2.G.1 Effective Learning Environments and Student Support

Consistent with the nature of its educational programs and methods of delivery, and with a particular focus on equity and closure of equity gaps in achievement, the institution creates and maintains effective learning environments with appropriate programs and services to support student learning and success.

UAF embraces its open-access, dual-enrollment mission, offering a wide range of programs, from short-term occupational endorsements and certificates to baccalaureate and graduate degrees, with a strong emphasis on accessible pathways, including stacked credentials and articulated programs. By integrating the community college mission, UAF provides more certificates and associate degrees than are typically found at traditional baccalaureate and graduate degree-granting institutions. As a result, a priority at UAF to meet its institutional mission is to create effective learning environments and support student success. Programs and services are designed to meet the varied needs of the UAF student population, ensuring that all students, regardless of background or academic preparation, have access to resources that enable academic and personal success. The approach is codified through , which sets forth expectations for student support services; , which summarizes the responsibility and scope of student services; and , which assigns to the chancellor the responsibility of ensuring that appropriate structures and leadership are in place for the implementation of these services. These services support both on-campus students at the Troth Yeddha’ and Community and Technical ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ campuses in Fairbanks and students attending the four rural community campuses, as well as online students. Each of these community campuses offers a set of services tailored to meet specific local student needs. UAF’s mission is firmly rooted in supporting the academic success of all students. Recognizing that students come from varied cultural, economic, and academic backgrounds, UAF has developed targeted initiatives to alleviate academic attainment disparities across all learning environments for all students.  

First-generation and low-income students receive specialized support through programs such as UAF TRIO Student Support Services (SSS), which assists first-generation, low-income, and disabled students in navigating college by offering free academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, financial aid guidance, and career support. Its mission is to enhance students' self-efficacy and resilience, promoting academic success and timely graduation through a holistic, student-centered approach. The Emerging Scholars Academy, sponsored through UAF SSS, is a free, nine-day summer bridge program that helps TRIO students transition to college through academic preparation, campus experiences, and community building. Participants earn free college credits, move into the dorms early, and receive ongoing support through their first year on campus.

Alaska Native and Indigenous students are an integral part of the UAF community. Through UAF initiatives such as Rural Student Services, the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP), and the , UAF creates culturally relevant support systems. These programs provide comprehensive academic advising, mentorship, and leadership opportunities while fostering a sense of belonging and connection to Indigenous culture and heritage, helping Indigenous students navigate college life while honoring their cultural identities. At the graduate level, there are two large-scale interdisciplinary programs that support Indigenous students: the UAF Center for Cross-Cultural Studies, which integrates Indigenous knowledge into academia, and the National Science Foundation-funded program, a graduate initiative that integrates Indigenous and Western sciences to transform education and research in fisheries and marine sciences through a coproduction of knowledge approach. In addition, UAF rural campuses in Bethel, Dillingham, Kotzebue, and Nome offer culturally responsive, community-driven programs and personalized support services — such as academic advising, workforce training, and flexible course delivery — to empower Alaska Native and rural students in achieving their educational and career goals.

UAF strives to provide effective learning environments that support faculty and promote academic excellence for students. These learning environments are adaptable to the evolving needs of the UAF student population and include:

  • Faculty can work with instructional design staff on pedagogy and offer a range of flexible learning modalities, including in-person, hybrid, and fully online programs. These flexible delivery methods allow both traditional and nontraditional UAF students, with diverse geographic and personal circumstances, to access high-quality education in ways that best fit their needs. The UAF Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) also hosts the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), originally designed to address high DFWI rates (D, F, withdraw or incomplete marks)  in popular general education gateway courses. Subsequent SoTL cohorts have focused on hybrid/hyflex teaching and academic writing in the context of artificial intelligence. In these cohorts, faculty apply their expertise as researchers to their classrooms with students as co-collaborators and researchers. 
  • On-campus first-year students with shared identities, values, or interests come together through UAF Residence Life to form living-learning communities (LLCs) that foster strong peer connections and deeper engagement within the university. These LLCs are designed to cater to a wide array of interests, providing opportunities for both academic and social adjustment to university life. 

