ACPE outlines scholarship growth, loan options and pressure on Alaska’s higher-education fund

Kerri Thomas, executive director of the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, told attendees at a lunch-and-learn that the agency oversees state scholarship, grant and loan programs and is funded through the Alaska Student Loan Corporation rather than the state’s general fund. "We are the state's higher education agency," Thomas said, describing ACPE’s role in administering the Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS), the Alaska Education Grant (AEG) and specialty programs.

Kate Hillenbrand, director of communications and outreach for ACPE, said ACPE’s outreach tools—AKCIS 360 for planning, the Alaska College and Career Advising Consortium (ACAC) for training local counselors, and a Success Center for FAFSA and financial-aid assistance—aim to increase students’ access to federal and state aid. "Submitting the FAFSA is an absolutely critical step," Hillenbrand said, noting Alaska historically has had very low FAFSA completion rates and that ACPE’s FAFSA Completion Initiative has produced measurable gains.

On funding mechanics, ACPE staff explained that the Higher Education Investment Fund (HEIF) is the statutorily established source for APS and AEG allocations:…