Do you expect your kids to graduate from college?
Not like, "Gee, that would be nice," but an actual commitment: "Son, you and I are going to do whatever is necessary for you to graduate from college."
Many Alaskans apparently have no such vision for their children, and, partially as a result, we have the lowest college graduation rate in the nation. The problem is particularly acute among young men.
A college diploma, whether a vocational certificate or a bachelor's degree, generally means a better job, more opportunities, higher income. College leads to a richer life in all respects.
So what's the problem with Alaskans?
Attendees in a break-out group at the recent Alaska Education Summit mentioned several things:
• High School -- To get into college you first have to graduate from high school, and Alaska ranks near the bottom in that department. Moreover, many high school grads can't handle college -- 40 percent of incoming freshmen at the university start with noncredit remedial classes. That's discouraging.
• The Hoity-Toity Factor -- "What makes you think you're better than me?" Adults may be communicating this to their kids in subtle, indirect ways. But I'm sure it is unintentional, because we all want a better life for our kids.
• The First Corollary to the HTF -- "I'm afraid if you leave for college you won't come back." This is another subconscious cultural norm. But it is a real possibility, and living here in far-off Alaska, it can be a long time between their visits home. But, with or without a college degree, kids have been growing up and moving to greener pastures for about 100,000 years. In fact, most of us who were not born here probably left our own parents when we moved. So we parents need to just get over it.
The university is countering these cultural issues with a unique program that encourages K-12 students to aspire to college. The Education Summit also recommended a state-funded media campaign, similar to our stop smoking, buckle up, and drunk driving campaigns.
• Cost -- Some students need financial help. The Legislature recently restarted a need-based scholarship program, but Alaska still ranks dead last in this category. We need about $6 million per year for this program.
• Job Opportunities -- The university is the prime engine for workforce development and has been rapidly expanding its offerings. But demand in many vocational and academic fields is still so great that employers are snatching students away before they graduate.
• Perceived Quality -- Many students who can will go to college Outside. But in the last 10 years the university has become very competitive. The three main campuses -- Fairbanks, Anchorage and Juneau -- offer excellent opportunities that differ in both style and substance. And the 13 community campuses offer vocational programs and some college degrees without leaving home.
How about this: For tuition of $1,812 per semester, your kid can be a rocket scientist. UAF undergrads actually design and create a rocket mission. They also craft the payload -- the equipment used for grad students' experiments. They fire the rocket into space (jointly with NASA), then retrieve the nose cone and collect the data. How cool is that?
UAF is the only university in the world where undergrads can do that. One of our current rocket scientists turned down MIT because UAF offered her a better opportunity.
The University has over 500 programs, from vocational certificates to Ph. Ds. There is something for absolutely everybody.
So, sit down with your kids. Tell them you expect them to graduate from college. And then tell them you will do whatever is necessary to help them achieve that.
And for all you young people who do not have a parent who can make that commitment: just quietly make the promise to yourself. You can do it!
Kirk Wickersham is an Anchorage lawyer, real estate broker and a regent of the University of Alaska. The opinions are his own. He can be reached at kirkwickersham@aol.com.
By KIRK WICKERSHAM