The Alaska Postsecondary Access & Completion Network (AlaskaCAN)

The Alaska Postsecondary Access & Completion Network (AlaskaCAN) builds and strengthens partnerships to increase the percentage of all Alaskans who complete postsecondary education and/or career training, particularly credentials relevant to a robust Alaskan economy.

OUR PURPOSE

The purpose of AlaskaCAN is to facilitate partnerships, communication, and advocacy to positively impact Alaska by increasing the share of its citizens earning high skills, high value education and workforce credentials, particularly those relevant to Alaska’s economic and societal well­being by:

  • Reducing duplication of effort and creating alignment among service providers
  • Supporting professional development
  • Strengthening public messaging
  • Conducting and/or disseminating relevant research

OUR PRIORITIES

  • Best Available Data: Conduct new, high-quality research, and identify relevant existing research describing postsecondary credential pursuit and completion in Alaska
  • Aware Alaskans: Ensure Alaskans are aware of what postsecondary credential completion is and why it’s important
  • Aligned Advocates: Promote organizations and institutions supporting postsecondary credentialing success in Alaska, and ensure they are aligned advocating to address systemic barriers to access and completion
  • Connected Professionals: Support Alaska professionals working to increase postsecondary credential completion, and ensure they are connected to best practices, supportive networks, and to one another
  • Engaged Members: Engage AlaskaCAN members more fully in the work of committees, adding value in pursuit of the envisioned future
  • Sustainable AlaskaCAN: Oversee the growth of the organization, development of solid human resources, and improvement of financial stability through a high performing, representative Board of Directors

Central to our efforts is the statewide attainment goal of “65 by 2025“, which refers to an urgent need to increase the percentage of working-age Alaskans who hold postsecondary credentials – from apprenticeships or certificates of completion to advanced degrees – to 65% by the year 2025.