ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× advocacy resources
Advocacy tool kit
Share your story
The best thing you can do to advocate for the university is share why ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× is important to your friends, family members, and professional and personal networks. Did your ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× education help you start your own business or land your dream job? Do you and your family regularly take advantage of the science and cultural activities at ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ×? Do you hire ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× graduates at your business? Your stories are the most compelling.
Say 'thank you'
Serving as an elected official is a huge commitment and is often a thankless job. Regardless of your political leanings, make sure to thank them for stepping up to serve Alaska and our communities.
Tool kit
Use the tools and information below to help you with your advocacy efforts. Check back often; we will update this kit periodically. If you want to keep up with what’s happening in Juneau, you can visit and scroll down to subscribe to the Capitol Report.
- The ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ×, Alaska’s flagship university, was founded in 1917.
It has served as the lead campus for the UA system for more than a century.
- Today, ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× has the largest presence, impact and geographic scope of any university
in Alaska. In addition to its seven campuses, ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× maintains research stations, learning
centers and outreach offices across the state.
- ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× is the leading Ph.D.-granting university in Alaska. Today, more than 7,000 students
across Alaska, the Lower 48 and the world take classes with ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× in pursuit of degrees
from occupational endorsements to doctorates. ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× has the broadest mission and student
population.
- ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× has strong partnerships with business and industry around the state, Lower 48
and world. Employers say ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× grads are prepared to meet Alaska’s unique challenges,
and Alaska businesses look to ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× to provide their workforce.
- Nearly 20,000 ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× alumni live and work in Alaska’s communities.
They are the accountants, engineers, bankers, scientists, medical professionals and
support staff who fuel Alaska’s business and industry — ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× serves the entire state.
- In fiscal year 2023, ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× brought in about 92 percent of the research dollars for the
entire University of Alaska system. It is the only UA branch classified as a research
university and ranks in the top 150 of the nearly 900 U.S. institutions that conduct
research.
- Two-thirds of ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ×’s research activity is directly related to Alaska and results in
new knowledge about Alaska’s people, health, environment and industries.
- In fiscal 2023, every state general fund dollar invested in ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× research drew $8.80
from other sources. In fiscal years 2019 through 2023, ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× research generated more
than $675 million for Alaska. The money moves throughout our local and state economy.
- ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× improves Alaskans’ quality of life with hundreds of educational and cultural activities.
These include music, arts, athletics and classes for schoolchildren and adults. Other
offerings include help with small-business development, food preservation, and home
building and maintenance.
- ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× is America's northernmost Land, Sea and Space Grant institution, one of only a
handful of universities in the nation and the only campus in the UA system with this
triple-crown distinction.
- College ranking systems give ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× high scores in multiple areas. Examples include:
- Times Higher Education ranked ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× No. 25 among the world’s best small universities
in 2023.
- ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ×'s online degree in special education and teaching is one of four online programs
in the nation to earn the Quality Matters Exemplary Program status. ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× offers more
than 50 fully online degrees, ranging from occupational endorsements and certificates
to graduate degrees.
- U.S. News and World Report considers ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× the only national university in Alaska, putting us in a category with the best universities in the country.
- Times Higher Education ranked ÎÞÂëÂÒÂ× No. 25 among the world’s best small universities
in 2023.