Events & programs

Student Support Services staff and students on a hike

Programs

UAF provides reasonable accommodation to employees, visitors, students and/or applicants with a medical condition, disability or religious requirement. This Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability accessibility webpage also provides an accessibility toolkit for inclusivity at events, training resources for live captioning and ways to report barriers.

UAF is proud to be federally designated as an ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ Native-serving institution, with over 20 percent of our student body being ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ Native and/or American Indian. Since 1965, we have worked to develop and implement a broad array of ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ Native and Indigenous programs aimed at supporting ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ Native and Indigenous student success and focused on advancing the field of Indigenous studies.

UAF's BUILD-funded Biomedical Learning and Student Training (BLaST) program enhances the capacity for undergraduate biomedical research training and efficacy for engaging students from diverse, especially rural ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥n, backgrounds in education and training for biomedical research careers. Learn more about .
Faculty development at UAF is conducted by a team of three, each representing and advocating for faculty development in their areas. Provost Anupma Prakash established this team in 2018 as a way to provide a broad range of development opportunities to the tripartite faculty at UAF. To connect or provide suggestions to this team, visit the .
is a UAF student-organized, volunteer-powered radio station with diverse radio programs and blogs on their website. Check out their calendar to see what is up next!

creates radio and television programming that is thought-provoking, trustworthy and even life changing â€” connecting ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ to the world and the world to ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥.

"We tell stories that would otherwise go untold. We bring awareness to issues that would otherwise go overlooked. We present performances that would otherwise be inaccessible. We educate every generation." — 2019 KUAC local content and service report to the community

LION is a collective, community-based response to the ongoing situation of limited access to education opportunities in carceral institutions across the state. was co-founded by partners at UAF eCampus, UAF’s Writing Program, Blossom House, and correctional centers across the state, connecting learners in the university, correctional and reentry communities.

UAF is a university where EVERYONE is welcome and EVERYONE belongs. All members of the UAF community are entitled to learn, live and work in an environment free from sex and gender-based discrimination. Check out how UAF fosters gender diversity and inclusion on the LGBTQ+ Inclusion page. Gender inclusion and Safe Zone training can be located on the Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability training page.

Living Learning Communities bring together students with similar identities, values or needs, and faculty and staff who support your experience within the residence halls. A successful college experience looks different for every student, and we offer programs to appeal to a diverse set of interests and structure them so students are given opportunities to adjust to UAF academically as well as socially. Learn more about Residence Life Living Learning Communities.

UAF is a military friendly college that offers in-state tuition, credits for military training, VA educational benefits advising and other resources. We're also ranked as one of America’s Best Military Friendly Online Colleges. Learn more about Military and Veteran Services.

The Nanook Brotherhood Project, a collaboration between UAF Student Affairs and the Honors College to improve educational outcomes and close the equity gap for men of color at UAF, was launched in 2018. The project offers men of all backgrounds the opportunity to develop leadership skills through scholarship, service, community engagement and professional development. 

NDAC provides a welcoming space, educational programming and opportunities focused mainly on students to transform social concerns into action. To engage and connect, go to the NDAC website or for scheduled events.

[Details forthcoming]

At UAF, we define health as a state of individual and community well-being that encompasses not only physical health but also mental, behavioral, emotional, cultural and spiritual health. One Health employs an interdisciplinary approach to problems. By seeking to treat root causes, it’s often more successful than traditional methods that focus on symptoms. The One Health paradigm has been endorsed by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Medical Association, the World Health Organization, the United Nations and the Arctic Council.

Students:

In supporting students' success and equal access to education, programs and services, UAF provides reasonable accommodations and adjustments related to pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these or other related medical conditions. These accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis and depend on the medical needs of the student.

Employees:

In supporting employees' success and equal access to employment, programs and services, UAF provides reasonable accommodations and adjustments related to pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these or other related medical conditions. These accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis and depend on the medical needs of the employee.

For more information, visit the Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability pregnancy and parenting webpage.

The ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ promotes and engages in many programs, events and activities that involve minors at all campuses. Minors' protection and safety is the highest priority for UAF and its departments. For more information, go to the UAF Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management website.
Share, Learn, Grow is a resource where you can find and share books, articles, documentaries, podcasts, conferences, performances, and more on topics related to equity, inclusion, access and diversity.
UAF Student Support Services, as a Federal TRiO Student Support Services program, offers help with tutoring, mentoring, course selection, financial aid, career advising and more, serving first-generation college students, students with disabilities and low-income students.
The Commons serves as an inclusive and diverse gathering space for the UAF faith community, recognizing and celebrating the needs of students. The space is used for meditative purposes, prayer, reflection, and other spiritual practices. Group meetings can take place as long as The Commons has been reserved in advance. 
is a physical and online space on the Troth Yeddha' campus dedicated to activities promoting the happiness and wellbeing of students, staff and faculty. 
Women in Engineering provides opportunities for networking, mentorship, and professional development to help women succeed and thrive in their careers. This program is lead by the UAF College of Engineering and Mines.

UAF student posing with an oversize picture frame to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day

Events & traditions

The hosts a Chinese Lunar New Year celebration in January or February every year. This celebration marks the beginning of a new lunar year and provides an opportunity to expel bad luck and usher in good luck.

The Namaste India Student Chapter at the ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ hosts a Diwali celebration each fall. Diwali is a vibrant festival observed in India. It celebrates the victory of good over evil and knowledge over darkness. Connect with Namaste India through the or .

The Festival of Native Arts provides cultural education and sharing through traditional Native dance, music and arts. The festival brings together artists, performers and performance groups in a celebration of Native cultures, continuing a student-led tradition that began in 1973.

FemCon is a weekend long inclusive celebration of femininity, its power and its potential. This yearly collection of events opens a space for everyone to define and understand their femininity, observe and connect with strong femme role models, and learn how their leadership potential intersects with their identities. For more information, visit the Nanook Diversity and Action Center’s (NDAC) website or check out their to see what kind of events you might expect in the future!
During the First-Generation Cording Ceremony each spring, first-generation graduates are given a teal honor cord to wear during UAF's commencement ceremony to signify that they are the first in their family to graduate with a bachelor's degree. This event is sponsored by Nanook Diversity and Action Center and Student Support Services. You can

In 2017, the ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ celebrated Indigenous Peoples' Day for the first time. Indigenous Peoples' Day honors ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ Native people, culture and knowledge. The unanimous support for this special day acknowledges how the contributions of ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ Native peoples and Indigenous knowledge enhance education provided by the University of ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥. Indigenous Peoples' Day is recognized on the second Monday of October. To learn more, visit the College of Indigenous Studies's Indigenous Peoples' Day page.

Lavender Graduation is a cultural celebration that recognizes LGBTQ2IA+ students of all races and ethnicities and acknowledges their achievements and contributions to the university. Visit Nanook Diversity and Action Center's website for more information or check out .
The month of June is LGBTQ2IA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit, intersex, asexual, plus) Pride Month! During Pride Month, Nanook Diversity and Action Center (NDAC) organizes various speakers, activities and other events. For more information, visit the NDAC website or check out their page to see what kind of events you might be able to expect in 2021!

Shine a Light: Promoting Conversation on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Northwest Campus, in partnership with UAF's Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability and Nanook Diversity & Action Center, is excited to present this speaker series.

These sessions seek to encourage understanding, build empathy, and engage us all in thinking critically about our world views. Join us virtually on the last Monday of every month for a new speaker and topic. Sessions will be recorded and posted on the Shine a Light webpage.

SpringFest is one of UAF's four core Traditions. It celebrates the end of winter and provides a weekend of fun activities to help students decompress before final exams.

Starvation Gulch is one of UAF's four core Traditions. Every fall, student groups compete to build creative wooden structures which are then set ablaze. The impressive bonfires symbolize passing the torch of knowledge to new incoming students. Starvation Gulch has been a part of the student experience at UAF since 1923.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge Talks (TEK Talks) is a lecture series developed by two graduate students from UAF's Geophysical Institute (GI) and International Arctic Research Center (IARC). TEK Talks strive to foster understanding among scientists regarding working with Indigenous People. Learn more about .
During the Trailblazer Recognition Ceremony each spring, we celebrate the achievements of first-gen students who are receiving post-secondary credentials up from occupational endorsements to associate's degrees. Trailblazer graduates are given an orange honor cord to wear during UAF’s commencement ceremony to signify that they are the first in their family to graduate with these credentials.
TRiO Day celebrates the achievements of current and past TRiO students and supporters of TRiO Programs. TRIO includes programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities. Check out the to see what kind of events you might expect in 2021!
Winter Carnival is one of UAF's four core Traditions. It's a way to 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.

To find more events and traditions, go to Student Activities' Nanook Traditions page. If you have UAF traditions that you would like us to highlight, please submit details in the suggestion box.