State Relations

University Land Grant

Congress resolves UA鈥檚 long-time land grant deficit

Learn More about the UA Land Grant Initiative

In 2022, Congress passed legislation to grant the university 360,000 acres of land to fulfill our land grant allotment. The law, signed by President Biden in December 2022, establishes a framework for the university to work with the state Dept. of Natural Resources to jointly identify up to 500,000 acres of federal land to be conveyed to the state.

It requires the Bureau of Land Management to survey the selection and work with UA to transfer up to 360,000 acres of state land to the university.

The acreage ultimately transferred to UA will be deducted from Alaska鈥檚 outstanding statehood lands entitlement and managed by the UA for the benefit of our students and to further meet our mission of teaching, research and workforce development for Alaska. 

鈥淲e are most grateful to Senator Lisa Murkowski who is responsible for this tremendous outcome. I also want to thank Representative Mary Peltola and Governor Dunleavy for their leadership on this issue and Sen. Dan Sullivan for his support of the UA Fiscal Foundation Act. I also want to recognize the bipartisan backing we鈥檝e had from our Alaska businesses, organizations, and state leaders who advocated for this positive outcome.鈥