Adequate lab space and classrooms for Alaska engineering students receives industry and community support

Juneau, AK- A broad coalition of Alaska’s engineering professional organizations and businesses, from construction to resource development companies, are calling for new and upgraded University of Alaska engineering facilities. Industry advisory boards for both the University of Alaska-Anchorage and University of Alaska-Fairbanks engineering programs have urged the legislature to appropriate the funding necessary to address growing enrollment and inadequate facilities.

Among the many engineering professional organizations urging support for upgrading University of Alaska engineering facilities:

– American Council of Engineering Companies – Alaska Chapter

– Alaska Professional Design Council

– Alaska Society of Professional Engineers

– Institute of Transportation Engineers � Alaska Section

– The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

“The costs associated with recruiting, relocating, training and properly preparing engineers for work in Alaska are staggering. We urge the Legislature to take action this year to invest in the infrastructure necessary to produce Alaskan grown engineers,” said Leverette G. Hoover, Alaska Branch Manager, Siemens Industry Inc.

“AMC Engineers can attest to the fact that engineers who go to school in Alaska are far more likely to remain. Developing the engineering programs at UAA and UAF will directly benefit the state for years to come,” said Boyd Morgenthaler, Chairman, Principal Mechanical Engineer, AMC Engineers.

Alaska faces a growing shortage of qualified engineers. To respond to the state’s need, the University of Alaska Board of Regents set a priority to more than double the annual number of baccalaureate graduates. The engineering programs at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks and the University of Alaska-Anchorage are complementary. Both UAA and UAF facilities are inadequate, cramped, and out-of-date. Neither campus’ engineering building has the special purpose lab space required for modern engineering curricula.

“This fall, in conjunction with the 50^th anniversary of UAA engineering program, I personally inspected the UAA engineering facilities. I was shocked. Students and faculty literally begged me for more classroom and lab space. They are bursting at the seams,” said Senator Johnny Ellis. For the past three years, Senator Ellis has sponsored legislation to fund the construction of facilities to address the growing challenges of cramped and out-of-date facilities. The UA Engineering Expansion Initiative is the top academic new construction priority for the University of Alaska Board of Regents.

For more information, contact Matthew Moser in Senator Ellis’ office at 907-465-3704.