UAF provides a comprehensive suite of student support services that are designed to promote holistic student success. Examples of these offices, efforts, and initiatives include:

  • is dedicated to equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and connections necessary for success in their college journeys. NSO works with various departments across the university to provide a comprehensive and personalized onboarding experience, providing programming for incoming first-year students and their families and supporting programming for transfer, international, graduate, and online students. All students are required to complete modules covering student life, academics, financial matters, the campus community, and wellbeing support, to gain valuable just-in-time information that will aid their transition to UAF.
  • The UAF Student Success Center (SSC) is a centralized hub that brings together academic advising, career services, academic tutoring in mathematics/statistics, communications, and writing, academic coaching, and , while offering a welcoming environment for students to access one-on-one assistance, group study sessions, and workshops. The SSC is located on the sixth floor of the Rasmuson Library, and the center serves as the hub for student retention and success initiatives. Embedded within the SSC, Nanook Advising helps students explore majors, plan course schedules, and stay on track toward graduation. It provides personalized support to guide students through academic decisions and university requirements.
  • Focus Forward (FF) is a holistic academic support initiative that assists students on academic warning or probation, experiencing financial aid challenges, or struggling to maintain academic momentum. The program is coordinated by SSC staff and includes active involvement from advisors, who work alongside success coaches to provide individualized guidance, structured accountability, and targeted academic planning. Through one-on-one academic coaching meetings, group advising sessions, skill-building workshops, and personalized assessments such as the STRONG career inventory, FF helps students reset their focus, strengthen academic and digital skills, and better align their coursework with long-term academic and career goals. The program emphasizes connection to advising, academic coaching, and campus resources for improving persistence, confidence, and continued progress toward degree completion.
  • Through UAF Career Services, students are prepared for life after graduation through career counseling, resume and cover letter workshops, internship placements, , and job fairs. UAF Career Services is led by a director and also includes a workforce development tutor and a student employment coordinator. The workforce development tutor provides on-site academic and career readiness support to the UAF Community and Technical ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ’s many programs. The student employment coordinator operates a satellite office in Wood Center and specializes in helping students prepare and apply for student jobs. The coordinator also works closely with departments to support the recruitment and onboarding of student employees. A new addition to Career Services is the Nanook Career Closet, where students can find professional attire for interviews, networking events, and jobs. Career Services is colocated with Nanook Advising in the SSC to better integrate career-related advising into the student experience from the start. Each academic year, Career Services organizes and hosts career fairs in the fall and spring semesters. These services are integral to ensuring that students not only succeed academically but are also prepared for meaningful careers after completing their studies. These services are also available to alumni.
  • UAF participated in the Gardner Institute's "Transforming the Foundational Postsecondary Experience" initiative, a national effort to improve student success during the critical first two years of college. This program focused on closing equity gaps by enhancing teaching practices, increasing retention, and boosting graduation rates, particularly for Pell Grant recipients and historically marginalized students. As part of this initiative, UAF has implemented a restructured first-year advising model to provide more equitable and effective student support and has worked with instructors of courses with high DFWI rates to improve student success. UAF discontinued the initiative in August 2025 after determining it lacked sufficient community confidence and administrative support, particularly following changes in institutional leadership that shifted campus priorities.
  • The Student CARE (Connect, Advocate, Refer, Educate) Team provides support and intervention for students facing well-being concerns, such as health issues, emergencies, or sudden life changes, ensuring they feel safe and valued by UAF while remaining productive in their studies. This team collaborates with faculty and staff to offer comprehensive care, empowering students to overcome challenges and achieve success. 
  • The UAF Financial Aid Office assists students with accessing funding through grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs. Office staff guide students through the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and other financial aid applications. The office also supports financial planning to make college more affordable and manageable.
  • The UAF Office of Disability Services provides essential support to ensure equal access to academic courses, programs, facilities, services, and opportunities for all university students. Through a collaborative and interactive accommodation process, the office facilitates equitable academic success from enrollment to graduation. Services and accommodations are available to distance education students, students attending on the Fairbanks campus, and those attending UAF’s community and rural campuses. Disability Services is committed to supporting individual needs, promoting independence, and recognizing academic achievement as a part of a broader effort to foster an inclusive educational environment. 
