The Higher Education Review

There is no denying that the U.S. is always the first choice of Indians when it comes to pursuing higher education overseas. While Bschools are mostly a preferred choice, many students often get confused in picking the institution that is right for them. Dedicated to providing highquality education for students in Alaska and the greater United States, through a unique, active, and experiential learning environment, the University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Business and Security Management has achieved national recognition for its quality programs and individual approach.

"A degree in business administration was first offered at UAF in 1924, with specialty areas of general business, accounting, and secretarial science. In 1959, the degree expanded to include majors in accounting, business education, management, marketing, and secretarial science. In 1975, the School of Management was formed as one of five professional schools at UAF. In 1988, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accredited the School of Management's business administration and accounting programs.

The School of Management was the first AACSB-accredited business school in Alaska and remains the only business school in the state with both business and a separate accounting accreditation from AACSB. In September 2021, the name was officially changed to the College of Business and Security Management to recognize the multiple disciplines (to include security and emergency management) from which the college is composed of", notes Dr. Cameron Carlson, Dean, College of Business and Security Management.

Post pandemic, learning dynamics in higher education have shifted to better account for evolving technologies and how they might be best used to support student-centered learning. While students are now selective about their choices, it is the cost and amenities promised by the institute that often leave the first impression.

"One of the most significant pain points for prospective students is access and cost, while still getting a quality education, and we are aware of this. We have kept our costs down in large part due to the funding support we receive from the State of Alaska.

We have likewise placed a greater premium on access as we have worked to broaden the reach of our programs to attract students internationally and from across the wider landscape of the U.S. At the same time, we have developed new programs and updated our curriculum as part of our efforts to maintain quality and

meet the standards of AACSB, our specialized accreditation body", speaks Dr. Cameron Carlson. "We educate individuals who both aspire to, or are already working in business, accounting, security and emergency management disciplines. We have continued to maintain an outstanding reputation for the quality of our education as many of our programs have received national recognition due to the quality of our instruction and research", adds Dr. Carlson.

Bringing Uniqueness to the Table
CBSM has the advantage of being an international institution that offers an education that is oriented to the needs of students seeking employment or promotion in business, management, accounting, security, and disaster management. Another advantage is the diversity of experiences a student would have through our college, our university, and the highly unique Arctic region in which we live. The college has placed an ever-increasing focus on international student growth as part of our ongoing emphasis on leveraging the diversity and unique backgrounds of international students.

This ensuresdiversity for students, enhancing the learning environment for all. "While a majority of our international students have traditionally come from either Canada or Europe, we have attracted students from all over the world. Students who have selected our college have done so based upon the quality of our education, the rich experiences they can receive here, and the fact that we value our students for what they bring to the educational process", says Carlson.

The College of Business and Security Management employs a variety of pedagogical methodologies, including collaborative, integrative, reflective, and inquirysupporting instruction. As a college that prides itself on the quality of its education, CBSM has invested in its faculty members to ensure that they can provide an innovative,interactive, and thought-provoking experience in the classroom.

"Our faculty within CBSM are involved in any number of service and research activities which provide them with the opportunity to maintain a high degree of awareness as to developments taking place within their given discipline. Some of our faculty members likewise have ongoing contracts with industry and government grant funding, providing them and our students access to challenging problems that require our attention", mentions Carlson.

Preparing for the Future
There are numerous scholarship opportunities available to UAF students and especially to UAF's College of Business and Security Management. In the 2022 – 2023 academic year, the UAF College of Business and Security Management awarded over $167,500 (USD) in privatelyfunded scholarships to 77 students. Students can receive these awards based on merit, financial need, outstanding achievement in specialized fields, or any combination of these criteria.

Some scholarships are also based around student involvement and participation.

Taking note of the Exit survey conducted with each graduating class, it has been found that 75 percent of the students either had a job, internship, promotion or were continuing on with their education. A number of the students went on to work locally for the State of Alaska, while others found placement within companies like Nike, Intuit, KPMG, and the Federal Aviation Administration. CBSM also provides a number of internship courses that students can take and get college credit for.

Many local organizations reach out to CBSM for internship placement and students who will be interested in different projects. Many classes place priority on hands-on and real-world applications so that courses will partner with clients for marketing projects, strategic planning, and disaster management planning. One can see the students working with clients in a number of different industries, from museums to banks.

Charting the Path Ahead
Over the last 15 years, CBSM's majors have increased by 143 percent, and its graduates by 228 percent. Growth in enrolment has been fueled in part by the expanded range of CBSM offerings. In addition to its long-standing business administration and accounting programs, CBSM also encompasses a homeland security and emergency management program which ranks in the top five in the U.S. and accounts for 32 percent of all CBSM majors (undergraduate and graduate). The HSEM program is responsible for a large and growing number of CBSM's corporate partnerships and student credit hours from non-degree seeking students, such as providing regular training sessions for more than one-thousand Department of Defense employees through CBSM's Center for Arctic Security and Resilience.

Speaking about the future of the College of Business and Security Management, Dr. Cameron Carlson says, "Our roadmap for continued success provides for the expansion of new programs, to include healthcare management and leadership and the return of our economics program”. CBSM has also grown its offerings in its traditional business administration and accounting fields to reflect changes in student demand, including a STEM MBA and BLUE MBA (in partnership with the College of Fisheries and Ocean Science and the Alaska Blue Economy Center); an accounting post-graduate certificate designed for non-accounting students; and a Ph.D. in Natural Resources and Sustainability with the College of Natural Science and Mathematics. Carlson closes by saying that "Our primary goal is to educate and prepare broadly-educated professionals with a wealth of hands-on experience who will contribute value to Alaska, the nation, and or the communities internationally in which they live. This approach is evident throughout all aspects of our curriculum, including undergraduate and graduate degrees.