Alaska Pacific University Explained

Alaska Pacific University
Type:Private university
Former Names:Alaska Methodist University (1957-78)
Religious Affiliation:United Methodist Church
President:Janelle Vanasse
City:Anchorage
State:Alaska
Country:United States
Campus:Urban
Students:595 (Fall 2022)[1]
Academic Affiliations:IAMSCU
Eco League
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Space-grant

Alaska Pacific University (APU) is a private university in Anchorage, Alaska.[2] It was established as Alaska Methodist University in 1957. Although it was renamed to Alaska Pacific University in 1978, it is still affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The main campus is located adjacent to the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) and the Alaska Native Medical Center.

History

The university was founded in the late 1950s as Alaska Methodist University by Peter Gordon Gould, an Aleut from Unga, Alaska.[3] Gould became the first Alaska Native minister in the United Methodist Church later in life, and used his position to campaign for the development of a Methodist University in Alaska.[4]

Alaska Methodist University dedicated its campus on June 28, 1959. In April 1958, Dr. Donald F. Ebright was elected as the university's first administrative president.[5] Frederick P. McGinnis was elected in 1960, and served as acting president to the first class of students to attend the university.[6] Approximately 900 acres of land destined to become the site of the APU Kellogg Campus was attained in 1973 from the DeWolf-Kellogg Trust.[7]

In November 1978 Alaska Methodist University was renamed Alaska Pacific University.[8] [9] Despite the university's origins with Judeo-Christian traditions found in United Methodism, there is no sectarian or doctrinal creed found in its educational offerings. In 2016, APU formed a strategic partnership with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, the largest Tribal health organization in the country. The partnership supports the development of academic and cultural programs focusing on the needs of the state and Alaska Natives.[10]

Academics

The Early Honors program functions as an alternative to the senior year in high school.[11] Undergraduates can pursue liberal arts and sciences programs.[12] APU's course year is split into "block" sessions of four weeks, co-existing alongside the "session" of eleven weeks to form a semester. APU offers nine graduate programs, eight master's degrees and one doctoral degree. There are also several graduate certificate options. APU also offers a professional studies programs for non-traditional students.[13]

Campus

The main campus includes academic facilities, residence halls, community gathering spaces, recreational facilities, and winter and summer recreational trails. The campus consists of eight major buildings, with five of them currently utilized directly by the university.[14] The three other buildings on the main campus are offices for the US Geological Survey, Alaska Public Media, and the Alaska Spine Institute.[15] [16]

The Atwood Center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the location (along with North and South Atwood) of a major conference of Alaska Natives at the time of the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971.[17] APU has an extension of its campus in Palmer, AK known as the Kellogg Campus. It functions as a 700-acre working farm for students of the sustainability program, as well as an environmental learning center for home-schooled students.[18]

There are multiple housing accommodations on the main campus, divided up by class year designations. All incoming freshman under 21 years of age are required to live on campus for their first two years.[19]

Student life

Athletics

Alaska Pacific University is known for its Nordic Ski Team.[20] [21] The APU Nordic Ski Center (APUNSC) was established in 1999 as a regional Olympic training center for cross-country skiers.[22] According to the center's "About" page, the mission of APUNSC is to encourage involvement in cross-country skiing programs in Anchorage.[23] APUNSC offers year-round training programs for all levels of skiers who wish to compete professionally.

Alaska Methodist University's ski team sent four skiers to the 1972 Winter Olympics; AMU/APU has sent at minimum one skier to every winter Olympics after 1972, including Kikkan Randall who became a gold medalist in the cross-country skiing event at the 2018 Winter Olympics.[24] [25]

Clubs/Associations

Associated Students of Alaska Pacific University (ASAPU) is the elected body for student government. ASAPU members represent student interests and oversee student clubs and organizations. APU has a typical assortment of student clubs and organizations with which students can affiliate themselves.[26]

In the Residence Halls, the Resident Activity Programming Board hosts events for students who live on campus.[27]

