New Office of Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies opens

October 14, 2020

UAF is pleased to announce the opening of the Office of Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies. UIS is housed in 218 Eielson and serves undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing custom bachelor’s or associate degrees through the Interdisciplinary Goals option. This program allows students to adapt the academic plan to their interests and professional goals choosing courses and faculty mentors.

UIS also operates the UAF Degree Completion program, which works with students to find a path to graduation with efficiency and focus on post-graduation planning.

John Smelter has been appointed director of UIS. Smelter has 10 years of experience working at UAF in the Office of Admissions, the Registrar’s Office and the Academic Advising Center, and he has also been an instructor of art. He has extensive experience working with transfer students, nontraditional students and international students.

Smelter has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania and a Master of Fine Arts degree from UAF in ceramics. He is an advocate for interdisciplinary thinking, especially combining STEM fields with the arts and humanities. He has overseen the degree completion program since 2016 and the interdisciplinary goals program since 2017.

Ellarae Miner, degree completion advisor, brings experience from Graduation Services, the College of Rural and Community Development, and Student Support Services at UAF. Joining Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies in 2019 offered an opportunity to work with students in novel contexts, and can help facilitate individualized student achievement and support UAF's continued excellence.

Learn more about undergraduate interdisciplinary studies online. UAF also has master’s and doctoral degrees in interdisciplinary studies, which are housed in the Graduate School.