Representative Galvin, chair of the House Finance University of Alaska Subcommittee, opened the Feb. 17 meeting as the University of Alaska system presented updated workforce reports showing employment outcomes for nearly 27,000 graduates since 2013.

The reports, presented by Chad Hutchison, state director for government relations for the University of Alaska system, and Terry Coughran, associate vice president of workforce development, show that graduates from the university system tend to remain in Alaska and that average wages rise with educational attainment. Hutchison said the reports are built from matched employment data supplied by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development and cover 11 industry sectors important to the state economy.

Why it matters: committee members said the data illustrate the university’s role in supplying Alaska’s workforce across nursing, education, engineering, mining, oil and gas, transportation, construction and other fields. Several legislators nonetheless pressed for additional, year‑by‑year trend data and clearer performance metrics to guide funding decisions, and the subcommittee scheduled follow‑up work on recruitment and retention.

The presentation summary highlighted several sector totals and outcomes. The system reported nearly 27,000 graduates’ employment outcomes across the 11 industry reports. Education programs produced more than 3,600 graduates since 2013. Clinical and behavioral health combined account for about 7,656 graduates in the reports. The system also said graduates’ residency rates are higher than sector averages — for example, mining graduates had a 93.6% Alaska residency rate and oil and gas graduates had a 93.7% Alaska residency rate, both well above corresponding rates for all workers in those sectors. The reports show graduates typically exceed the average Alaska wage by their fifth year of employment.

The university described statewide access through three separately accredited universities and 13 community campuses, and noted that community campuses account for roughly 43% of UAA’s total student headcount. Hutchison and Coughran said the system’s range of programs — from short workforce credentials to certificates, associate, bachelor’s and graduate degrees — aligns with projected job openings that increasingly require postsecondary education.

Committee members raised data and policy questions. Representative Schrage asked for a concise takeaway; Coughran summarized: “We need more Alaskans to choose postsecondary education, to choose University of Alaska, to stay for their training in Alaska, and to move into that pipeline.” Multiple members, including Representatives Allard and Ballard, said the packet lacked year‑over‑year trend lines, per‑program enrollment and graduation rates, and clearer measures of where legislators should direct support or resources. Representative Allard asked for program‑level breakdowns (for example, engineering specialties and whether graduates remain in state); presenters said the full reports contain program‑level listings and that staff would provide the committee with the complete files.

The university described several targeted initiatives and funding details. Officials recounted a construction initiative launched with an initial UA commitment of $400,000 and industry fundraising that exceeded the goal; the system reported $863,000 raised in cash and in‑kind contributions from 46 donors, including paid internships and an endowment supported by the Associated General Contractors. The presenters also flagged the recent enactment of House Bill 148, which expanded the Alaska Performance Scholarship, and said the university is partnering with the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education to increase FAFSA completion.

On requested resources, Hutchison said the system’s FY2026 budget request includes $5,000,000 intended for enrollment, retention and recruitment work that would use data analytics and targeted outreach (including AI‑driven campaigns) and address compensation to retain staff in some community campuses. Legislators asked for more detail on how that funding would be spent and for a clearer case tying requested dollars to measurable enrollment and graduation outcomes.

Several legislators noted local campus staffing and housing pressures. Representative Jimmy said the Bethel campus is struggling to hire and retain staff because of living costs and housing shortages; Hutchison said compensation increases and targeted recruitment were part of the FY2026 request and that the system would bring more details to a future meeting. Representative Tomaszewski queried program productivity (for example, fisheries and marine science averages of students per program); Coughran said program reviews occur regularly and that capacity constraints such as clinical or lab space affect throughput.

Committee process and next steps: the subcommittee asked university staff to provide the complete workforce reports and additional trend analyses, including year‑over‑year graduation counts and in‑state versus out‑of‑state origin of graduates. Chair Galvin noted a tentative follow‑up subcommittee meeting for Monday, Feb. 24 at 9:00 a.m. to address recruitment and retention, and the committee adjourned at 10:01 a.m.

The presentation documented positive employment outcomes for many graduates but left legislators seeking more granular performance metrics and cost‑effectiveness data to inform finance decisions. The university agreed to provide the full reports and additional analyses before the next scheduled subcommittee meeting.