Did you know ANSEP Ruled 2023 with Unprecedented Numbers and a Landmark Graduation?
November 28, 2023
In 2023, the Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program - ANSEP - saw its largest graduating class and record-breaking enrollment. ANSEP is making history with remarkable achievements, marking this year as a pivotal moment for the program.
What is ANSEP? ANSEP started as a college scholarship program in 1995 and has grown to include a middle college component through its Acceleration Academies, in addition to hands-on science programs for kindergarten and graduate studies.
The program provides various components, including Acceleration Academy, which allows students to take full-time college classes while still in high school, and initiatives focused on different academic levels.
ANSEP has proven how effective early exposure to challenging STEM curriculum is for improving educational outcomes.
Unprecedented Enrollment: In the spring, ANSEP saw the largest-ever graduating class of its full-time, academic year Acceleration Academy with twenty-eight students from the Anchorage, Bethel, Matanuska-Susitna and residential campuses. In summer and fall 2023, every ANSEP component experienced record-breaking student participation, reflecting a surge in engagement and influence across diverse educational levels.
Acceleration Academy recorded a nearly 30% increase in fall 2023, reinforcing its position as a transformative force in shaping educational trajectories.
Academic Distinction: The spring graduation celebrated not only the largest class to date but also exceptional achievement, with students accumulating an unprecedented 1,216 college credits and one student earning a remarkable 94 college credits.
Substantial Savings: Graduates can enter college with credits equivalent to a junior, collectively saving over $75,000 in tuition costs.
The efficiency is evident, with this making it only a third of the typical cost for a student to earn a degree at the University of Alaska.
Inspiring Future Leaders: ANSEP's holistic approach, from kindergarten to Ph.D., consistently outperforms national and state success rates, inspiring students from over 100 Alaskan communities.
The record-setting graduation aligns with ANSEP's broader mission of changing hiring patterns for Alaska Natives in science and engineering.
Federal Job Opportunities Amplified: A recent partnership between ANSEP students from the University of Alaska Anchorage and the U.S. Department of the Interior is opening new doors.
Signed in July, this agreement streamlines the application process, providing "direct hire authority" for ANSEP students. This means, after fulfilling set hours and obtaining their degree, they can be hired noncompetitively for Department of Interior jobs for two years, bypassing competition with the general public.
Zoom In: Beth Spangler, senior director with ANSEP, emphasizes the significance of these federal job opportunities, underlining the impact Alaska Native students can make with their academic qualifications and profound local knowledge.
In Closing: This monumental year for ANSEP not only underscores their commitment to excellence but signals a bright future for empowering Alaskans through education.
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