- Cama-i, quyana tailuci!
- (Central Yup’ik)
- "Greetings, thank you for coming!"
News from the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
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. 6th-12th 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
ACPE’s Early Career Explorers FREE 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. (Flexible grade levels.)
Please contact Shelly.Morgan@alaska.gov or 907-269-7972 for additional details.
Kids2Careers – 5th-12th grade FREE Postsecondary & Career Exploration & Planning Resources
Kids2Careers offers a variety of FREE resources and activites to help 5th - 12th grade students explore and plan for education and career training options after high school. In addition to Postsecondary Planning Tools, Success Steps for Students and Guiding Steps for Families, Educators can apply for any or all of the following: 6-Lesson Classroom Curriculum, Postsecondary & Career Prep Panel Discussions (tiered for different grades), and Postsecondary Pathway Presentations to help Juniors and Seniors track time sensitive steps and familiarize with helpful planning tools. (Distance delivery options and flexible grade levels.)
Please contact Shelly.Morgan@alaska.gov or 907-269-7972 for additional details.
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.
