Friday Focus: Advancing UAF’s strategic goals

Sept. 20, 2024

— By Tom Hough, executive director of University Advancement

Last week, Chancellor White hosted his 2024 convocation, which serves as a welcome back to our students, faculty and staff at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In his remarks, he mentioned several initiatives such as the Troth Yeddha’ Indigenous Studies Center, a new arena to support UAF hockey and the Fairbanks community, and UAF’s efforts to achieve designation as an R1 research university. Today I would like to take the opportunity to talk a little bit more about those strategic goals and how you can help.

Let’s start with strengthening our position as global leaders in Alaska Native and Indigenous programs. Last week during convocation, we had a live poll asking our audience of 500+ UAF students, faculty and staff what new building they were most excited about. Out of six choices, our audience overwhelmingly selected the Troth Yeddha’ Indigenous Studies Center.

UAF students, faculty and staff get it: With nearly a quarter of our students identifying as Indigenous, UAF is well-positioned to be a leader in this area. The Troth Yeddha’ Indigenous Studies Center is the next step in that journey. We need your help to build it. We are in the midst of a major fundraising campaign. Visit the Troth Yeddha’ Initiative website to see the vision and help us tell the story. Please share with your friends and family who are interested in getting involved.

Another priority is a new home for Nanook hockey on campus which is a part of our goal to modernize the student experience. Fairbanks loves hockey and the University of Alaska Fairbanks is a big piece of our hockey community. We have local youth, high school and adult teams, and a new UAF club hockey program. UAF’s NCAA Division I hockey program is part of the UAF student experience. This year, we will again pack the Carlson Center with over 4,000 Nanooks fans. In the coming years, we need to invest in a new arena on the UAF campus. Even if hockey isn’t your game, a new arena will continue to build UAF’s reputation and provide another facility to support the Fairbanks community. It will also allow the Fairbanks community to reclaim the largest indoor climate-controlled space in town for uses other than hockey.

Finally, “Be the 1 in R1” was the message from Chancellor White during convocation. UAF’s third strategic goal is to achieve R1 research status. While preparing for convocation, my team heard from students, faculty and staff ready to join our race to R1. See for yourself by watching the video we created. I hope you will be the 1 in R1!

From the Troth Yeddha’ Indigenous Studies Center to achieving R1 status to growing our prowess as a powerhouse hockey school, UAF is on the march. We have a vision and we hope you will join us in advancing UAF’s strategic goals.

Friday Focus is written by a different member of UAF’s leadership team every week.