March 2020 Archive

New Student Orientation is going online for April, May and June! We are asking that all departments who have YouTube videos or other media they would like shared for the virtual experience to please send them our way. We will be updating all of the content on the virtual Orientation and will also work towards providing additional virtual engagement opportunities for students.

Please join us for an art show create and curated by Professor Herminia Din’s Senior Seminar art students around the Books of the Year theme, “Building Community Resilience.” This year’s art show features eleven students and is entitled “Reconnection: Reflection, Deflection and Harmony” — it features work from a variety of mediums such as painting, ceramics and digital art.

Epidemiologic modeling with Alaska data provides support for new measures implemented by state and municipal leaders to "flatten the curve" and buy additional time for preparation.

As you have likely heard, Gov. Dunleavy released two new public health mandates Friday night that went into effect at 5 p.m. today and will be re-evaluated on April 11. The first is Health Mandate 11, which is a statewide “stay home” or “shelter-in-place” that aims to slow the spread of COVID-19. When Alaskans must leave their homes, the mandate requires social distancing of six feet. The order also imposes restrictions on businesses, with exceptions for activities considered “essential.” The second is Health Mandate 12. It prohibits in-state travel, with very few exceptions.

It has been a Herculean effort, but after one week, UAA's campuses across Southcentral Alaska have successfully transitioned to delivering courses via alternate methods in keeping with social distancing recommendations. As chancellor, I am especially impressed by the can-do spirit and teamwork that has emerged in such a short time. Thank you all! We are doing this together.

The UAA Office of Emergency Management in the EH&S Department continues to coordinate donations of medical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the state Department of Health and Social Services. If your department has excess nitrile exam gloves, exam gowns, face shields, N95 masks or other PPE, please let us know at emergencymanager@alaska.edu and we can pick it up. Thank you!

Thanks so much to all of you who shared your best tip for successful online learning! I received nearly 200 responses and have summarized them in the attached document. I hope you find it helpful. Please continue to share your ideas with me. I will listen.

UAA's Anchorage campus has updated its posting policy as of March 2020. A link to the new policy is located in the UAA Facilities Policy Library.

While the in-person commencement ceremony is canceled for this May, we will still be publishing a commencement program to recognize our graduates. Please submit the list of your students graduating with departmental honors to uaa.degrees@alaska.edu by the April 3, 2020 deadline to be included in the program.

The Center for Human Development is seeking applications for a ECHO Project Support. We are looking for a highly motivated and detail-oriented individual for our multifaceted and exciting work. This is a new position that supports the implementation and expansion of Project ECHO networks statewide.