University of Alaska Fairbanks Faces Significant Funding Cuts

The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) is poised to lose approximately $2.9 million annually in federal grant funding that supports 21 staff positions. This potential loss follows the announcement by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) that it is terminating grants under the Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions program. The decision affects $350 million in discretionary funding, which the DOE states is being cut due to concerns about racial and ethnic quotas in awarding government benefits.

The DOE’s press release highlighted that the termination applies to grants awarded through Title III, which has two components: Part A, which includes discretionary funds, and Part F, which is mandatory and protected from termination. UAF currently operates four Part A grants, with one set to conclude this year and the others extending from two to four more years, according to Bryan Uher, Interim Vice Chancellor for Rural, Community and Native Education.

Impact on Programs and Staffing

In an email to faculty and staff, Mike Sfraga, Interim Chancellor of UAF, emphasized the substantial impact of losing these funds. “We are still analyzing what the full effects may be,” he wrote. The Title III funding is essential for UAF’s rural campuses, including those in Nome, Kotzebue, Bethel, and Bristol Bay, where a minimum of 20% of the student body must be Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian to qualify.

Programs funded by Title III aim to enhance sustainability after the initial five-year grant period. Uher noted that the Community and Technical College (CTC) in Fairbanks is currently developing three academic programs supported by these grants. These include an American Sign Language program, a private pilot ground school occupational endorsement targeting rural students, and an IT technician occupational endorsement. Together, these initiatives create 14 full-time positions and were expected to continue receiving funding for another four years.

At UAF’s Bristol Bay Campus, an academic planning program funded by Title III Part A supports seven staff positions and is currently in its second year. The total remaining balance for all Title III grants at UAF stands at $7.3 million.

Future Implications of Funding Cuts

Despite the grants being designated for Alaska Native-serving institutions, Uher emphasized that the programs and services offered are available to all students, regardless of race or ethnicity. The DOE has stated it will provide up to one year of funding to allow institutions to close out their grant programs. Uher’s department is currently evaluating the impact of the funding cuts, noting that the immediate effects on programs and personnel remain uncertain.

“The loss of these funds is significant,” Uher explained, pointing out that this funding traditionally supported the operations of UAF’s rural campuses. The termination of these grants means that there will not be an option to apply for similar funding in the future, which could have lasting consequences for the university’s ability to provide educational services in these communities.