Module 8 – Academic Planning
Finish Strong!
Congratulations! You’ve taken your first big steps here at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Now that classes have started, it’s a good time to revisit your priorities and make sure you’re balancing your academics with all of the other obligations in your life. Booker T. Washington once said, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.” Remember, it’s not how you start a race, it’s how you finish.
Take Care of Yourself
Beginning college is a major life change, and it’s important to make sure you’re taking care of yourself. Research shows that the first six weeks of a college student’s first semester is one of the most important time periods of a student’s entire time in college. This is a time when you’re setting the stage for your future success as a college student.
It’s important to make sure you are making good choices. It’s easier to establish good habits than it is to break bad ones. Watch the video to the right and click on each of these eight dimensions of wellness to learn more and get some tips on how to make sure you’re setting yourself up for success.
Eight Dimensions of Wellness
Environmental
Work to keep your living space clean and tidy, find a well-lit place free from distractions to study, surround yourself with things you enjoy – art, plants, photos of family members, etc.
Intellectual
Take classes that stimulate your mind, read books for pleasure, go to lectures by prominent thinkers and researchers, take an art or theater or literature class to exercise your creativity.
Physical
Take care of your body by eating well and getting some exercise. Find and maintain a regular sleep schedule, drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol and other drugs.
Occupational
Discover the kind of work that fulfills you, set realistic career goals and make a plan to achieve those goals, volunteer in your community, develop effective communication and conflict management skills.
Spiritual
Reflect on your values and what brings meaning to your life. Meditate, pray, explore religious faiths and philosophies. Think about your place in the world and how you can work to create the world you want to live in.
Social
Reflect on your social needs, keep in touch with supportive friends and family, join a club or organization, get involved in your community.
Financial
Develop and stick to a budget, keep organized records of your finances, keep track of your spending, save for emergencies.
Emotional
Smile, laugh, ask for help, practice gratitude, accept mistakes and learn from them. Be mindful, focus on the positive, strengthen relationships with people who support you, find ways to manage your stress.
Start Planning for Your Career Now
It’s never too soon to begin thinking about what comes after you earn your degree.
Completing an internship or practicum or job shadowing are great ways to get some hands-on experience in your chosen career field. Talk with your advisor and professors about possible internships, and spend some time developing a relationship with instructors who may be able to give you a positive reference for internship or job applications.
UAF Career Services is focused on helping students prepare for their career through:
- Resume & cover letter assistance
- Career interest assessments
- Student employment information
- Employer information
- Job fairs
- Career counseling
- Job shadowing
- Mock interviews
Thanks to UAF Career Services, UAF students have access to online resources – including podcasts and web tutorials – provided by the College Central Network. Click the link to navigate to the network. Create an account to access online resources for writing resumes and cover letters, interview tips and much more.
Contact UAF Career Services / 907-474-7596 / uaf-career@alaska.edu
Track Your Degree Progress
DegreeWorks is your tool to stay on track toward getting your degree. DegreeWorks lets students view progress toward a degree, run a degree audit, see how completed courses apply to graduation requirements and determine how completed courses might be used toward a different major.
Use DegreeWorks to see how far you’ve come and how far you’ll need to go to reach your graduate goals. Be sure to work with your academic advisor to make sure you’re taking the right courses for your degree program.
How to log in:
- Log in at https://uaonline.alaska.edu
- Click on the Student Services & Account Information link
- Click DegreeWorks/Electronic Degree Audit
- Click on the UAF logo to access UAF DegreeWorks
Watch a video tutorial about how to use DegreeWorks.
Having trouble logging into UAOnline?
Watch a video tutorial about UAOnline login procedures.
Thinking of changing your major?
Use the “What if” option – DegreeWorks allows you to determine which classes you have taken that can count toward a different degree program of your choosing. By using the “What If’ option, DegreeWorks will generate a new audit for you. This new audit will show you how close you are to graduation if you were to switch programs. Feel free to use it as much as you like, as it will not interfere with your current audit.
More questions?
Read DegreeWorks’ most frequently asked questions, or contact someone in the Office of Admissions and the Registrar for assistance. Always work with your academic advisor when planning your coursework and graduation. Use the directory people.alaska.edu to find faculty or staff or departments.
TO COMPLETE THIS MODULE
UAF New Student Orientation
(907) 474-7500 - 800-478-1823
uaf-orientation@alaska.edu
UAF eCampus
(907) 455-2060 - 800-277-8060
uaf-ecampus@alaska.edu
