UAF hosts University of the Arctic

Submitted by Rick Caulfield
Phone: (907) 474-5573
05/11/04

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is hosting the University of the Arctic (UArctic) governing council on the Fairbanks campus from May 16-19, 2004. UArctic organizes a broad range of programs in partnership with member institutions located in Canada, the United States, Iceland, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

A bachelor’s degree in Circumpolar Studies is available both online and locally at member institutions. UAF has been a UArctic member since its early planning stages and hosted the first ever meeting of the Interim Council of the University of the Arctic in 1998. UAF is an active member of UArctic, with faculty and students involved in online circumpolar teaching, Ph.D. field courses in social and environmental sciences and study abroad opportunities at dozens of circumpolar universities and colleges.

"We’re excited about hosting council members for the May meeting," said Rick Caulfield, associate dean of the College of Rural Alaska and UAF’s representative to the governing council. "Our participation highlights UAF’s importance as a leading circumpolar university and invites future collaboration in economic development, indigenous and northern studies and northern research."

Several council members will also participate in a one-day Indigenous Higher Education Colloquium on May 15, sponsored jointly by UArctic and the Consortium of Alaska Native Higher Education (CANHE).

CONTACT: Rick Caulfield at (907) 474-5573 or e-mail ffrac@uaf.edu or visit http://www.uarctic.org for more information.