University of Alaska Process Technology Support Fund launched with $400,000 contribution from ConocoPhillips Alaska

University of Alaska Process Technology Support Fund launched with $400,000 contribution from ConocoPhillips Alaska

February 6, 2026

ConocoPhillips Alaska and the University of Alaska (UA) announced the launch of the ConocoPhillips Alaska Process Technology Support Fund, aimed at developing and securing the future of Alaska's industrial workforce. Anchored by a $400,000 gift from ConocoPhillips Alaska to benefit UA's Process Technology Programs in Fairbanks and on the Kenai Peninsula, this contribution and partnership represent a commitment to sustaining high-demand jobs that power Alaska's energy, mining and water treatment sectors.

The fund helps connect classroom learning with the skills students need to step directly into industry careers. These programs are already delivering results, with 87% of UA Process Technology graduates entering Alaska's workforce within a year of graduation. Continued investment ensures this successful talent pipeline remains strong and supports critical industries across the state well into the future.

"UA empowers Alaska's workforce and economy, and I'm grateful to ConocoPhillips Alaska for their support of essential workforce programs," said UA President Pat Pitney. "These programs are helping us build Alaska's future workforce, and the ConocoPhillips Alaska Process Technology Support Fund will help UA address Alaska's workforce, energy, and economic demands, while also offering the opportunity for more partners to invest in this vital degree program that benefits many of the state's key industries and Alaska's economy."

ConocoPhillips Alaska has a long history of supporting the University of Alaska System, investing more than $5 million in the last ten years, and builds on that legacy by providing funding to modernize program facilities and expanding technical access training for Alaskans statewide.

"The University of Alaska's Process Technology program has been an integral part of building Alaska's workforce, especially at ConocoPhillips," said Erec Isaacson, ConocoPhillips Alaska President. "Many of our talented operators graduated from this program, gaining hands on skills and real-world experience that prepared them to step into critical roles. This investment underscores our longstanding commitment to developing Alaska's future workforce and preparing the next generation of operators who will power Alaska's future."

Strategic impact across the UA System
This fund specifically supports the capacity of the University of Alaska Fairbanks' (UAF) Community and Technical College and the University of Alaska Anchorage's Kenai Peninsula College (KPC) to:

• Create early pathways: Dual enrollment at both UAF and KPC will provide high school students with early access to technical training before graduation.
• Enhance instructional capacity:
• • The UAF CTC lab will undergo facility maintenance, receive additional instructional support, and update equipment to ensure students train on industry-relevant systems.
  • At KPC, access to a mobile simulator will help train adjunct faculty and those in the "Train the Teachers" program.

• Strengthen recruitment efforts and program visibility: The gift includes support for promotional materials, advertising, and recruitment travel to reach potential students around the state, especially in rural areas.