Post by Logan on Jul 8, 2016 4:01:01 GMT -6
Why many Alaska students never come back from college -- and how to change that
My son is making some of the biggest decisions of his life this year, as he chooses a college and a career. As an Alaskan father, that means I'm getting ready to see him leave, maybe for good.
In most of the country, students have a choice of higher education options near home. They often return after school to work in the city or at least the region where they grew up.
Academically bright Alaska kids who can afford to go away to college more often leave the state. After four years away, with new networks of friends and romantic relationships, they often don't come back.
We tend to export smart kids and import professionals. The numbers are startling.
I got statistics from State Demographer Eddie Hunsinger, of the Alaska Department of Labor, and his colleagues, who combed information from the U.S. Census Bureau and Alaska Permanent Fund dividend records. I also had help with this column from Diane Hirshberg of the Center for Alaska Education Policy Research at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Read more: www.adn.com/opinions/2016/07/06/why-many-alaskan-students-never-come-back-from-college-and-how-to-change-that/
My son is making some of the biggest decisions of his life this year, as he chooses a college and a career. As an Alaskan father, that means I'm getting ready to see him leave, maybe for good.
In most of the country, students have a choice of higher education options near home. They often return after school to work in the city or at least the region where they grew up.
Academically bright Alaska kids who can afford to go away to college more often leave the state. After four years away, with new networks of friends and romantic relationships, they often don't come back.
We tend to export smart kids and import professionals. The numbers are startling.
I got statistics from State Demographer Eddie Hunsinger, of the Alaska Department of Labor, and his colleagues, who combed information from the U.S. Census Bureau and Alaska Permanent Fund dividend records. I also had help with this column from Diane Hirshberg of the Center for Alaska Education Policy Research at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Read more: www.adn.com/opinions/2016/07/06/why-many-alaskan-students-never-come-back-from-college-and-how-to-change-that/