:Alaska Pacific University

{{Infobox US university rankings

| Wamo_BAC = 30

| USNWR_REG = 42-45

}}

In 2024, Washington Monthly ranked Alaska Pacific University 30th among 223 colleges that award almost exclusively bachelor's degrees in the U.S. based on its contribution to the public good, as measured by social mobility, research, and promoting public service.{{Cite web |title=2024 Bachelor's Colleges Ranking |url=https://washingtonmonthly.com/2024-college-guide/bachelors/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=Washington Monthly |language=en-US}}

File:Frederick McGinnis.jpg

The university was founded in the late 1950s as Alaska Methodist University by Peter Gordon Gould, an Aleut from Unga, Alaska.{{cite news|last1=Hintze|first1=Heather|title=Indigenous Peoples' Day celebration|url=http://www.ktva.com/story/36557050/indigenous-peoples-day-celebration|access-date=24 April 2018|agency=KTVA - The Voice of Alaska|date=9 October 2017|archive-date=18 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618142531/https://www.ktva.com/story/36557050/indigenous-peoples-day-celebration|url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite book|last1=Ellis|first1=J. Richard|last2=Holtrop|first2=Stephen D.|title=In Transition: Adult Higher Education Governance in Private Institutions: New Directions for Higher Education, Number 159|date=2012|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=9781118512296|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lZBpmieyi6AC|access-date=24 April 2018|language=en}}

Alaska Methodist University dedicated its campus on June 28, 1959. In April 1958, Donald F. Ebright was elected as the university's first administrative president.{{cite web|url=https://www.alaskapacific.edu/history/apu-history/|title=History of APU|publisher=Alaska Pacific University|access-date=April 7, 2017}} Frederick P. McGinnis was elected in 1960, and served as acting president to the first class of students to attend the university.{{cite web|url=https://www.alaskapacific.edu/standing-on-the-shoulders-of-fred-mcginnis/|title=Standing on the Shoulders of Fred McGinnis|date=12 September 2012 |publisher=Alaska Pacific University|access-date=1 May 2018}} Approximately 900 acres of land destined to become the site of the APU Kellogg Campus was acquired in 1973 from the DeWolf-Kellogg Trust.{{Cite web|url=https://www.alaskapacific.edu/kellogg-campus/|title=Kellogg Campus – Alaska Pacific University|website=alaskapacific.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-31}}

In November 1978 Alaska Methodist University was renamed Alaska Pacific University.{{cite web|url=http://catalog.alaskapacific.edu/content.php?catoid=8&navoid=193|title=[ARCHIVED CATALOG] - General Information|work=Acalog ACMS|publisher=Alaska Pacific University|date=2014–2015|access-date=April 7, 2017}}{{cite web|last=Hanlon|first=Tegan|url=https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/education/2016/05/20/apu-looks-into-becoming-a-tribal-college/|title=APU looks into becoming a tribal college|work=Alaska Dispatch News|date=May 26, 2016|access-date=April 7, 2017}} In 2016, APU formed a partnership with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, indicating an intention to become a tribal college.{{Cite web|url=https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/education/2016/12/19/the-private-alaska-pacific-university-plans-to-transform-into-tribal-college/|title=Alaska Pacific University plans to become a tribal college|website=Anchorage Daily News|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-31}}

Undergraduates can pursue liberal arts and sciences programs.{{cite web|url=https://www.alaskapacific.edu/programs/|title=Majors and Institutes – Programs|publisher=Alaska Pacific University|access-date=23 April 2018}} APU offers nine graduate programs, eight master's degrees and one doctoral degree. There are also several graduate certificate options. APU also offers a professional studies programs for non-traditional students.{{Cite web|url=http://catalog.alaskapacific.edu/content.php?catoid=11&navoid=295|title=Tuition, Fees and Payment Information - Alaska Pacific University - Acalog ACMS™|website=catalog.alaskapacific.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-03-30}}

The Early Honors program functions as an alternative to the senior year in high school.{{cite web|url=https://www.alaskapacific.edu/earlyhonors/counselors/|title=Early Honors – Counselors|publisher=Alaska Pacific University|access-date=23 April 2018}}

The Alaska Pacific University is an active member of the University of the Arctic.{{Cite web |title=Members |url=https://www.uarctic.org/members/member-profiles/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=UArctic |language=en-US}} UArctic is an international cooperative network based in the Circumpolar Arctic region, consisting of more than 200 universities, colleges, and other organizations with an interest in promoting education and research in the Arctic region.{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.uarctic.org/about-us/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=UArctic - University of the Arctic |language=en-US}}

