2000-2001 UAF Catalog
Student Services
Helping You Stay on Track
Academic Advising and Career Development
Academic Advising and the Advising Center
Deciding on a major, choosing electives and planning the classes you take each semester may be the most important decisions you make as a student at the university. Your advisor can help you by explaining programs and requirements, recommending courses and answering your questions. The role of your advisor is to help you choose a program to help you achieve academic and career goals.
If you are a declared major, your advisor will be a faculty member from your academic department. You should contact the department for specific assignment of a faculty advisor.
If you haven't chosen a major yet, the Fairbanks campus Academic Advising Center is available for students who need help in choosing a major, selecting classes and planning an academic schedule. It also serves as a clearinghouse for general university and degree information. The Advising Center has general advisors and faculty members from various disciplines throughout campus. You have access to all members of the advising team and department advisors.
In addition to advising incoming freshmen and undeclared students, Advising Center staff are available to help transfer students, non-degree students and rural students. The Advising Center assists students with non-traditional credit options, interdisciplinary undergraduate degrees and the Bachelor of Technology degree program. The Advising Center can also provide information on pre-professional programs.
Students who haven't decided on a major or who are considering changing or reconfirming their major can seek assistance in the Advising Center. In addition to discussing options with an advisor, materials and software are available to provide feedback on information submitted regarding interests, abilities and aptitudes. The DISCOVER program (a fully integrated career guidance software program), Strong Interest Inventory ($10 fee provides computerized interpretation and printout) and several web sites are provided for all students.
The Advising Center, in cooperation with other departments, sponsors a variety of workshops ranging from study skills to deciding a major as well a wide variety of special topics. The Advising Center is located in room 506 of the Gruening Building, (907) 474-6396 or 1-888-823-8780. Advisors can also be reached via e-mail at fyadvis@uaf.edu.
The Career Development Center assists students in identifying career choices based on personal goals, accurate knowledge of the world of work, and experience with ways to activate career plans.
The center is a component of Student Assistance at the UAF Downtown Center. Advisors assist students in gaining the information and experience needed for effective career planning, as well as the continuing process of career changes. The center provides counseling in career planning, pre-admission advising, program planning, personal crisis intervention and other concerns. Student Assistance also provides academic advising and help with enrollment, financial aid, study groups and tutoring.
Faculty and staff at the Tanana Valley Campus (TVC) are dedicated to the professional and personal development of each student. Student success is attributed to the high quality of TVC programs and the personal attention they receive in the Career Development Center.
The Career Development Center and Student Assistance are located at the UAF Downtown Center, 510 Second Ave., Fairbanks, Alaska. For more information phone the Career Development Center at (907) 474-7400.
Alaska Teacher Placement (ATP)
ATP is Alaska's statewide clearinghouse for educational placement, helping Alaska's public school districts employ educators for their schools. ATP offers a free individual referral system to first-year UAF education graduates; others pay a fee. ATP also hosts a spring job fair in Anchorage and two summer job fairs in Fairbanks. These fairs, in which 40 to 50 school districts participate, are also free for first-year UAF education majors. ATP maintains permanent placement files for UAF education majors free of charge. Alaska Teacher Placement is located on the fifth floor of the Gruening Building, (907) 474-6644.
The UAF Career Center provides students and alumni with individual and group career counseling; interest assessment inventories; career, occupational and graduate school literature; assistance in finding summer employment and academic internships; and help in finding professional employment after graduation. The UAF Career Center also hosts career and job fairs to help you link with local and national employers.
Job-hunting aids available to you include resume writing tips, practice interviews, job vacancy listings, a comprehensive web site, and credential files. The on-campus recruiting program offers qualified UAF students and alumni an opportunity to apply and interview for full- or part-time jobs and summer positions, as well as internships, with employers in a variety of fields. The center coordinates these employer visits and helps students with applications and interviews.
The UAF Career Center is located on the fifth floor of the Gruening Building. For information phone (907) 474-7596 or web UAF Career Center.
Developmental studies courses are designed to prepare students for admission to occupational-technical and university-academic programs, help students who are having trouble with courses or want to improve their efficiency and help students who want to improve their skills but are not necessarily enrolled in a program.
The need for developmental studies is determined by high school transcripts, test scores, other achievement data and discussion with counselors. Students may also elect developmental studies courses based on personal assessment. There are three types of developmental studies courses: communication skills development, math skills development and general academic development. Course descriptions for developmental studies are found under Developmental Studies, English and Mathematics.
International Student Advising
If you're a UAF student from another country, you may be faced with unique situations that American students don't usually encounter. You must comply with immigration regulations, adapt to a new and often strange culture, and adjust to the American higher education system. The international student advisor serves as a liaison between you and the U.S. Immigration Service, authorizes documents for student visas, helps you adjust to the U.S., Alaska and UAF, and provides counseling for personal and academic problems. The international student advisor is located in room 401 of the Duckering Building, (907) 474-7677.
Rural Student Services (RSS) is committed to responding to student needs by providing quality services to Native and rural students who expend positive effort in the pursuit of higher education and its opportunities.
Rural Student Services facilitates the transition from a small school and village environment to university life. RSS advisors/counselors provide comprehensive academic advising and referrals to various academic support services on the UAF main campus. Other services provided by RSS include assistance with paperwork required to attend the university, personal counseling, and student advocacy. Rural Student Services is located on the fifth floor of the Gruening Building. Call RSS at (907) 474-7871 or 1-888-478-1452, fax (907) 474-6619, e-mail fyrss@uaf.edu or web Rural Student Services.
Student Development and Learning Center
The Student Development and Learning Center provides services that contribute to a successful learning experience or career transition. The center has three components: the Learning Center, career and academic counseling and developmental studies. SDLC services are available by appointment and on a walk-in basis. A series of student success workshops are sponsored by the SDLC on a variety of topics in the areas of study skills, career development and personal development. These workshops are available to students and members of the community at no charge. The Student Development and Learning Center is located in the UAF Downtown Center, (907) 474-7400.
The Accounting Lab provides tutoring services to students enrolled in accounting courses. The Accounting Lab is located in the Bunnell Building. The lab is staffed by accounting graduate students and outstanding undergraduate students. Lab hours are assigned (but flexible) Monday through Friday. For more information, contact the Accounting and Information Systems department, (907) 474-7121.
ASUAF provides tutorial services for individual courses whenever possible. The service is coordinated by ASUAF staff and tutoring is provided by students. Please contact ASUAF (the student government) for more information, (907) 474-7355.
LRC is located at the UAF Downtown Center, with outreach tutoring and labs for developmental students on the main campus. LRC staff help students improve and expand skills needed to be successful in university classes. Individualized instruction and tutoring in mathematics, writing, reading, grammar, spelling and study skills are provided.
LRC staff help students identify problem areas in courses and assist in developing personal study plans/skills. Students may work with course materials or LRC resources. A variety of learning options are available, including tutoring, lab courses, workshops, independent and small group study and computer-assisted learning programs. Students may use the audiovisual aids, typewriters, computers, quiet study carrels and other resource materials. For more information, call the Learning Resource Center at (907) 474-7400.
This lab provides flexible-hour assistance to students enrolled in mathematics courses. The lab is coordinated by faculty and services are provided by students. For more information contact the math department, (907) 474-7332.
The Writing Center is staffed by English graduate teaching assistants and outstanding undergraduate students. Open Monday through Friday and Sunday, the center is available to all enrolled students. The staff will review student writing projects at any stage of the writing process: planning, drafting and revising. Tutors are available to help you improve your grammar and usage. For information, contact the Writing Center at (907) 474-5314.