Alaska Pacific University
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| Alaska Pacific University | |
|---|---|
| Image:APULogo.jpg | |
| Established | 1957 |
| Type: | Private |
| President: | Douglas M. North |
| Students: | 673 |
| Location | Anchorage, Alaska, United States |
| Affiliations: | Eco League, United Methodist Church |
| Website: | http://www.alaskapacific.edu/ |
Alaska Pacific University (APU) is a small liberal arts college located in Anchorage, Alaska, that emphasizes experiential and active learning. The university is a member of the Eco League, a group of six small universities and colleges with strong programs in environmental studies and related topics.
[edit] History and Heritage
Alaska Pacific University, chartered as Alaska Methodist University by the Territory of Alaska in 1957, dedicated its campus on June 28, 1959. Alaska Pacific University is the most recent of the more than 1200 United Methodist educational institutions founded in America over the last 200 years.
When the first students enrolled in classes beginning October 1, 1960, campus facilities were limited and consisted only of Grant Hall—the academic and student center—and Gould Hall, the student residence. As enrollments and programs grew significantly, other buildings were added, including the Atwood Center, the Ruth and Homer Moseley sports center (1982), and the Carr Gottstein Academic Center (1992).
After a 1977 reorganization, academic programs were restructured, and in November 1978 Alaska Methodist University was renamed Alaska Pacific University to better reflect its educational mission and geographical location. Although the university continues to be firmly rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition of United Methodism, it espouses no narrow sectarian or doctrinal creed and indeed welcomes in its community of learners and teachers all who wish to engage in the search for truth. In fact, in 1991, the university established the Cardinal Newman Chair of Catholic Theology through an endowment from the Catholic Archdiocese—a significant example of the university’s ecumenism.
The university now offers twelve undergraduate majors and seven graduate programs.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Kikkan Randall, American cross-country skier (Olympian in 2006)
- Katherine Gottlieb, 2004 MacArthur Fellowship recipient
- Representative Sharon Cissna, Alaska State Representative (Democrat)
- Mari Gallion, author of The Single Woman's Guide to a Happy Pregnancy
