UAA receives prestigious national award for its work with Alaska Native and American Indian university students

The American College Personnel Association (ACPA), one of two premier national associations for Student Affairs professionals, has just awarded UAA the Thomas M. Magoon Excellence in Counseling Award. Only one award is given annually. UAA's submission highlighted its responsive outreach and transition and support services for Alaska Native and American Indian university students through the Cama-i Room, the Alaska Native Rural Outreach Program (ANROP) and the Counselor-in-Residence program. ACPA looks for innovative programming or service achievements by a university or college counseling agency when choosing its award recipient.

Over the past several years, UAA has been building its support programs for students in transition, particularly Alaska Native, American Indian and rural students.  Receiving ACPA's Thomas M. Magoon Excellence in Counseling Award for this solid, multi-faceted effort is a significant recognition of UAA's work by outside professional peers. Read more.

UAA's Cama-i Room is a social gathering place and study center for UAA students, focusing specifically on the needs of Alaska Native, Native American and rural students. The Cama-i Room hosts a variety of representatives from UAA departments and programs to regularly interact with residents in their residential community providing greater access and interaction between students, campus and local community agencies.

UAA's ANROP provides a high level of care and interest in the personal adjustment to college and the academic success of Native and rural students living on campus. Through early and continuous outreach efforts, the ANROP coordinator and peer mentors connect these students to the community, academic support services and culturally appropriate counseling services when needed.

The Counselor-in-Residence program within the residence halls augments and enhances the mental health services provided by the UAA Student Health and Counseling Center. The ANROP coordinator, the Counselor-in-Residence and the other campus mental health professionals currently collaborate to provide proactive and responsive mental health services and programs for Alaska Native and rural students to reduce their homesickness, depression, and isolation, and to increase their sense of connection to each other and the greater UAA and Anchorage communities.

ACPA, headquartered in Washington, D.C. at the National Center for Higher Education, is the leading comprehensive student affairs association that advances student affairs and engages students for a lifetime of learning and discovery.