The role of the Kenai Peninsula College, opportunities available through KPC and KPC’s role within the community and with in the University of Alaska system; were addressed during a recent visit to the Kenai Peninsula by University of Alaska, Anchorage Chancellor Sean Parnell.
Parnell toured the KPC campus and meet with students, faculty and Kenai Peninsula School District Superintendent Clayton Holland and Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Mike Navarre.
Parnell discussed KPC as a community partner.
“KPC is really a trusted and respected community partner across the Kenai peninsula so I think about the middle college I think about the CTE programs. I just think about how our juniors and seniors in high school have an opportunity now to not only get high school credit but also get college credit and start that much farther ahead when they graduate from high school. I could tell you that U of A is Alaska’s largest workforce provider and we’re very focused on workforce. KPC is central to that vision.”
With career and education courses readily available, Parnell spotlighted the opportunities provide through KPC and UAA.
“When a young person really digs into what UA and KPC offer together as a larger institution they will see opportunities across a myriad of fields that they may never have considered. I’ll use a really common one; when you think about UA’s College of Health you think about nursing. The College of Health offers 42 other certificates and degree programs some of which you can get in and get out quick and get a good paying job. You can be get a surgery tech or CAN. You can be a medical assistant, you can be an ultrasound tech known as a sonographer. These are courses that you can take now, get out in one semester, two semesters, three semesters and get a good paying job that’s meaningful to you as a human being and you could make a difference in people’s lives.“
Parnell also explained Alaska’s investment in education and how KPC fits into the UA system.
“We’re actually investing in growing our investments in education. This past year, the legislature and governor agreed to increase funding for the University of Alaska and UAA in particular and KPC has benefited from that as well. So in order to have the life transformative opportunities that UA offers, we have to make these investments and currently I would tell you that there is strong support for KPC- strong support for UA. We are on a financially or fiscally sustainable path as compared to years past.”
“KPC fits in this way. There are three separately accredited universities: University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Alaska, Fairbanks and University of Alaska, Southeast. UAA is actually comprised of six different campuses so Kenai Peninsula College has two campuses Kenai River and Homer are two of UAA’s campuses and we all work together across those six campuses to ensure our students have the greatest opportunities possible through UA.”
For more information on the Kenai Peninsula College visit kpc.alaska.edu.