MARCH 31 - APRIL 6, 2020
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
FEATURES PAGE 3 Simple recipes from home pantries can bring great meal ideas during the ‘hunker down’ order.
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG
SPORTS PAGE 9 Despite a sudden end to the 20192020 season, the lady Seawolf basketball team celebrates their accomplishments.
UA Update: Chancellor Sandeen releases expedited program review recommendations By Gabby Vance arts1@thenorthernlight.org
UAA’s expedited program review continues to be an ongoing process. The latest recommendations for revision, continuation, enhancement, suspension, continued review and deletion of majors and programs was made by Chancellor Cathy Sandeen. Based on the decisions from the deans and provosts of each college, Chancellor Sandeen released her recommendations the week of March 23. The University of Alaska System Academic Council’s recommendations will follow the week of April 1. Each program is given one of six recommendations: •
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Enhancement – The program will be given additional staff or faculty and additional resources. Continuation – The program will continue without any changes. Revision – Changes may be made to the program, but it will continue. Continued Review – Specific issues identified during review will be resolved, and then the program will be reviewed again. Suspension – New students will no lon-
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ger be accepted into the program. Deletion – Students who are currently enrolled in the program will be assisted in completing their major or certificate within a designated time period, and then the program will be discontinued.
“The University of Alaska Anchorage is a strong and vibrant institution accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU),” according to the UAA website’s Expedited Program Review Status article. “UAA is dedicated to serving the needs of our students and the state of Alaska, and we are committed to providing our students [with] the highest quality academic programs and student support services.” Sandeen’s recommendations are as follows: • Accounting (AAS) Continued Review • Accounting (BBA) - Enhancement • Air Traffic Control (AAS) - Continued Review • Alutiiq Language (OEC) - Continuation • Anthropology (BA-BS) - Continuation • Anthropology (MA) Continued Review • Applied Geological Sciences (MS) - Continued Review • Applied Technologies Leadership (BS) - Con-
tinued Review • Architectural and Engineering Tech (AAS) Continued Review • Art (BA) - Continuation • Art (BFA) - Revision • Automotive Tech (UCAAS) - Continuation • Aviation Administration (AAS) -Deletion • Aviation Maint Tech (UC-AAS) - Continuation • Aviation Tech (BS) Continuation • Biological Sciences (BABS) - Continuation • Biological Sciences (MS) - Revision • Business Comp Info Systems (AAS) -Revision • Chemistry (BS) - Continuation • Children’s Mental Health (GC) - Revision • Civic Engagement (UC) Deletion • Civil Engineering (BS) Continuation • Civil Engineering (MS) Continuation • Clinical Psychology (MS) -Revision • Clinical-Community Psychology (PhD) - Continuation • Comp Net Tech, Comp Syst Tech (AAS), Cisco Net Assoc (OEC) - Continued Review • Comp Science (BA-BS) Continuation • Comp Systems Engineering (BS) - Continued Review • Construction Mgmt (AAS-BS) - Continua-
SEE REVIEW
PAGE 2
GRAPHIC COURTESY OF THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
Additional COVID-19 measures have been introduced as cases in Alaska continue to rise.
COVID-19 update By Christina Swayney features2@thenorthernlight.org
The first death of an Alaska resident from COVID-19 occurred in Washington state on March 24. Alaska’s chief medical officer, Dr. Anne Zink, said that the victim became infected in Washington. As of March 28, a second Alaska resident died at Anchorage Native Medical Center, or ANMC. The deceased was a woman in her 60s with underlying medical issues. This is the first death due to COVID-19 in Alaska. This death prompted Gov. Mike Dunleavy to issue a “social distancing” mandate that is essentially the same as a “shelter in place” mandate at a news conference on March 27. It is effective March 28 at 5 p.m. and will be reevaluated by April 11, according to the mandate. Earlier in the week, over 120 doctors sent an official letter to Gov. Dunleavy on March 21, urging him to enact a full “shelter in place” order that would stop non-essential travel to slow the curve of infection from sources outside the state. Doctors that signed the letter are mostly based in Anchorage, but also practice in Ketchikan, Wasilla, the Kenai Peninsula and Fairbanks. A day later, on March 22, doctors in Fairbanks sent a similar letter to the governor with 50 signatures. The mandate prohibits travel between communities. The mandate states that the goal of this is to stop the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve of the infection rate. The mandates also say that residents should stay in their homes as much as possible and only leave for necessary reasons, such as getting groceries or seeking medical care. Essential workers, such as healthcare employees and first responders, may still go to work, but all non-essential employees are to work from home as much as possible.
Outdoor recreation is permitted, as long as it is close to the resident’s home and social distancing of at least 6 feet from non-family members is required. Those that do develop symptoms are to not leave their homes unless medical care is needed. If a family member develops symptoms within a household, they should be isolated from other household members not showing symptoms. Violations of this mandate may be punishable by law and could result in fines of up to $25,000, charged with reckless endangerment and a class A misdemeanor. Organizations that violate this mandate, which result in fatalities due to the virus, can be charged $2.5 million and a class A misdemeanor. Infection without death, due to mandate violation, can result in fines up to $500,000. Cases of COVID-19 are rising in Alaska daily. Areas where cases have been confirmed are Anchorage, including JBER, Eagle River, Chugiak, Girdwood, Homer, Seward, Sterling, Soldotna, Fairbanks, North Pole, Palmer, Juneau and Ketchikan. Fairbanks is believed to have community-spread cases, which means that the virus is spreading from person to person, even if they have not traveled out of state, according to Dr. Zink. Those infected with the virus range in age from the first child infected, who is related to a previously infected individual, according to Alaska Public Media; to people in their 60s. For more information on COVID-19 in Alaska, visit the State of Alaska COVID-19 Updates page. For information about Anchorage-specific cases, visit the Anchorage Municipality COVID-19 Updates page. For national and international updates about the virus, visit the Center For Disease Control and the World Health Organization.
GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS
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