The Sitka Campus of the University of Alaska Southeast launched a new program in October designed to improve services for its students, particularly those who need extra support for their college experience.
ISER’s Center for Alaska Education Policy Research (CAEPR) worked with a team at UAS Sitka to conceptualize the new project, which is called Strengthening Unique Potential for Progress through Opportunities, Relationships, and Transitions (SUPPORT).
UAS campus in Sitka, Alaska
SUPPORT is a 5-year project funded by the U.S. Department of Education under its Title III Part A grant program. SUPPORT’s two main goals are to strengthen the way UAS Sitka builds and manages meaningful relationships between staff/faculty and students, and to grow the mechanisms it uses to promote employability skills, habits, and mindsets, often referred to as 21st century skills.
The project will engage both faculty and staff on the Sitka Campus in a holistic, student-centered campus initiative. CAEPR will conduct a mixed-methods evaluation of the project and work collaboratively with the Sitka Campus to inform and support project activities. Research Assistant Professor and CAEPR Director Dr. Dayna DeFeo will lead the evaluation activities. Research Professional Jessica Passini will serve in the capacity of research support.
“We worked with UAS Sitka over the past five years on the Complete 2 Compete Title III grant,” said DeFeo. “That project gave us data on student needs, and we wanted to continue our collaboration to envision the next steps.”
On the Sitka Campus, Principal Investigator and faculty member Dr. Math Trafton explained how the program will work. “The SUPPORT team will work to build individual and personalized relationships with every Sitka program and pre-program student in an effort to ensure meaningful connection across diverse cultures, communities, and life experiences. The team will also research and implement new curricula and policy to strengthen an academic culture of support, inclusion, and success in the 21st century.”
“I feel privileged to continue CAEPR’s working relationship with the UAS Sitka Campus, and to work on the SUPPORT project in particular,” said DeFeo. “The goals are aligned to student needs and designed to offer specialized and personal supports for students taking classes on campus or via distance. It’s exciting to work alongside innovators in student affairs, and with a campus that has such a shared vision for students. I look forward to supporting the project, and to researching the project activities!”
