Academics and Regulations
UAF students are subject to the Student Code of Conduct. In accordance with Board of Regents’ Policy 09.02.01, UAF will maintain an academic environment in which the freedom to teach, conduct research, learn and administer the university is protected. Students will enjoy maximum benefit from this environment by accepting responsibilities commensurate with their role in the academic community. The principles of the code are designed to facilitate communication, foster academic integrity and defend freedoms of inquiry, discussion and expression among members of the university community.
UAF requires students to conduct themselves honestly and responsibly, and to respect the rights of others. Conduct that unreasonably interferes with the learning environment or that violates the rights of others is prohibited. Students and student organizations will be responsible for ensuring that they and their guests comply with the Code while on property owned or controlled by the university or at activities authorized by the university.
The university may initiate disciplinary action and impose disciplinary sanctions against any student or student organization found responsible for committing, attempting to commit or intentionally assisting in the commission of any of the following prohibited forms of conduct:
- cheating, plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty
- forgery, falsification, alteration or misuse of documents, funds or property
- damage or destruction of property
- theft of property or services
- harassment
- endangerment, assault or infliction of physical harm
- disruptive or obstructive actions
- misuse of firearms, explosives, weapons, dangerous devices or dangerous chemicals
- failure to comply with university directives
- misuse of alcohol or other intoxicants or drugs
- violation of published university policies, regulations, rules or procedures
- any other actions that result in unreasonable interference with the learning environment or the rights of others.
This list is not intended to define prohibited conduct in exhaustive terms, but rather to set forth examples to serve as guidelines for acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
Honesty is a primary responsibility of you and every other UAF student. The following are common guidelines regarding academic integrity:
- Students will not collaborate on any quizzes, in-class exams, or take-home exams that will contribute to their grade in a course, unless the instructor of the course grants permission. Only those materials permitted by the instructor may be used to assist in quizzes and examinations.
- Students will not represent the work of others as their own. A student will attribute the source of information not original with himself or herself (direct quotes or paraphrases) in compositions, theses, and other reports.
- No work submitted for one course may be submitted for credit in another course without the explicit approval of both instructors.
Alleged violations of the Code of Conduct will be reviewed in accordance with procedures specified in regents’ policy, university regulations and UAF rules and procedures. For additional information and details about the Student Code of Conduct, contact the dean of student affairs, visit www.alaska.edu/bor/ or refer to the student handbook that is printed in the back of the class schedule for each semester. Students are encouraged to review the entire code.
Student Behavioral Standards
Education at the university is conceived as training for citizenship as well as for personal self-improvement and development. Generally, UAF behavioral regulations are designed to help you work efficiently in courses and live responsibly in the campus environment. They are not designed to ignore your individuality but rather to encourage you to exercise self-discipline and accept your social responsibility. These regulations, in most instances, were developed jointly by staff and students. You should become familiar with campus policies and regulations as published in the student handbook.
Access to Records
Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), you are entitled, as a UAF student, to review your records. Except for directory information, no personally identifiable information is disclosed to agencies outside UAF without the written permission of the student. Records are made available for legitimate UAF professional use on a need-to-know basis.
Directory Information
Directory information is disclosed to the public on a routine basis unless you request, in writing to the university registrar, that such information not be released. Forms to request directory information not be released are available in the registrar’s office. You must complete this form each semester. No directory information is released during the first five working days of each semester. After that, information will be released when appropriate, unless you return the form to the registrar’s office. The following is considered directory information:
- Name
- Address, telephone
- Home address (permanent)
- Weight and height of students on athletic teams
- Date of birth
- Dates of attendance and current class standing
- Major field(s) of study
- Degrees and awards received, including dates
- Participation in officially recognized activities
- Chancellor’s list and dean’s list recognition each semester
UAF now uses e-mail to communicate with students in respect to many important matters. The university automatically assigns each student an official UAF e-mail account (except students whose primary registration is through Bristol Bay, Chukchi, Interior-Aleutians, Kuskokwim or Northwest campuses). You are responsible for knowing, and when appropriate, acting on the contents of all university communications sent to your official UAF e-mail account. If you want to receive university communications at a different e-mail address, you must forward e-mail from your assigned UAF account to an e-mail address of your choice. You can easily do this online at: https://www.uaf.edu/dcc/helpdesk/docs/usermin/mail.forward.html.
