UAF tells Senate committee it needs investment to expand technical workforce capacity
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Summary
University of Alaska Fairbanks deans told the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee that UAF’s engineering and technical programs are near capacity, described initiatives in aviation, aerospace, construction 3D printing, energy and critical minerals, and asked the legislature to consider funding to support the Alaska Critical Minerals Collaborative and leverage larger federal projects.
Representatives from the University of Alaska Fairbanks told the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on March 11 that UAF’s engineering and technical programs are essential to Alaska’s workforce but face constraints in space, equipment and faculty that limit capacity.
Bill Schnabel, dean of the College of Engineering and Mines, and Kevin Alexander, dean of the Community and Technical College, outlined a "manifold" approach—multiple, stackable pathways from occupational endorsements through PhDs—to meet diverse state workforce needs. Alexander said UAF offers a 12-month airframe and power plant certificate program and an unmanned aircraft occupational endorsement to serve aviation needs in many rural communities. "We have the only 12-month airframe and power plant certificate program in the country," Alexander said.
Schnabel described growth in aerospace engineering programs, hands-on multidisciplinary projects (including a student DARPA heavy-lift UAV challenge with a May flyable deadline and August competition), and construction innovations such as a concrete 3D-printing robot tested in Nome. He also highlighted industry partnerships—with DOT, Alaska Workforce Alliance and the Association of General Contractors—that support internships, T3 recruitment programs and stackable credentials.
On critical minerals, Schnabel described a new LA‑ICPMS laboratory used to analyze critical-mineral concentrations and said UAF is pursuing projects including CoreCM (DOE-funded) and preparing to compete for a proposed 10‑year, $160,000,000 NSF Engines proposal that would expand PhD funding and workforce development. He asked the legislature to consider funding requests to support the Alaska Critical Minerals Collaborative to help leverage federal opportunities and support PhD students.
When asked what it would take to expand capacity, Alexander cited the need for additional shop space, specialized equipment and the ability to compete with private-sector salaries for industry-experienced instructors; he welcomed conversations with the policy and finance committees about cost options. Schnabel estimated an employment rate of about 85% for graduates of the mining and petroleum training service after certification.
What happens next: UAF asked for consideration of state funding to support ACMC and related workforce initiatives; the committee requested follow-up conversations and cost/option estimates for possible future budget deliberations.