Liberal Studies Associate Professor Mei Mei Evans has published her first novel, drawing in part on first-hand experiences of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Available now from the University of Alaska Press, “Oil and Water” was among finalists in 2012 for the national PEN/Bellwether Prize. The award is for previously unpublished fiction centering on social…
Sustainability Studies
No Better Training than Motherhood
by Mabel Baldwin-Schaeffer “It wasn’t the last time I’d find that there’s no better training grounds for politics than motherhood.” ~Sarah Palin in Going Rogue As opposed to Palin’s career in politics, I use her saying in respect to my post-secondary education. I initially started college in 2001, but after some time, I decided to…
The APU Log Moves On
An old friend is about to go through a transformation as Alaska Pacific University changes our “look” with the installation of a new sign at the entrance of university. In 1986, APU alumnus and woodcarver, Harry (Bud) Goodyear, helped a group of students carve the APU log out of a massive tree that was alive…
Fall Updates
Energy Upgrades The Board of Trustees approved APU’s Climate Action Plan at their Board meeting on October 26. At their summer meeting they authorized Phase One ($1.6 million) of a two-phased $6.2 million Performance Contract with Johnson Controls, Inc. to install energy efficient measures throughout campus with the goal of decreasing energy consumption and utility…
Spring Creek Farm Journal Week 1
The trail wound its way up into the hills, around small, weed-edged ponds, and across a shallow stream. It was lined with spruce trees and berries, and the smell of leaves beginning to decay filled the crisp air. It was perfect country for grouse and moose and bears. – John Elvis Smelcer, author of Alaskan…
Sustainability News Blast
Welcome back APUers The new semester is only a few days old and the gratifying smell of summer vacation still lingers in the air, soon to be squashed by the tense fears of the first major assignments, and our staff members are already busy creating a more sustainable university. The new student center has been…
Anchorage Startup Weekend – Sept 21-23, 2012
Startup Week at Alaska Pacific University’s Atwood Hall is a weekend-long, hands-on experience where entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs can find out if startup ideas are viable. On average, half of Startup Weekend’s attendees have technical or design backgrounds, the other half have business backgrounds. Beginning with open mic pitches on Friday, attendees bring their best…
New courses highlight sustainability, Alaska as our classroom, pre-med track
Courses that underscore APU’s commitment to sustainability and Alaska as our classroom are among new offerings in the fall schedule. Natural History Interpretation adds the opportunity for APU students to earn a Certified Interpretive Guide credential as part of regular coursework. Certification is unique among similar college courses in Alaska. The credential is needed before…
APU receives $100,000 Rasmuson grant for sustainability
Alaska Pacific University has received a second consecutive Rasmuson Foundation grant aimed at capacity building and sustainability. Sought by APU President Don Bantz, the $100,000 award will concentrate on attracting more students and enhancing alumni engagement. The grant announced June 29 follows a fundraiser in June that garnered more than $600,000 for the university. A…
Energy Efficiency at APU: Performance Contracting
APU spends $783,000 annually on electricity, gas and water utility consumption and an additional $247,000/year on Operations and Maintenance to keep its ancient boilers functional (the 5 boilers in Atwood, Moseley, and Grant are all 40+ years old) for a total expense of $1,030,000 per year (an average of $3.50/square foot). The Moseley pool boiler…
