Nanook Traditions

Starvation Gulch
Huge bonfires kick off the school year and serve as a symbol of the passing of the torch of knowledge to new students. Starvation Gulch is UAF’s oldest tradition, dating back to 1924

Winter Carnival
Break the monotony of the Fairbanks winter with invigorating and entertaining activities in February ranging from ice climbing to dog mushing and everything in between.

SpringFest
Celebrate the end of the year with a watermelon drop, mud volleyball, Field Day and more! SpringFest is a great way to relax and let off a little stress before finals.

Leadership Development

The Student Leadership and Involvement Program supports leadership development by creating and supporting a rich variety of leadership and volunteer opportunities for UAF students, from student leadership conferences to Alternative Spring Break.

The Student Leadership and Involvement program also provide students an opportunity to graduate with leadership honors via  Co-Curricular Opportunities for Leadership Development (COLD) Certificates. The COLD Experience will allow participants to advance their knowledge and skills with regard to effective intellectual and cultural leadership. In addition, this co-curricular certificate program will encourage students to be more productive thinkers and to become more civically engaged.

Live on Campus

Living on campus is not only convenient and affordable, it’s a great way to find a home within the university community and make new friends. National research also shows that students who live on campus do better in their classes and graduate sooner than their peers living off campus.

UAF’s residence halls vary in size from the 320-resident Moore Hall to Sustainable Village with just 16 residents. More info at Residential Life.

Benefits of living on campus:

• Academic Success    
  According to research, on-campus students do better academically than their peers who live off-campus. Nationally, as well as at UAF, students who live on campus persist in school and have a higher graduation rate than those who do not. On-campus students find it easier to take advantage of academic assistance services and also get increased motivation by working alongside their peers.
• Safety and Security
  Residence halls are locked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Residents are issued a PolarExpress card, which grants them entrance to their residence hall. Guests and visitors must be escorted at all times. Exterior entrances to halls are checked nightly by Security Officers. Professional Staff live in each building and resident assistants are on duty each night. Safety awareness  programs and evacuation drills occur each semester.
• Convenience
  Students are within walking distance of classrooms, Rasmuson Library, Wood Center Student Union, Dine Forty-Nine cafeteria, and the Student Recreation Center.
• All-Inclusive Cost    
  Living on campus is often more economical than living off campus. There is no worry about monthly bills — students pay only once a semester! Services such as high-speed internet, cable, water, and electricity are included in this total cost.
• Caring Staff
  Trained, and professional staff care about each student’s experience at UAF. Staff also provide resources, support and programming to enhance the student experience.
• Leadership Development
  Beginning in their freshman year, many students build their resume by working for Residence Life or other campus departments. Students learn problem-solving skills and sustainable practices to follow as they are encouraged to take personal responsibility for their community.
• Connections
  On-campus students get the opportunity to interact on a deeper level with a diverse group of their peers, forming friendships and memories that last a lifetime.

Student Government

The Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (ASUAF) runs service departments and programs dedicated to the interests and welfare of UAF students. ASUAF represents UAF students to the university administration, the board of regents and the Alaska Legislature. Officers are selected by the student body in elections held every fall and spring semester.

Recreation, Adventure and Wellness

The Department of Recreation, Adventure and Wellness provides the university community with opportunities and facilities to lead active, healthy lifestyles through sport and recreation on campus and out in the beautiful wilderness of Alaska.

• Intramural Sports
• Outdoor Adventures
• Student Recreation Center
• Patty Center – Pool and Ice Arena
• Wilderness Welcome

Campus Media

UAF has a variety of media outlets to keep students and staff informed and entertained as well as offering opportunities for volunteering. Students produce the weekly Sun Star newspaper and run KSUA, the campus radio station — winner of an MTV Woodie Award! Public broadcasting stations KUAC FM and TV, the first public stations in the state, are headquartered at UAF.

• Sun Star Student Student Newspaper
• KSUA Student Radio
• Cornerstone – UAF News and Information
• KUAC FM and TV – Public Radio and Television

The Nanook Diversity and Action Center  (NDAC)  ) provides a welcoming space for all members of the UAF community and offers  educational programming and other opportunities to transform social concerns into action.

The Nanook Diversity and Action Center is guided by a student group, the Nanook DIversity, and Action Council, and works closely with UAF Green Dot and the Resource and Advocacy Center to raise awareness about sexual violence and prevent power-based personal violence.

Check out the NDAC calendar for upcoming events and programs.