Post job

University of Alaska company history timeline

1922

On opening day, September 18, 1922, six faculty members, in addition to President Bunnell and his secretary, were on hand to greet the six students who enrolled.

1935

By 1935, optimism from the trustees, administration, and alumni press for a change of name.

In 1935, the Alaska Territorial Legislature changed the institution's name to the University of Alaska to reflect the school's expanding role in research, teaching and public service.

1946

A wartime national awareness of the need for scientific polar research in the interests of defense and communications led to the establishment in 1946 of the Geophysical Institute at the university.

1949

The Territorial Legislature established new taxes in 1949 that boosted funding for the university.

1954

In 1954, the Anchorage Community College (ACC) was founded and began offering evening classes to 414 students at Elmendorf Air Force Base.

1955

The university awarded its first Ph.D. degree to a geophysics student in 1955.

1960

The Alaska Legislature created the Institute of Marine Science in 1960 and the Institute of Arctic Biology two years later.

1962

UAF launched public broadcasting station KUAC, the first in the state, in 1962.

In 1962, the ACC, and other community colleges around the state were incorporated into the University of Alaska statewide system.

1964

Fissures in the Seward Highway near Portage, Alaska following the Great Alaska Earthquake, March 27, 1964.

1969

In 1969, the college began to teach upper-division classes to students.

Since 1969, the Geophysical Institute has operated Poker Flat Research Range, providing launch facilities for NASA and the Department of Defense.

1971

In 1971, the first commencement was held at West Anchorage High School, where 265 master's, baccalaureate and associate degrees were awarded.

1972

The University of Alaska Southeast opened in 1972.

In 1972, the Alaska Legislature established the Alaska Native Language Center and provided operating funds.

1975

The University of Alaska system was created in 1975 when the Anchorage and Juneau campuses were consolidated.

To meet the need for expanding services for all Alaskans, the university reorganized in 1975.

1976

Soon after, the college became a four-year institution named University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) in the year 1976.

1977

In 1977, ASC became a four- year university and was renamed the University of Alaska, Anchorage (UA,A). Ten years later, ACC and UA,A merged to become what is now known as the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA).

1981

In 1981, UAF enrollment topped 5,000 students for the first time.

1987

The merging of Anchorage Community College and the rural extension units took place in 1987 to create the present institution.

Another reorganization in 1987, spurred by a drop in state revenues due to lower oil prices, moved administration of the community colleges from the statewide office to the three main campuses.

Since 1987, the university has continued to grow and expand.

1991

NASA named UAF a Space Grant institution for aerospace research in 1991, making it a Land, Sea and Space Grant institution.

2004

In 2004, the University of Alaska Anchorage celebrated 50 years of public higher education in southcentral Alaska.

2006

A $42 million expansion in 2006 added more than 40,000 square feet of space.

2010

Two new buildings made possible by a University of Alaska statewide bond package approved by voters in 2010 opened: the 5,000-seat arena and sports center, The Alaska Airlines Center and the state-of-the-art The Glenn Massay Theater at Mat-Su College.

2012

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities approved UAA’s offering of doctoral degrees and UAA awarded its first joint Ph.D.'s in Clinical-Community Psychology at the Spring 2012 Commencement and Graduate Hooding ceremonies.

2021

Ⓒ 2021 University of Alaska Anchorage UA is an AA/EO employer and educational institution and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual.

Work at University of Alaska?
Share your experience
Founded
1917
Company founded
Headquarters
Fairbanks, AK
Company headquarter
Get updates for jobs and news

Rate how well University of Alaska lives up to its initial vision.

Zippia waving zebra

University of Alaska jobs

Do you work at University of Alaska?

Does University of Alaska communicate its history to new hires?

University of Alaska competitors

University of Alaska history FAQs

Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of University of Alaska, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about University of Alaska. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at University of Alaska. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by University of Alaska. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of University of Alaska and its employees or that of Zippia.

University of Alaska may also be known as or be related to Uaa It Services, University of Alaska, University of Alaska Anchorage and University of Alaska Fairbanks.