Based on some insider info, I think the program is headed in a *much* better direction since it broke from UAF, though the dissolution has been a long and extended process. There are still a handful of UAF students who have completed internship but are still ABD. I agree with Meowsky regarding the time to completion. As the UAF students finally graduate (10+ years for some of them), the mean time to completion will continue to look "worse" before it looks better. They have also implemented procedures that do not allow for students to drag their feet-- aka if they don't complete milestones in a timely manner, students will be put on probation and, if they fail to make substantive progress, will be kicked out (vs languishing for 10+ years-- which I think was easier to do in a joint program with two uni's 8 hours away from one another (not as much oversight). I think in 5 years, when all of the UAF students are "taught out" (aka either they defend and complete the program-- or are kicked out) the mean time to completion will slowly come down and eventually level out at 5-7 years. And, again, this is a clinical-*community* program and they take the community, rural, and indigenous aspects of the program very seriously. There are also a number of Alaska-specific issues (e.g., building trust with the community, going through a tribal health organization for IRB approval) that may have also contributed to longer completion times. Many of the "younger" (not necessarily age, just early in the program) students are on track to apply for internship in their 4th and/or 5th years.