The university also participates in UArctic's mobility program north2north. The aim of that program is to enable students of member institutions to study in different parts of the North.{{Cite web |title=north2north |url=https://www.uarctic.org/activities/north2north/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=UArctic - University of the Arctic |language=en-US}}

File:EAST FRONT - Alaska Methodist University, Campus Center, University Drive, Anchorage, Anchorage, AK HABS AK,2-ANCH,12-1.tif

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.{{cite web|title=Campus Life|url=https://www.alaskapacific.edu/campus-life/|website=Alaska Pacific University|access-date=5 April 2018}} The three other buildings on the main campus are offices for the US Geological Survey's Alaska Volcano Observatory, Alaska Public Media, and the Alaska Spine Institute.{{cite web|title=Contact Us|url=https://www.alaskapublic.org/about/contact/|website=Alaska Public Media|access-date=5 April 2018}}{{cite web|title=Hours & Location|url=http://www.alaskaspineinstitute.com/hours-location|website=Alaska Spine Institute|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-date=6 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406225818/http://www.alaskaspineinstitute.com/hours-location|url-status=dead}} There are multiple housing accommodations on the main campus, divided by class year designations. All incoming freshman under 21 years of age are required to live on campus for their first two years.{{cite web|title=Housing Options|url=https://www.alaskapacific.edu/campus-life/housing/housing-options/|website=Alaska Pacific University|access-date=5 April 2018}}

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.{{cite web|title=Asset Details|url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/79000409|website=National Park Service|access-date=5 April 2018}}

APU has an extension of its campus in Palmer, Alaska, 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.{{cite web|title=Kellogg Campus|url=https://www.alaskapacific.edu/kellogg-campus/|website=Alaska Pacific University|access-date=5 April 2018}}

Alaska Pacific University is known for its Nordic Ski Team.{{cite news|last1=Goldman|first1=Dave|title=Wave of Alaskans to become cross-country Olympians in South Korea|url=http://www.ktva.com/story/37359126/alaskan-pipeline-to-south-korea-local-skiers-are-olympians|access-date=17 April 2018|agency=KTVA News|date=26 January 2018|archive-date=16 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416063141/http://www.ktva.com/story/37359126/alaskan-pipeline-to-south-korea-local-skiers-are-olympians|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last1=Russell|first1=Emily|title=Sadie Bjornsen is "knocking on the door" of an Olympic medal|url=https://www.alaskapublic.org/2018/02/14/sadie-bjornsen-is-knocking-on-the-door-of-an-olympic-medal/|access-date=17 April 2018|agency=Alaska Public Media|date=14 February 2018}} The APU Nordic Ski Center (APUNSC) was established in 1999 as a regional Olympic training center for cross-country skiers.{{cite web|url=http://www.alsap.org/AMU/AMU.htm|title=AMU Ski Hill and Jump|publisher=Alaska Lost Ski Areas Project|access-date=20 April 2018}}

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.{{cite web|url= https://apunordic.com/programs/alumni/|title= Nordic Ski Center – Olympians|publisher=APU Nordic Ski Center|access-date=17 April 2018}}{{cite news|last1=Chappell|first1=Bill|title=Kikkan Randall Wins Her 1st Medal in Cross-Country - A Gold - After 18 Tries|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetorch/2018/02/21/587513454/kikkan-randall-the-only-mom-on-team-usa-just-won-a-gold-medal-in-her-last-event|access-date=17 April 2018|agency=National Public Radio|publisher=The Torch - NPR's Olympic News Coverage|date=21 February 2018}}

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 an assortment of student clubs and organizations with which students can affiliate themselves.{{cite web|url=https://www.alaskapacific.edu/campus-life/student-services-and-activities/clubs-organizations/|title=Student Activities – Clubs and Organizations|publisher=Alaska Pacific University|access-date=17 April 2018}}

In the Residence Halls, the Resident Activity Programming Board hosts events for students who live on campus.{{cite web|url=https://www.alaskapacific.edu/campus-life/student-services-and-activities/resident-activity-programming/|title=Student Activities – Resident Activity Programming|publisher=Alaska Pacific University|access-date=17 April 2018}}

