2002-2003 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. Students without a specific major will be enrolled as a general studies major.
In addition to advising incoming freshmen and general studies 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.
Alaska Teacher Placement (ATP) is a statewide education clearinghouse. ATP serves Alaska's 53 school districts and UA graduates, as well as teachers and administrators nationwide through referral services and job fairs. Job fairs are held at UAF, in Anchorage, and in the lower 48. ATP maintains permanent placement files for educators. Job fair dates, educational vacancies, and information about teaching in Alaska are listed on the ATP web site. APT maintains permanent placement files for educators.
ATP works directly with the Alaska Department of Education, the Alaska Center for Excellence in Schools, and the Schools of Education as the first point of contact for placement of educators in rural Alaska. The Alaska Teacher Placement is in the Gruening Building fifth floor. For more information telephone (907) 474-6644, e-mail fyatp@uaf.edu, or web www.uaf.edu/atp.
The UAF Career Center provides students and alumni with career counseling, interest and personality assessment instruments, career and graduate school literature, and job search assistance. Job search aids include resume and cover letter critiques, mock interviews, job listings, and credential files. The Career Center also operates a distribution list for internships and on-campus job information. Career Center services are free to students and alumni.
The on-campus recruiting program includes individual recruitments and annual job fairs. The events provide UAF students and alumni with the opportunity to apply and interview for part-time, full-time, and internship positions with local, statewide, and national employers in a variety of fields. In addition, there are opportunities to network with employers and explore future career opportunities. The UAF Career Center is in the Gruening building fifth floor. For information telephone (907) 474-7596, e-mail careerservices@uaf.edu, or web www.uaf.edu/career/.
UAF's developmental education program and services address academic preparedness, assessment and placement, barriers to learning, and development of general and discipline specific learning strategies for all students.
The goals of developmental education are to: preserve and make possible educational opportunity for each postsecondary student; develop in each student the skills and attitudes to attain academic, career, and life goals; ensure proper placement by assessing each student's level of preparedness for college coursework; maintain academic standards by enabling students to succeed in mainstream college courses; enhance the retention of students; and promote the continued development and application of cognitive and affective learning theory.
Developmental education courses are designed to prepare students for admission to university academic and vocational/technical 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 education services is determined by high school transcripts, test scores, other achievement data, and discussion with counselors and advisors. Students may also elect developmental education courses based on personal assessment. There are three types of developmental education courses: communication skills, math skills, and information acquisition skills. Course descriptions for developmental education are listed in 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. For more information telephone (907) 474-7677 or (907) 474-5327.
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 main floor of the Brooks Building. Call RSS at (907) 474-7871 or 1-888-478-1452, fax (907) 474-6619, e-mail fyrss@uaf.edu or web www.uaf.edu/ruralss/.
Student Assistance at the UAF Downtown Center
Advising and support are available at the UAF Downtown Center for students in A.A. and A.A.S. degree and certificate programs.
Student Assistance provides services that contribute to a successful learning experience and transition to a career. Services are available by appointment and on a walk-in basis. For more information contact Student Assistance, UAF Tanana Valley Campus, 510 2nd Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska 99701, telephone (907) 474-1151, or web www.tvc.uaf.edu/programs/sdla/.
Student Assistance at the UAF Downtown Center provides academic advising with a focus on A.A. and A.A.S. degree and certificate programs. Services include pre-admission advising, academic assessment and placement advising, financial aid information and application, choosing a major, and course selection. On-going academic advising, degree planning and course selection as well as personal crisis intervention and referral are available. Support for students on academic probation is available through the Academic Intervention Program. Student Assistance recognizes the unique concerns of adult and returning students.
Student Assistance provides academic support at the Downtown Center through developmental coursework, workshops, classroom presentations, and one-on-one advising to conquer academic hurdles. A study group clearing house, tutoring referral, learning labs, and a computer lab are also available. Academic and personal counseling, crisis intervention and resource referrals are available when these issues intrude on academic success.
Student Assistance provides personalized career advice based on your personal goals and job market information. Career search, interest assessment, and job market information are available on-line and through regularly updated computer programs and publications. Counselors provide support in learning job acquisition skills (resume writing, interviewing, web search). Cooperation and communication with campus Career Center, TVC workforce development programs, and program specific community advisory boards assure a broad base of support for students as they plan their move from college to career.
The Learning Center is the hub of TVC's Student Assistance and provides services that contribute to a successful learning experience and transition to a career. The center features a computer lab with current applications and learning programs, academic assessment and advising, learning support that includes math and writing labs, workshops and individual instruction in study skills, and a study group clearing house. Students can also access many main campus services at the Learning Center through a kiosk. The Learning Center houses the Project College and Career, academic advisors, the career counselor and developmental faculty.
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.
The Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (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.
Student Assistance and Developmental Studies provide learning labs at the UAF Downtown Center and in the Gruening Building. Labs provide tutoring and small group instruction for students taking developmental or vocational math and writing courses. Tutoring in vocational courses is available as demand warrants. Learning labs supplement and support student learning as well as improve and expand students' learning skills in math and writing. For information contact the Learning Center, telephone (907) 474-1151.
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 and statistics 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, (907) 474-5314.