News from the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN: AlaskaCAN Quarterly Convening – September 2021

The Alaska Postsecondary Access & Completion Network (AlaskaCAN) will be hosting its Quarterly Convening on September 27, 2021 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM AKST. The theme of the Convening is Equity & Access: Removing Barriers to Postsecondary Education with three guiding objectives: (1) Exploring the barriers specific to Alaska students; (2) Highlighting success stories of barrier-breaking initiatives in Alaska; and (3) Expanding advocacy networks.

Guest presenters will include Timothy Murphrey with UAF Rural Student Services; Amanda Metivier with Facing Foster Care in Alaska; Renee Fredericks with CITC's Youth Empowerment Services; and Tiffany Jackson with Association of Alaska School Boards.

To register for this Convening, please click HERE. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Convening.

AlaskaCAN Quarterly Convenings are free to attend for AlaskaCAN Members. Not a Member yet? You can easily become one at no cost by filling out the 2021-2022 AlaskaCAN Membership Application.

For more information about AlaskaCAN, visit www.65by2025.org.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN: Virtual ACAC Training in September/October 2021!

ACPE will be hosting its 4^th annual ACAC Training throughout the month of September and October for representatives from Alaska’s educational institutions, state agencies, Alaska Native Corporations, Alaska Native Tribal Organizations, and local non-profit organizations.

For 2021, we will deliver the ACAC Training in a slightly modified format as compared to last year’s ACAC Training. Instead of having only live sessions on Zoom at specified dates and times, we requested that the majority of Guest Presenters submit a recorded presentation, which we will schedule for distribution to the ACAC Training attendees throughout the month of September and October (Tuesdays and Thursdays via email). However, aside from recorded presentations, we will still host a kick-off, a half-way-through check-in, and a wrap-up session on Zoom. For these three sessions, we have invited Guest Presenters who will deliver a live presentation.

To be included on the distribution list for recorded presentations and to attend the three live sessions, registration is required. To register for the 2021 ACAC Training, please click HERE.

The annual ACAC Training is a professional development opportunity where education stakeholders are equipped with an array of resources and knowledge to help them support and guide students and adult learners in their planning and preparation for postsecondary education and career training programs in Alaska.

For more information, please contact Kate Hillenbrand, ACPE’s Director of Communications & Outreach, by email or at (907) 269-3025.

AKCIS.org – Alaska Career Information System

The future may be uncertain, but a Personal Learning & Career Plans put students in charge of their futures. Whether students are meeting in-person in your classroom, online synchronously or asynchronously, or with little access to the internet, AKCIS allows students to answer, “Who am I?”, “Where am I going?”, and “How do I get there?”  ACPE sponsors this robust resource FREE to everyone in Alaska. 

Time to renew for SY 21-22!  Please submit this short form: https://acpe.alaska.gov/PLANNING/AKCIS/AboutAKCIS/AKCIS_Activation_Agreement

To receive the AKCIS Newsletter each month, sign-up here: http://list.state.ak.us/mailman/listinfo/akcis.

For quick training use these videos to access instructions for common AKCIS tasks Administration and Staff Resources or User Resources. Not sure how to get started?  Contact the ACPE team for more information and planning assistance. 

Alaska LIVE Job Shadows archived webinars available

Review and share our recorded Alaska LIVE Job Shadows videos.  6^th-12^th grade students joined us to ask Alaska guest panelists more about their careers. We also highlighted programs of study available to school-aged students who are interested in these fields. Specific Employability Skills, or “Human Skills”, are important to Alaska employers. Each recording focuses on one of the Employability Skills.

Recordings for previous events are available for:

• Oil & Gas Occupations here
• Construction Occupations here
• Health Occupations here
• Maritime Occupations here

ACPE Launches Enhanced Education Refinance Loan Program for Student Loan Borrowers

To better address the challenges of student loan debt in Alaska, the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) introduces an enhanced Education Refinance Loan program (REFI). Through ACPE’s enhanced REFI loan program, borrowers have the opportunity to refinance their current private, state, and federal education loans into one loan with a repayment term of their choosing. Applicants may select a repayment term of 5, 10, or 15 years, through a convenient and secure online application process. Offering fixed interest rates ranging from 3.55% to 5.00%, one simplified lower monthly payment, no origination fee, or pre-payment penalties, ACPE’s REFI program offers Alaskans a way to lower their monthly expenses and save their hard-earned money.

