- Details
- By Brian Edwards
- Higher Education
Alaska’s only Tribal college has acquired a 15-acre site in Utqiaġvik for the future development of a new campus, marking a long-term infrastructure and workforce investment for Alaska’s North Slope region.
Iḷisaġvik College and Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation announced May 20 that the Alaska Native village corporation sold the property to the college following a purchase agreement finalized this month. The organizations did not disclose financial terms.
The planned campus would replace Iḷisaġvik College’s current network of leased facilities with a centralized campus designed to support student services, workforce training and community use. According to KNBA Public Radio, the project has been in development for nearly a decade and is expected to consolidate programs now spread across 13 leased facilities in Utqiaġvik.
College officials said the project is intended to improve collaboration, technology access and long-term operational capacity while reflecting Iñupiaq culture and values. Planned priorities for the campus include flexible learning environments, upgraded connectivity for remote education, sustainable infrastructure and expanded workforce training aligned with regional needs.
The expansion comes as Iḷisaġvik College has increased partnerships tied to workforce training and regional economic development across Alaska Native communities. Tribal Business News previously reported that the college partnered with the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island in 2024 to develop a satellite campus and research collaboration tied to workforce training and marine science initiatives in the Bering Sea.
The announcement also coincides with the college’s 30th anniversary. UIC President and CEO Pearl K. Brower said the project represents an investment in future generations and the long-term strength of the region.
UIC employs more than 4,400 people and operates across construction, engineering, IT, logistics and related industries.