Notable alumni

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alaska Pacific University . College Navigator . 11 August 2023.
  2. Web site: Mission and Vision. Alaska Pacific University. 24 April 2018.
  3. News: Hintze. Heather. Indigenous Peoples' Day celebration. 24 April 2018. KTVA - The Voice of Alaska. 9 October 2017. 18 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190618142531/https://www.ktva.com/story/36557050/indigenous-peoples-day-celebration. dead.
  4. Book: Ellis. J. Richard. Holtrop. Stephen D.. In Transition: Adult Higher Education Governance in Private Institutions: New Directions for Higher Education, Number 159. 2012. John Wiley & Sons. 9781118512296. 24 April 2018. en.
  5. Web site: History of APU. Alaska Pacific University. April 7, 2017.
  6. Web site: Standing on the Shoulders of Fred McGinnis. 12 September 2012 . Alaska Pacific University. 1 May 2018.
  7. Web site: Kellogg Campus – Alaska Pacific University. www.alaskapacific.edu. en-US. 2018-03-31.
  8. Web site: [ARCHIVED CATALOG] - General Information]. Acalog ACMS. Alaska Pacific University. 2014–2015. April 7, 2017.
  9. Web site: Hanlon. Tegan. APU looks into becoming a tribal college. Alaska Dispatch News. May 26, 2016. April 7, 2017.
  10. Web site: Alaska Pacific University plans to become a tribal college. Anchorage Daily News. en-US. 2018-03-31.
  11. Web site: Early Honors – Counselors. Alaska Pacific University. 23 April 2018.
  12. Web site: Majors and Institutes – Programs. Alaska Pacific University. 23 April 2018.
  13. Web site: Tuition, Fees and Payment Information - Alaska Pacific University - Acalog ACMS™. catalog.alaskapacific.edu. en. 2018-03-30.
  14. Web site: Campus Life. Alaska Pacific University. 5 April 2018.
  15. Web site: Contact Us. Alaska Public Media. 5 April 2018.
  16. Web site: Hours & Location. Alaska Spine Institute. 5 April 2018. 6 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180406225818/http://www.alaskaspineinstitute.com/hours-location. dead.
  17. Web site: Asset Details. National Park Service. 5 April 2018.
  18. Web site: Kellogg Campus. Alaska Pacific University. 5 April 2018.
  19. Web site: Housing Options. Alaska Pacific University. 5 April 2018.
  20. News: Goldman. Dave. Wave of Alaskans to become cross-country Olympians in South Korea. 17 April 2018. KTVA News. 26 January 2018. 16 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180416063141/http://www.ktva.com/story/37359126/alaskan-pipeline-to-south-korea-local-skiers-are-olympians. dead.
  21. News: Russell. Emily. Sadie Bjornsen is "knocking on the door" of an Olympic medal. 17 April 2018. Alaska Public Media. 14 February 2018.
  22. Web site: AMU Ski Hill and Jump. Alaska Lost Ski Areas Project. 20 April 2018.
  23. Web site: Nordic Ski Center – About. APU Nordic Ski Center. 17 April 2018.
  24. Web site: Nordic Ski Center – Olympians. APU Nordic Ski Center. 17 April 2018.
  25. News: Chappell. Bill. Kikkan Randall Wins Her 1st Medal in Cross-Country - A Gold - After 18 Tries. 17 April 2018. National Public Radio. The Torch - NPR's Olympic News Coverage. 21 February 2018.
  26. Web site: Student Activities – Clubs and Organizations. Alaska Pacific University. 17 April 2018.
  27. Web site: Student Activities – Resident Activity Programming. Alaska Pacific University. 17 April 2018.
  28. News: Russell . Emily . Sadie Bjornsen is "knocking on the door" of an Olympic medal . 15 December 2018 . Alaska Public Media . 14 February 2018.
  29. News: Bragg . Beth . 2 Olympics and 7 years after late-in-life ski career, Brooks calls it quits . 21 July 2016 . 7 February 2019.
  30. News: Ahlers . Mike . Alaska lawmaker strikes at TSA in unusual ad . 18 December 2018 . CNN . 19 December 2011.
  31. News: Winters . Rose . 49 Writers Interview: Lew Freedman, Yukon Quest . 18 December 2018 . 49 Writers, Inc. . 27 September 2010.
  32. News: Toomey . Sheila . Alaska's first MacArthur Genius . 18 December 2018 . Rasmuson Foundation.
  33. News: Schoenfeld . Ed . Former senator, longtime Native leader Albert Kookesh fighting cancer . Alaska Public Media . 18 December 2018 . 24 August 2017.
  34. News: Cotsirilos . Teresa . Former VPO Anna Bill Interviews Commissioner Walt Monegan . KYUK Public Media . 17 September 2018. 19 December 2018.
  35. News: Crouse . Karen . Kikkan Randall, the Pride of Alaska on Cross-Country Skis . The New York Times . December 10, 2009. April 7, 2017.
  36. News: Mendoza . Bart . Liquid Blue covers the Earth . 12 August 2015 . 19 December 2018.
  37. News: Gordon . Christine . "This is Who I Am" – Southeast Alaska's Tlingit embracing native language . 3 July 2018 . 19 December 2018.

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