• Sadie Bjornsen, cross-country skier (Olympian in 2014 and 2018){{cite news |last1=Russell |first1=Emily |title=Sadie Bjornsen is "knocking on the door" of an Olympic medal |url=https://www.alaskapublic.org/2018/02/14/sadie-bjornsen-is-knocking-on-the-door-of-an-olympic-medal/ |access-date=15 December 2018 |work=Alaska Public Media |date=14 February 2018}}
• Holly Brooks, former cross-country skier (Olympian in 2010 and 2014){{cite news |last1=Bragg |first1=Beth |url=https://www.adn.com/sports/2016/07/21/2-olympics-and-7-years-after-late-in-life-ski-career-brooks-calls-it-quits/ |title=2 Olympics and 7 years after late-in-life ski career, Brooks calls it quits |date=21 July 2016 |access-date= 7 February 2019}}
• Sharon Cissna, member of the Alaska House of Representatives{{cite news |last1=Ahlers |first1=Mike |title=Alaska lawmaker strikes at TSA in unusual ad |url=https://www.cnn.com/2011/12/19/travel/alaska-lawmaker-ad/index.html |access-date=18 December 2018 |work=CNN |date=19 December 2011}}
• Lew Freedman, author, sports writer and columnist at Anchorage Daily News{{cite news |last1=Winters |first1=Rose |title=49 Writers Interview: Lew Freedman, Yukon Quest |url=https://49writers.org/2010/09/49-writers-interview-lew-freedman-yukon.html |access-date=18 December 2018 |work=49 Writers, Inc. |date=27 September 2010}}
• Katherine Gottlieb, President & CEO of Southcentral Foundation{{cite news |last1=Toomey |first1=Sheila |title=Alaska's first MacArthur Genius |url=https://www.rasmuson.org/enjoy-cat/grantee-stories/alaskas-first-macarthur-genius/ |access-date=18 December 2018 |work=Rasmuson Foundation}}
• Albert Kookesh, former member of the Alaska Senate and Tlingit community leader{{cite news |last1=Schoenfeld |first1= Ed |title= Former senator, longtime Native leader Albert Kookesh fighting cancer |url=https://www.alaskapublic.org/2017/08/24/former-senator-longtime-native-leader-albert-kookesh-fighting-cancer/ |work=Alaska Public Media |access-date= 18 December 2018 |date=24 August 2017}}
• Walt Monegan, former police chief of Anchorage and former Alaska Commissioner of Public Safety{{cite news|last=Cotsirilos |first=Teresa |url=http://www.kyuk.org/post/former-vpo-anna-bill-interviews-commissioner-walt-monegan |title= Former VPO Anna Bill Interviews Commissioner Walt Monegan |work=KYUK Public Media |date=17 September 2018|access-date=19 December 2018}}
• Kikkan Randall, cross-country skier (Olympian in 2006 and 2018; gold medal winner in 2018){{cite news |last=Crouse |first=Karen |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/sports/olympics/11ski.html |title=Kikkan Randall, the Pride of Alaska on Cross-Country Skis |work=The New York Times |date=December 10, 2009|access-date=April 7, 2017}}
• Josh Revak, Purple Heart recipient and member of the Alaska State Senate
• Scott Stephens, vocalist for Liquid Blue{{cite news |last1=Mendoza |first1=Bart |url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2015/aug/12/blurt-liquid-blue-covers-earth/ |title=Liquid Blue covers the Earth |date=12 August 2015 |access-date=19 December 2018}}
• Rosita Worl, president of the Sealaska Heritage Institute {{cite news |last1=Gordon |first1= Christine |url=https://www.kcbx.org/post/who-i-am-southeast-alaskas-tlingit-embracing-native-language#stream/0 |title="This is Who I Am" – Southeast Alaska's Tlingit embracing native language |date=3 July 2018 |access-date=19 December 2018}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website|http://www.alaskapacific.edu}}
• [https://alaskaumc.org/about-2/history/alaska-methodist-university-history/ History of AMU]
• {{Commons category-inline}}

{{Portal bar|Alaska}}

{{Colleges and universities in Alaska}}

{{MethodistColleges}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1957 establishments in Alaska

Category:Buildings and structures in Anchorage, Alaska

Category:Universities and colleges established in 1957

Category:Methodism in Alaska

Category:Private universities and colleges in Alaska

Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Category:Universities and colleges affiliated with the United Methodist Church