Update on fall semester

April 20, 2020

Dear UA Community –

I know many of you are wondering how the university will offer programs and courses to students in the fall, and whether we will continue our current structure of alternative delivery methods.

The good news is that open enrollment is underway for the fall. I assure you we want to make the decision as soon as we can, but it is still too soon to know. The input and advice from public health experts, the chancellors, and other university leaders suggests that we hold on a decision about the specific blend of distance delivered and in-person courses until we have an expert assessment of conditions closer to the start of the fall semester. 

While the health crisis seems to be flattening, and we are doing everything in our power to keep our students, staff and faculty safe, we need to be sure that COVID-19 conditions have significantly improved before we provide more in-person courses.

In the meantime, we are working on innovative ways to communicate with new and returning students including virtual campus tours, new financial aid packages, and incentives for those who have taken college courses but have not yet earned a degree. We are supporting our faculty as they tailor their courses for alternative delivery, we are helping our staff as they work from home and taking care of those who need to be on campus to work, and we are working hard to secure additional financial resources to help us weather this crisis.

Our people are our greatest asset. Our nurses, researchers, economists and faculty are contributing to the needs of the state during this crisis, and I believe demonstrating that we are a critical partner in meeting the state’s needs and leading Alaska forward.

Sincerely,
Jim Johnsen