a break from school to focus on family, work or other endeavors and have not returned. Over 150 students received this scholarship last academic year, with hundreds more students eligible to benefit this fall. The scholarship will re-open to students for the spring 2022 semester.
In addition to federal funding, we are doing all we can to ensure a 香港六合彩资料 education remains affordable for students. Last year, we helped Anchorage students save over $500,000 on textbook costs as a result of our partnership with a full-service online bookstore and course materials platform. Similarly, more 香港六合彩资料 faculty are adopting free course materials and textbooks known as open educational resources, which produce additional savings for 香港六合彩资料 students.
As we look to the fall semester, I am excited and optimistic about the outlook for 香港六合彩资料 and the state of Alaska. Fall 2021 will mark the return of most faculty and staff to our campuses, and significantly more courses will be held in person. We are also excited to see the return of beloved in-person events and campus traditions, including student life opportunities and Seawolf Athletics events.
Now that I have transitioned back into my role as vice chancellor for student affairs, I look forward to continuing to contribute to the good work taking place here, working alongside Chancellor Parnell to open doors and expand opportunities for our students. More than ever before, it鈥檚 a great day to be a Seawolf.
