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Prince William Sound Community College, part of the University of Alaska Statewide System, has its main campus in the historic community of Valdez, with extensions in Cordova and the Copper Basin. Located in South-central Alaska, PWSCC serves a geographic area of more than 44,000 square miles.

In 1971, concerned citizens of Valdez and Cordova petitioned the University of Alaska to establish extension offices in each of these communities. The centers offered their first courses in 1971. In 1976 a Learning Center was established in the Copper Basin area. Community college status was granted in July of 1978 and the three centers officially became Prince William Sound Community College. In 1989 PWSCC became accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

PWSCC continues to develop programs which responsibly serve the individuals residing in its entire service area.

History of The University of Alaska
On July 4, 1915, the Honorable James Wickersham, delegate to Congress from Alaska, laid the cornerstone for a land grant college. The Territorial Legislature, by its acts of May 4, 1917, accepted the land grant and created a corporation, The Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines, defining its duties and providing for a Board of Trustees.

The college opened on September 18, 1922, with the Honorable Charles E. Bunnell as president. The college became the University of Alaska by act of the Territorial Legislature on July 1, 1935 and the Board of Trustees became the Board of Regents.

In 1949, Dr. Terris Moore succeeded President Bunnell, who became President Emeritus. Dr. Earnest N. Patty was inaugurated as the third president of the University in 1953 and was named President Emeritus upon his retirement in 1960. Dr. William R. Wood became the University’s fourth president. Dr. Robert W. Hiatt became the fifth president in 1973 upon the retirement of Dr. Wood. Mr. Foster Diebold was appointed president in February 1978 and was succeeded by Dr. Jay Barton in July 1979. Dr. Barton was granted an honorary degree in 1984, and was succeeded by Dr. Donald O’Dowd in July of that year. Dr. Jerome Komisar served as President until July 1998. He was succeeded by U. S. Army Major General Mark R. Hamilton who serves as president of the University of Alaska Statewide System consisting of three major university centers -- in Juneau, Fairbanks, and Anchorage -- and one community college (PWSCC) serving the Prince William Sound and Copper Basin Regions.

Prince William Sound and Copper Basin Regions -- Yesterday
For eleven thousand years, Native Americans have inhabited the Copper Basin. The AHTNA Indians of the Interior pursued a subsistence life style. On the coast, the Chugach Eskimos and Eyak Indians skillfully explored the marine environment. Ancient trade routes over the Valdez Glacier and up the Copper River linked the two groups and set a pattern of commerce between the Sound and the Interior. Two hundred and fifty years ago the first European explorers entered the waters of Prince William Sound, as Russia, Spain, Britain and later the United States competed for the resources of Alaska. For more than a century, the Sound was part of Russian America. In 1867 Russia sold the colony to the United States. Exploration and settlement of the region did not accelerate until the great gold rushes at the end of the 19th century.

Natural bounty -- furs, gold and copper, salmon and oil -- lured fortune hunters from all over the world. Valdez and Cordova became gateways to the Interior and its riches, Cordova for the giant copper spike at Kennecott, Valdez as the all-American route to the Klondike and, more recently, to the oil fields of the North Slope.

Prince William Sound and Copper Basin Regions -- Today
Valdez is known as the "Switzerland of Alaska" because of the rugged, snow-clad peaks which surround the city. Oil is the principle private industry in Valdez, site of the marine terminal of the trans-Alaska pipeline. Valdez is taking steps to assume a greater role in the development of Alaska’s transportation and fishing industries. The City of Valdez also obtained a license for Alaska’s first foreign trade zone in 1984.

The quaint old railroad town and fishing village of Cordova is one of the most picturesque towns in Alaska. Cordova is a seaport community that supports a bustling fishing fleet and related industries. Seafood processors and independent fishermen provide the primary economic base for the community. The Eyak Native Village is located adjacent to the community of Cordova. Its colorful past, charm, and natural beauty make Cordova a special place in Alaska.

The Copper River Basin calls visitors from around the world to raft its rivers, climb its mountains and marvel at abundant wildlife. A strong Athabaskan heritage offers cultural diversity and traditional experiences from dog sledding to dipnetting. The Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Preserve gives a sense of the past while nearby villages and towns provide modern services and educational opportunities. From whatever viewpoint, the Prince William Sound and the Copper Basin regions offer the excitement and challenge of living and working in an unparalleled Alaskan environment.

Welcome to a truly unique area of Alaska!