The University of Alaska Board of Regents signed a resolution Wednesday to partner with Alaska Native corporations in developing curriculum, training and research.

A primary goal is to have more shareholders working for Native corporations, said university President Mark Hamilton.

Another incentive is to use the political power of Native corporations to secure funding for projects, he said.

The ANCSA Regional Association signed a similar resolution supporting enhanced partnerships on Dec. 17. The association represents the regional Native corporations created under the federal Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971.

Hamilton said the university system, with three universities and 13 community campuses, has dozens of such advisory groups. But this one, he said, "this is a very, very big advisory group. This is a group of CEOs who are in charge of corporations leading the state of Alaska in terms of annual earnings."

Among the examples of programs to be developed, as cited by the two resolutions: ANCSA-specific courses in the MBA program; courses that support Alaska Native arts, languages and history; and more vocational and technical training.

It also suggests the partnership will lead to housing ANCSA historical documents at the universities and research into the economic impact of Native corporations.

In turn, Native corporations might endow professor positions, contribute more to the universities, and help develop funding for research programs, curriculum enhancements or outreach programs.

The corporations already get state tax credits for contributing to the university, and the Native corporations may lobby to increase the tax credit caps, said Will Anderson, chief executive of Koniag Inc. in Kodiak and president of the ANCSA Regional Association.

"It's an indication we are gradually taking on a more important role in the state's economy, and as we are succeeding, these sorts of things naturally flow," Anderson said of the partnership.

In a statement he read to the Board of Regents at the Wednesday meeting, he said, "We need Alaskans to be our engineers, accountants, project managers, HR professionals, IT experts, geologists and real estate developers. We need Alaskans to know that they can ... pursue meaningful careers with Alaska's Native corporations."

He later said it's not just about training shareholders but training all Alaskans.

Specifically, the resolution adopted Wednesday triggers the formation of the Alaska Native Education and Research Council.

Alaska Natives have some of the worst high school and college graduation rates in Alaska, according to state data. Fewer than half of Native students graduate from Anchorage high schools within four years, according to the Anchorage School District. At the University of Alaska Anchorage, only about 1 in 10 of the Native students who were freshmen in 2000 had earned bachelor's degrees six years later in 2006, according to the university.

"In the last 10 years, we've increased the degree achievement by Alaska Natives by 108 percent, and that's the good news." Hamilton said. "The bad news is it's not very many people; it's fewer than 500."

He said the university is working to double that number again. "You can't do 108 percent unless you try."

The regional corporations combined have about 100,000 Alaska Native shareholders.

The University of Alaska Board of Regents is an 11-member board appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Legislature. It oversees the University of Alaska.

Find Megan Holland online at adn.com/contact/mholland or call 257-4343.

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