Message from President Valerie Nurr’araaluk Davidson – 2021 Spring Semester Update
October 26, 2020
Dear APU community,
Quyana (thank you) for your commitment to keeping each other and our community safe during the Fall term. Responding to the pandemic has required many adjustments, and your adaptability and resilience are very much appreciated.
Cases are climbing in Alaska during the early days of winter and, after thoughtful consideration, it has become clear that we must extend our pandemic response into the Spring. Our Spring programs will look very similar to our Fall term. Campus will stay open, but access to campus buildings will require an APU ID. We will again offer most courses through distance delivery, and we will continue working with individual students to address access concerns. We will be reviewing each course over the next few weeks to determine the delivery format and will have full course information available for the Spring advising and registration period.
As a reminder, you can review this section of our website for specific details on our operating plan. This is a working document, and it remains relevant for the Spring term. The plan was written with input from public health experts. Key points – like washing your hands, wearing a mask, maintaining distance, and limiting social circles – are especially important, regardless of where you live.
We will continue monitoring the situation in Alaska and responding accordingly. I am confident we can continue our procedures and provide another strong semester this Spring. We are a creative, caring, and resilient community, and I am so impressed by your efforts this Fall.
Quyana for all you do for APU,
Val
Valerie Nurr’araaluk Davidson
President
Alaska Pacific University
A Message from President Valerie Nurr’araaluk Davidson
July 28, 2020
Dear APU community,
We know many of you are excited to return to campus, to return to Alaska, and to return to some form of normalcy as the new school year begins. The pandemic remains a concern in Alaska, especially in the Municipality of Anchorage. An honest assessment shows we must reconsider our approach to reopening campus. We have reviewed the Campus Reopening Plan, and we have determined it is in the best interest of APU and our community partners to revise our plans for the Fall semester.
With the exception of a few classes that require on-campus or field-based instruction, APU will now move all courses, including intensives, to distance delivery for the Fall semester.
We still plan to reopen campus on a limited basis. Housing and dining services will be available to students. Campus offices will continue to function through a mix of distance-delivered services and on-campus staffing. Computer labs on campus and at the library will be available to facilitate online learning. But in order for any on-campus activities to continue, we must require all students, employees, and visitors to follow protocols to prevent spread of the COVID-19 virus. Wear masks in indoor spaces, maintain distance from others, and follow cleaning instructions.
Please take time to read our new campus protocols and share them with classmates, colleagues and others at APU. The full plan is available on this website, along with frequently asked questions. I encourage you to read it in full and understand what will be required of each of us in order for campus to reopen.
We must all commit to maintaining the health and safety of the APU community, our families, and our neighbors. We are excited to begin the Fall semester and recognize our shared responsibility to follow public health protocols to maintain a viable and vibrant learning community. We will continue to update APU students, faculty, students and their families, and our community partners as the academic year progresses.
Quyana for all you do for APU,
Val
Valerie Nurr’araaluk Davidson
President
Alaska Pacific University
