| site: | http://akadvantage.alaska.gov/ |
| contact: | Greg Monrad greg.monrad@alaska.gov |
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education: works under a directive from the state legislature to promote access to and success in education and career training after high school. The Commission will expand its College/Career Guide program to provide more resources to rural students. ACPE will utilize and expand use of the Alaska Career Information System to students and families. Currently this web-based career-planning resource is used in 274 of the 507 schools in Alaska.The program is contributing $166,866 to this project.
As a partner in the Bridging the e-Skills Gap in Alaska project, ACPE will expand its Alaska College and Career Advising corps program beyond south-central Alaska to two rural locations, thus creating two new full-time school year positions. In addition to hiring new staff, this program expansion requires greater use of the Alaska Career Information System (AKCIS). AKCIS is a web-based education and career-planning resource. Its features include: interactive self-assessment tools; searchable information on occupations, postsecondary schools, and programs of study, as well as scholarships and financial aid resources. In addition, AKCIS offers job seekers customized resume development and interview preparation tools. AKCIS is made available as a free resource to middle and high schools across Alaska. Currently 49 our of 54 districts statewide make use of AKCIS including 275 active schools. Students utilizing the program can access their personal planning information from anywhere the internet is available, which in many remote areas is a problem in its self. The Bridging the e-Skills Gap in Alaska project will also help expand AKCIS into new communities who might not have otherwise had access.
In addition to program expansion, the Bridging the e-Skills Gap in Alaska project would allow ACPE to increase out networking opportunities with educational professionals and build stronger relationships with other local community organizations by delivering training and professional development/continuing education through distance delivery made possible through broadband technology.
After careful research and consideration, ACPE has identified Bethel as the next most logical site for expansion based on student demographics, quality and commitment of leadership, and willingness to collaborate with statewide partners and initiatives. Preliminary discussions are underway with school and district leadership. The target date for placing a new College/Career Guide at Bethel Regional High School is January of 2011.