Alaska Pacific University

Alaska Pacific University
Former names
Alaska Methodist University (1957-78)
TypePrivate university
Established1957; 67 years ago (1957)
Religious affiliation
United Methodist Church
Academic affiliations
IAMSCU
Eco League
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Space-grant
PresidentJanelle Vanasse
Students595 (Fall 2022)[1]
Location
Anchorage
,
Alaska
,
United States

61°11′21″N 149°48′15″W / 61.1893°N 149.8042°W / 61.1893; -149.8042
CampusUrban
Websitewww.alaskapacific.edu

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.[3] The main campus is located adjacent to the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) and the Alaska Native Medical Center.

History

Frederick P. McGinnis (1921–2012) was the university's first president. McGinnis served for over a decade until Alaska governor William A. Egan appointed him to head the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.

The university was founded in the late 1950s as Alaska Methodist University by Peter Gordon Gould, an Aleut from Unga, Alaska.[4] 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.[5]

Alaska Methodist University dedicated its campus on June 28, 1959.[6] In April 1958, Dr. Donald F. Ebright was elected as the university's first administrative president.[3] Frederick P. McGinnis was elected in 1960, and served as acting president to the first class of students to attend the university.[7] Approximately 900 acres of land destined to become the site of the APU Kellogg Campus was attained in 1973 from the DeWolf-Kellogg Trust.[8]

In November 1978 Alaska Methodist University was renamed Alaska Pacific University.[6][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.[6] 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.[12] There are also several graduate certificate options.[12] APU also offers a professional studies programs for non-traditional students.[13]

Campus

The Atwood Campus Center houses the university's student union plus dormitories.

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

References

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

External links

  • Official website
  • History of AMU
  • Media related to Alaska Pacific University at Wikimedia Commons
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