The state's colleges and universities are preparing our future work force for success.

• Author: Orr, Vanessa
• Position: Educating Alaska

As Alaska businesses grow, so do the opportunities for skilled, trained personnel. But unlike previous years, when companies hired students out of college and trained them as they rose through the ranks, many of today's graduates are already highly trained and have previous business experience. As the job market has changed, so has its work force--and that has changed the way that future employees are educated.

THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA: UAA, UAF and UAS

Like most colleges in Alaska, the University of Alaska serves a diverse student population. While its main branches in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau provide courses for what are considered "traditional" students, they also offer a wide variety of options for those students who are returning to school after time spent in the work force.

"Our students are hard to characterize," explained Renee Carter-Chapman, vice provost of the University of Alaska Anchorage. "We serve the traditional student out of high school who is working toward a full-time degree, but also we serve a large number of adult students who are employed full-time. Some of them may already have certificates or degrees, but want to upgrade their skills."

"We do get a higher proportion of nontraditional students who have already done something else," agreed James Collins, dean, University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Management. "Alaska is different than most places in that a lot of high school kids are able to find well-paid work in construction or in the oil patch, before deciding that they want to retool."

To meet the needs of these students, the university offers a number of options designed not only to provide them with an education, but also the ability to enter the business world well-prepared.

"We believe that connecting with the community is fundamental," explained Jan Gehler, dean of the Community and Technical College at UAA. "We do this by talking to employers and industry reps not only about what they need, but also about the level of demand in their fields. We have very active advisory groups who help us determine not only what the industry requires here, but also what industry based standards are nationally."

According to Gehler, employers ask that future workers not only be technically competent, but also have employability skills. "These are 'soft' skills, like being a self-starter, being able to work in groups, and being able to write and speak well," she explained.

In addition, companies are looking for employees who have had field-based experiences, such as an internship. At UAA, students are given the chance to do field work at approved sites in the community, or to work on a simulator, depending on their field of study. "Our culinary students work at restaurants or institutions, where they get hands-on practice," Gehler explained. "Our air traffic control students work in a state-of-the-art, 360-degree simulator. It's one of only...