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GRANT PROGRAM COMMITTEE MINUTES (5)
Matt described the challenges of the educational system in Alaska. More than 85% of Alaska is inaccessible by road, and students experience one of the worst performance outcomes compared to their peers across the United States. The high teacher turnover rate results in a dismal remediation rate among students who make it to college. The dropout rate is high as well. ANSEP works to address this by reaching out to younger students. JSF is one of about 75 partners supporting the program, and it presently has about 3,000 students and alumni in its pipeline. In 2015, the Urban Institute evaluated the program and found it to be highly effective.
For students, coming to the city and spending time on a campus is a huge step. Alaska Airlines partners with ANSEP to fly students to Anchorage. Middle school students start by building their own computers, which they are allowed to keep. They commit to completing algebra by 8th grade. While 26% of students nationwide complete algebra by 8th grade, 77% of ANSEP students do. Over the past 3 years, JSF and ANSEP’s other partners supported 1,900 students. The scholarship cost is $3,000 per student for the Middle School Academy, which is a residential program.
High school students in the Acceleration Academy participate in dual enrollment, which allows them to earn as many as 65 college credits while also learning study skills. JSF has supported 60 Acceleration Academy students and helped them earn more than 1,400 university credits. For incoming university students, the 10-week Summer Bridge program helps them get acclimated to a collegiate environment and complete an internship. JSF supported 30 Summer Bridge students as well as 45 students in University Success, a scholarship and mentoring program. While most students go on to pursue STEM degrees, a business option was added this year. Beth said the programs are open to all students. Presently 65% are Alaska Natives, and the rest consists of students of other races and ethnicities. Students with disabilities are represented also. Surprisingly, very few parents have expressed opposition to the residential aspect of the Middle School Academy. Matt said ANSEP works to assure parents that safety is the priority.
Asked whether they’ve been able to track the students after graduation, Matt said the latest effort was during the Urban Institute study in 2015. He hopes to do a follow-up in 2025. He was asked about how many students have gone on to pursue doctoral degrees. Of the 4 who have earned a Ph.D., Matt has been the only Alaska Native to earn a Ph.D. in civil engineering. He said he is mentoring a student who is on track to become the second Alaska Native to earn a Ph.D. in the same field.
In 2018, ANSEP hosted a dissemination conference, and 10 universities showed interest in replicating the program. However, the funding aspect of it proved to be the biggest barrier for the universities. Another question was about the main challenges to ANSEP’s success. Funding is always a challenge, particularly for the younger students in the program and the older ones seeking graduate school support. The current request does not include funding for the Middle School Academy. Matt, Beth and Nieca left the meeting.
The discussion mainly focused on how well the program aligns with JSF’s mission and whether the amount of funding should be increased, as was the case the last time. There was also a suggestion to request a list of the universities that attended the conference ANSEP hosted. If the Board agrees to meet in Anchorage in 2025, it could provide an opportunity for a site visit to ANSEP.
The Committee approved a grant to ANSEP for $600,000 over 3 years to support the Acceleration Academy, Summer Bridge and University Success programs.
Education / A Powerful force for change Page 25