Community Campus Delivery Model
In direct response to Bristol Bay community feedback and evolving needs, UAF is excited
to expand its offerings by introducing a new course delivery model. This will allow
Bristol Bay residents to request courses offered at any UA institution - UAF, UAA,
or UAS - starting in the Spring 2027 semester.Introducing the Community Campus Delivery Model
Letter from UAF’s Bristol Bay Campus Director
August 27, 2026
It is my pleasure to welcome you to UAF’s Bristol Bay Campus.
I came to Dillingham in January, but rural Alaska has been home to me and my family for more than 30 years. My husband and I raised our children in Unalaska, and our children are of Aleut heritage. I understand both the strengths and challenges of living in rural Alaska, and I believe strongly in bringing education and training closer to the people who need it. It’s with this in mind that I’m excited to share changes coming to our campus that directly address your needs:
New opportunities coming Spring 2027
Thanks to your feedback, we’re expanding the number of and types of classes offered through our campus. Starting in January, for the Spring 2027 semester, we’ll be able to offer courses from UAF, UAA, or UAS for anyone in the Bristol Bay region.
Please share your feedback
While we won’t be able to bring every course to every community, they are all on the table—and that is where you come in. We need your feedback to help us understand what courses are most interesting to you. So far, we’ve heard interest in learning skills useful for living and working in our region (like Toyostove repair, welding and construction) as well as courses in Alaska Native knowledge systems (like tribal governance, traditional arts, skin sewing, and more) led by our Elders and culture bearers. Please tell us what you want to learn, what your community and employers need, and what you wish someone would bring to your community, through our .
What you can expect next
Once we determine which courses we’ll offer next semester, we’ll share more information about how to register for classes. Building upon the work of those who came before us, we are also re-establishing the Bristol Bay Campus Regional Advisory Committee, allowing regional organizations, employers, and partners to help guide our direction.
This is an exciting time for our campus. Please know my door is open, and so is this conversation. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our community, excited about where we are going, and hope you will help us shape what comes next.
With gratitude,
Alyssa McDonald
Director
UAF Bristol Bay Campus
What do you want to learn next?
Tell us the classes you want to bring to Bristol Bay.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
UAF is expanding its educational footprint by introducing a new community campus delivery model, set to launch in spring 2027. This model will give Alaskans in Bristol Bay and throughout the Aleutian islands access to courses offered at UAF, UAA and UAS.
UAF has heard from the community, including our tribal partners, CDQ groups, local businesses, and more, about the region’s evolving needs. We’ve heard requests for courses and programming that aligns with current, local workforce needs.
UAF is in discussions to sell the Applied Sciences Building to the Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation, or BBAHC, to help launch the new community campus delivery model. The new model gives community members access to courses offered at UAF, UAA or UAS starting in spring 2027.
Located on the corner of D Street and Alaska Street, the Applied Sciences Building is one of two UAF buildings in Dillingham. In addition to the building’s educational spaces, it also houses three apartments, two of which are publicly rented and one that is reserved for university use.
UAF does not use most of the Applied Sciences Building. Transitioning the building to a trusted local partner ensures the facility continues to benefit the community in alignment with its original vision. In addition, some sale proceeds will help launch the new community campus delivery model.
UAF selected BBAHC as the prospective buyer because BBAHC is a trusted tribal healthcare organization and regional partner with a longstanding commitment to serving the health and well-being of Bristol Bay communities. Under BBAHC’s ownership, the facility can become a regional resource supporting tribal healthcare, workforce development, wellness, and other services that benefit communities throughout Bristol Bay.
BBAHC plans to use the building strategically to support and expand tribal healthcare services and related regional initiatives, while also creating opportunities to co-locate programs and make more effective use of existing resources. This includes leveraging the facility to expand regional clean-water testing, support housing needs associated with healthcare services, and strengthen workforce training and development for the region.
The sale is currently in development and subject to final approvals.
Following town hall meetings in December 2025 and January 2026, then-UA President Pat Pitney shared a letter in February 2026 with details on the University’s approach. This included that UAF would:
- Not proceed with selling the building at that time.
- Pursue additional strategies, including seeking a community-based or regional buyer for the building.
- Continue to be responsible stewards of limited public resources.
We understand there may have been discussions about the university waiting a year to sell the building, and recognize that mixed messaging may have unintentionally created confusion and contradicted the actual timeline. We regret misunderstandings these conversations caused. Read the full letter.
UAF’s students and academic programs will continue without interruption. UAF has relocated the academic, student support, and outreach programs currently housed in the Applied Science Building to the main Bristol Bay Campus building across the street.
No. The building sale and introduction of the new delivery model shows that UAF is growing, not shrinking, its commitment toBristol Bay. By selling the Applied Sciences building to a local partner and bringing more courses to the region, UAF is actively demonstrating its commitment toward student success, workforce preparation, and community priorities.
UAF will use some of the sale proceeds to launch its new community campus delivery model, in Dillingham. This new model gives the Bristol Bay community access to courses from UAF, UAA and UAS starting in January 2027. Since the university can't bring every class to Bristol Bay, community input is crucial. We invite the community to give feedback on the courses it most wants to see through our . Other sale proceeds will be used for deferred maintenance in UAF's main Bristol Bay Campus building and various additional needs.