Happy New Year and Welcome Back!

As we embark on another year of educating Alaska’s workforce, now is an excellent time to reflect on our vision of honoring Alaska’s Indigenous heritage, exemplifying excellence, and preparing paths. 

I am confident the path we are preparing for our University in 2020 will lead to success. Last year, you helped APU turn goals into accomplishments and benchmarks into milestones. Members of our University community have been making a positive impact across the State of Alaska and beyond.

Now it is time to turn our gaze to the future and set our intentions for 2020, which is certain to be another banner year for APU.

Our core focus will continue to be on the main objectives in our strategic plan: cultivating APU as a community where people love to learn and work, assisting our students achieve the best expressions of their potential, collaborating with partners to provide the highest level of collective impact, and acting responsibly in service to our University and those we serve.

Here are some important activities for the New Year that will contribute to achieving these objectives: 

• Increasing rural outreach.
  APU is dedicated to continuing to diversify our student body. We learn best when we learn in a community that represents a variety of viewpoints. Living and learning surrounded by a variety of cultures, perspectives, and lived experiences is key to succeeding in a global environment where it’s increasingly important that professionals have the ability to see the world clearly. 
• Forging stronger Arctic academic and research collaborations.
  The critical issues facing the circumpolar north are not unique to Alaska. As a northern institution and now a member of University of the Arctic, we are positioned to help address the new challenges Alaska shares with other Arctic communities and countries.  
• Continuing to bring innovative thinkers and creators to campus through the Leah J. Peterson lectures.
  Critical thought, analysis and creative problem solving are at the heart of a robust liberal arts education. We relish the inspiration and discussion sparked by each speaker who visits campus as part of our lecture series.
• Increase our role as a gathering place for Alaskans.
  From hosting community meetings, seminars and special events to conferences and Indigenous People’s Day, we are aiming to provide new opportunities to invite members of the public to APU. We hope to draw more and more people together to celebrate Alaska’s rich history on campus.  
• Continue to support the world’s greatest winter athletes as our APU Nordic skiers prepare for local, national and Olympic feats.

As we work on these objectives, we will not lose focus on continually enhancing the active, hands-on learning experience that exemplifies our values as a University. The path we are on is one that promises excellence and opportunity for all of our students, today and for generations to come.

We are so glad to have you back on campus and walking this path as a member of our community. Stay warm, and we will see you on the trails!

Sincerely,

Bob Onders
Alaska Pacific University President