  • The Department of Military and Veteran Services (DMVS) supports military-connected students throughout their pursuit of higher education at UAF. The department specializes in assisting these students with accessing veteran education benefits, military tuition assistance, and credentialing. DMVS has satellite offices at Fort Wainwright and Eielson Air Force Base that offer service members and their families easy access to opportunities at UAF. These satellite offices provide benefits, advising services, connections to educational resources, enrollment support, select in-person courses, and testing services. DMVS has the secondary role of assisting staff and faculty in developing and capitalizing on opportunities that advance UAF’s relationships and interests with military and community partners.
  • The UAF William Ransom Wood Center serves as the campus's vibrant student union, offering dining options, recreational facilities, and spaces for student organizations and events. It houses amenities such as the Dine 49 cafeteria, Arctic Java coffee shop, an eight-lane bowling alley, pool tables, and the Alaska Esports Center, catering to a wide range of student interests. As a central hub, the Wood Center fosters community engagement and student involvement throughout the academic year. Key student-centered elements of the Wood Center include:
  • The Associated Students of the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ (ASUAF) plays a central role in fostering an inclusive and effective learning environment by advocating for student interests and offering a variety of support services. ASUAF provides free legal consultations through its Legal Services Program and allocates funding for student organizations, events, and initiatives that promote engagement, leadership, and equity. In addition, ASUAF supports Student Media, which includes The Sun Star, UAF’s student-run news outlet, KSUA 91.5 FM, the student-operated radio station, and Concert Board, the live entertainment scheduling team. These platforms offer hands-on experience in journalism, broadcasting, and scheduling, giving students valuable opportunities to develop professional skills, express diverse perspectives, and contribute to campuswide dialogue. Together, these services enrich the student experience, support academic and personal success, and help address equity gaps in meaningful ways.
  • is the UAF central platform for student involvement, connecting students to campus clubs, events, and organizations through a user-friendly website and mobile app. By logging in with UA credentials, students can explore upcoming activities, RSVP for events, and receive personalized updates on opportunities that match their interests. This tool fosters a vibrant campus community by making it easy for students to engage with peers, discover new interests, and stay informed about what's happening at UAF.
  • The Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activity (URSA) is the university’s resource for developing and promoting experiential learning activities that engage undergraduate students and support UAF's goal to become a leading student-focused research university. URSA aims, at all levels, to improve skills in critical thinking and communication, to engender a culture of lifelong learning among all students, and to enhance the preparation and education of students who will meet the needs of Alaska’s 21st-century workforce and society (mission & vision statements). As such, URSA commits to organizing an annual cycle of competitive funding in support of mentored undergraduate projects and student travel and internship opportunities (see past award recipients). In addition to funding structures, URSA also organizes supportive programming, including mentor-student project mixers, , and development workshops for UAF mentors.
  • The UAF Honors ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ provides high-impact learning experiences and tailored support for academically motivated students from all majors, with a focus on access, interdisciplinary learning, and leadership development. Through intensive field courses, undergraduate research opportunities, and a living-learning community, the college cultivates an inclusive environment where students can thrive academically and personally. Targeted advising, faculty mentorship, special sections of GER courses, and student-driven capstone projects empower students to connect their education to real-world challenges, particularly in the Arctic and sub-Arctic contexts. The Honors ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ also offers tracks such as the Climate Scholars Program, designed to engage diverse students in solutions-focused learning and public scholarship. 
  • The Study Away Program offers students hundreds of options for incorporating a semester or year at another U.S. or international university into their UAF degree program. Students who participate in an approved program continue to receive most or all of their normal financial aid and scholarships, and support is provided to preapprove host institution courses that count toward degree progress. Exchange opportunities within the U.S. are provided through membership in the program. International study abroad opportunities are provided through 16 bilateral exchange partnerships, membership in the , and eight study abroad provider organizations with which UAF has signed affiliation agreements. The Study Away Program office provides support to students in planning meaningful, timely, and financially accessible study abroad experiences within the context of their degree programs. Students are provided with guidance throughout the entire study away process, from initial advising and program selection to predeparture preparation and the transfer of credits upon return.
  • The UAF Graduate School (GS) oversees all graduate programs, ensuring academic excellence and supporting over 900 students pursuing master's, doctoral, and certificate degrees. It administers admissions, monitors student progress, and collaborates with faculty and departments to uphold rigorous academic standards. GS staff offer professional development, orientation, wellness events, and financial support through scholarships and fellowships, fostering both academic and personal growth. Additionally, the GS oversees the Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies program, which allows students to design customized degrees that integrate multiple disciplines to address complex challenges.
Required Evidence for 2.G.1