ANSEP Summer Acceleration Academy canceled after grant terminated

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - One of the largest grants for the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) was unexpectedly terminated, leaving it without the ability to move forward with its summer Acceleration Academy.

ANSEP still plans to hold all of its other scheduled programs this summer.

The grant was from the National Science Foundation for $2.5 million distributed over five years.

“Despite our best efforts to explore all the possible alternatives, the unexpected and untimely loss of this funding leaves us with no viable path to move forward with this opportunity this summer,” ANSEP Executive Director Matt Calhoun said in a release.

He said all students who were planning to be a part of this program and are still eligible next year are guaranteed a spot in the Summer 2026 session.

For more than 15 years, the Summer Acceleration Academy has served high school students throughout the entire state. It gives them the opportunity to do things like earn college credits and learn about science and engineering. Additionally, students can earn scholarships and save thousands in college attendance costs, according to ANSEP’s website.

The Summer Acceleration Academy is held over five weeks. Students live on the UAA campus. It was slated to be held from May 24 to June 27.

The ANSEP team was “stunned,” having been given no prior notice of a possible cancellation of funding. The loss of the $2.5 million grant does not impact other operations.

According to ANSEP, the loss of this grant does not impact the full-time Acceleration Academies in Anchorage, Mat-Su, Bethel, Kotzebue, or Nome.

In a release from ANSEP, the program said, “We value the students’ commitment to their education and to ANSEP. We will do everything possible to support their continued success.”

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