Alaskans interested in saving money and refinancing their outstanding education loans are encouraged to visit ACPE’s REFI loan site (acpe.alaska.gov/LOANS/Refinance-Loan) to review these program enhancements and submit their application.

To receive the AKCIS Newsletter each month, sign-up here: http://list.state.ak.us/mailman/listinfo/akcis. 

ACPE Releases the Alaska Performance Scholarship Program Review and Recommendations Report

The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education has published a report reviewing 10 years of the Alaska Performance Scholarship, including recommendations to improve the program. The report was created by McKinley Research (formerly McDowell Group). ACPE is developing an action plan to address the recommendations laid out in the report. ACPE welcomes questions and feedback. You can find the report here.

ACPE to continue suspension on testing requirement for Alaska Performance Scholarship

To preserve student access to the Alaska Performance Scholarship, and at the direction of the Alaska Department of Law, ACPE will continue to administratively suspend the APS testing requirements for Alaska’s 2021 high school graduates. Eligibility will be determined by meeting existing curriculum and GPA requirements. Read more: https://acpe.alaska.gov/FINANCIAL-AID/AK-Performance-Scholarship

Early Career Explorers – PreK-4th grade FREE Downloadable Educational Resources (in-school, distance learning, and hybrid models)

ACPE’s Early Career Explorers educational resources incorporate career exploration alongside traditional subjects to be used in the classroom or at home. Students build a strong foundation to better understand the importance of academics, extracurricular activities, and healthy study habits as it relates to future career goals. Contact Shelly.Morgan@alaska.gov or 907-269-7972 for additional details.

I Know I Can – 1^st-3rd grade FREE Early College & Career Exploration e-Book and Activities (in-school, distance learning, and hybrid models)

Provided by ACPE and Alaska 529 College Savings Plan, the I Know I Can story, and educational activities are available for FREE for teachers and families to share with 1^st-3^rd grade students. Individual books and program materials can be delivered to schools PLUS a digital download, student activities and family tips are also available online. Virtual events connect volunteers with classrooms to read and discuss the story. Students are encouraged to draw pictures of their career dreams and complete related educational activities. Contact shelly.morgan@alaska.gov or 907-269-7972 for additional details.

Kids2College – 5^th-8^th grade FREE Early College & Career Exploration Digital Resources (in-school, distance learning, and hybrid models)

Provided by ACPE and Alaska 529 College Savings Plan, the 5^th-8^th grade Kids2College program is available for classroom & distance delivery, and includes six lessons, 1-hr each with pre-made/customizable PowerPoint presentations, video or virtual college & career panels, virtual campus tours & events, and printed or digital student workbooks and teacher’s guides. Students identify career interests and build personal learning and career plans; learn how to best prepare for college and career training; and learn about college entrance exams, admissions, and financial aid. Please contact shelly.morgan@alaska.gov for additional details.

FAFSA Wednesdays

To meet the needs of students and families who may not be able to receive FAFSA assistance within the hours of operation of the ACPE Success Center, we have introduced weekly evening assistance via FAFSA Wednesdays.

Every Wednesday, year round, an ACPE’s FAFSA Expert is available on Zoom between 3PM and 6PM ready to answer any FAFSA-related questions or guide individuals through the entire FAFSA process if that is the need.

FAFSA Wednesdays sessions are free to attend and no registration is required. Individuals can drop in at any time between 3PM and 6PM on Zoom to receive assistance. For more information, please connect with Dominika Szpotanska, ACAC Coordinator.

ACPE Virtual Success Center – Postsecondary Planning Assistance

Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) Success Center staff are available to answer questions about FAFSA, scholarships, postsecondary programs, and more! If you or your students have questions about navigating the postsecondary landscape in these uncertain times, please contact ACPE’s Success Center team at 800-441-2962, Option 4.