You may declare a major when you are admitted as a degree-seeking undergraduate student to UAF. If you do not follow a curriculum leading to a specific degree you will be enrolled as a general studies student.
Associate degree or certificate students wishing to declare a baccalaureate degree major must complete the admission process for bachelor’s degree programs. (See admission requirements in the How to Earn a Baccalaureate Degree.)
Non-degree students are not eligible to declare a major or to be assigned class standing.
Change of Major
Undergraduate students — You may change your major by completing an undergraduate change of major form, available from the registrar’s office. A change of major becomes effective only at the beginning of a semester. A change of major form submitted after the registration period becomes effective at the beginning of the next semester.
Graduate students — Graduate students may use a graduate change of major form only when the areas of emphasis or the degree are within the same department (e.g., from an M.A. in anthropology to a Ph.D. in anthropology, or from a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology to a Ph.D. in environmental chemistry). If you wish to change to a program in a different department, school or college (e.g., from an M.S. in civil engineering to an M.S. in biology), you must submit a new application for admission so that the faculty responsible for the new degree program may fully review the credentials. For more information, contact the Graduate School at (907) 474-7464.
Undergraduate students only — Deviations from academic requirements and regulations for undergraduate students must be approved by academic petition. If you submit a petition on the basis of a disability, the coordinator of disability services will be consulted. You may obtain petition forms from the registrar’s office, and you must return the forms to the registrar’s office with the required signatures. There are three types of petitions:
- Core Curriculum Petitions. If your petition deals with baccalaureate core requirements, have it approved by your advisor and the head of the department of the academic area involved. The registrar’s office will forward the petition to the chair of the core review committee for final approval.
- Major or Minor Degree Requirement Petitions. If you wish to waive or substitute courses in your major or minor, you will need the signatures of your advisor and of the department or program head of your major or minor area. The completed petition must be turned it to the registrar’s office.
- Petitions for Other Requirements. If your petition deals with general university and/or specific requirements for your degree or other academic policies, you must obtain approval from your advisor and the dean or director of the college or school in which your major is located. The registrar’s office will forward the petition to the provost for final approval.
The registrar’s office will notify you when your petition has been approved.
Exceptions to Degree Requirements
Graduate students only — Graduate students may request an exception to a degree requirement, policy, procedure or deadline. The request must be in a memorandum explaining the extenuating or unusual circumstances warranting the exception. The request must be approved by your advisory committee, department head and dean and must be submitted to the Graduate School.
Reserving Courses for Graduate Programs
Undergraduate students only — Seniors who have only a few remaining requirements for a bachelor’s degree may take courses at the 400-level or graduate level and have them reserved for an advanced degree. To do this, you must be in your final year of an undergraduate program. You must submit a written petition during the first four weeks of the semester identifying which courses taken that semester are to be reserved for graduate study and not counted toward your bachelor’s degree. (Reserving courses does not, however, assure that a graduate advisory committee will accept them as part of your eventual graduate program.)
Students’ Rights and Responsibilities
The university subscribes to principles of due process and fair hearings as specified in the "Joint Statement on Rights and Freedoms of Students.” This document can be found in the Office of Student Affairs. You are encouraged to read it carefully.
Most students adjust easily to the privileges and responsibilities of university citizenship. The university attempts to provide counsel for those who find the adjustment more difficult. The institution may terminate enrollment or take other necessary and appropriate action in cases where a student is unable or unwilling to assume the social responsibilities of citizenship in the university community.