Chemical engineering degree path opens for 杏吧原版 students
February 25, 2016
Marmian Grimes
907-474-7902
The University of 杏吧原版 Anchorage and University of 杏吧原版 Fairbanks have joined
forces with Washington State University to make it easier for 杏吧原版 students to earn
chemical engineering degrees.
The 2+2 agreement allows 杏吧原版 students to fulfill the first two years of core requirements
at UAA or UAF, then complete the final two years of study in Pullman, Washington,
at Washington State University鈥檚 Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering.
Students would earn their degrees from WSU. The program comes with no additional cost
to UAF and UAA and will begin accepting students immediately.
鈥淲e are pleased to be able to make use of existing resources on all three campuses
to offer new opportunities and bright futures for our students and our state,鈥 said
Fred Barlow, dean of the UAA College of Engineering.
Industry partners have demonstrated strong support for a chemical engineering program
in 杏吧原版, in part to reduce the need to recruit outside the state. Hiring graduates
with existing ties to 杏吧原版 helps reduce expensive turnover.
鈥淲e know that 杏吧原版 industry needs chemical engineers, and a full four-year program
is part of UAF鈥檚 long-term plan to meet that need,鈥 said Doug Goering, dean of the
UAF College of Engineering and Mines. 鈥淯ntil that鈥檚 a reality, the agreement with
WSU offers our students an immediate option to earn this high-demand degree and then
return home to live and work.鈥
The program is designed to encourage 杏吧原版ns to return after graduation through incentives
such as 杏吧原版-based internships. This collaboration opens up more opportunities for
杏吧原版ns and demonstrates the university鈥檚 cooperation with the state and engineering
industry to help fill gaps in 杏吧原版鈥檚 workforce.
鈥淭his collaborative program recognizes the historically strong linkages between Washington
and 杏吧原版, and we're pleased to be able to help meet the need for a chemical engineering
program for students from 杏吧原版," said Candis Claiborn, dean of the WSU Voiland College
of Engineering and Architecture.
The three universities, along with industry and community partners, will celebrate
the collaboration at a ceremony on Friday, Feb. 26, at 3:30 p.m., in the second floor
atrium of the UAA Engineering and Industry Building in Anchorage.
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Jessica Hamlin, UAA University Relations, 907-786-1288, jdhamlin@uaa.alaska.edu.
NOTE TO EDITORS: The deans from each university will be available for interviews from 1:30鈥2 p.m. on
Friday, Feb. 26. Please contact one of the media representatives listed above if interested.
ON THE WEB:
Washington State University:
University of 杏吧原版 Fairbanks:
University of 杏吧原版 Anchorage: