Making a Class Schedule

Posted by Mathew

As November approaches, many students are starting to think about next semester’s classes. On October 28, the Spring class list will be released in detail over UAOnline and UAF Course Finder, and you can start filling out your schedule in detail. In the interest of helping you have a successful and happy semester, here are some tips that I’ve learned on my journey through UAF:

1. Think ahead! Even if you’re a freshman who is thinking of changing majors, you can start putting together a long-term graduation plan. While detailed schedules are not available years in advance, you can find some helpful information on the UAF catalog’s course descriptions webpage. Make sure to become familiar with your major’s course requirements, and then look through the course listings to see what courses you need to take, what electives you would be interested in, the pre-requisites for those courses, and the semesters they’re offered for. In some cases, your major department may even provide sample graduation plans!

2. Don’t be afraid.Especially when you’re just starting out, you might try to take on too much, or take a few steps down the wrong path. That’s okay! We’re here at UAF to learn, and learning doesn’t just take place in the classroom. Remember that you can always drop or withdraw a class that gets to be too much for you. And if you find that your major isn’t quite as good as you thought it would be, don’t worry. It isn’t too late to change your mind and go down another path (just as I and most other students have done), especially if you’re early enough in your college career to be taking mostly core requirements.

3. Consider your full range of options. At UAF, you don’t haveto take all your classes in the Fall and Spring semesters. Instead, you can opt to take classes during the summer (at cheaper rates too, especially if you’re an out-of-state student) or Maymester or Wintermester – two-week intensive courses that allow you to power through a class. While the shortened length of classes in summer, Maymester, and Wintermester may look intimidating, consider that, by taking these classes, you lighten the load you need to take during the full school year and free up time in the long run.

4. Finally, have some fun! I’m a strong advocate of having fun in general, and your class schedule is just another way you can do that. Chances are, you have interests outside your major and minor. Why not take a chance to explore them? During my first year here, I took the full year’s sequence of Fundamentals of Biology I & II. This semester, I’m taking Pistol Marksmanship. As a math major and economics minor, I can’t say those classes are likely to advance my main course of study or my career. But they were fun! It’s good to be focused, but don’t let yourself forget that the world is filled with fascinating topics to explore and UAF is here to help you see some of them.

With these tips in mind, good luck! Going to college can be stressful, and sometimes classes just seem too hard. But we all have the potential to succeed, and as long as you work hard and don’t give up, you will. Just make sure to take the time to enjoy and truly learn from your classes!

Working for the student paper

Posted by Kaz

One of the many experiences available to students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks is the opportunity to become a part of the Sun Star team. The Sun Star is the UAF student newspaper. It reports on issues affecting UAF, events that take place on campus and other items that relate to the student body, staff or faculty. The Sun Star is completely operated by students and is advised by the Journalism Department. Students, of all majors, fill the positions of reporter, photographer, illustrator, copy editor and chief editor. 

This year, I am happy to work as a beat reporter for the Sun Star. I got started with the Sun Star when my roommate came home to tell me that she would be writing for the Sun Star. I thought, "Hey! That's sounds like fun!" After a quick meeting with the Editor in Chief, I was officially the ASUAF Beat Reporter. 

I spend my Sunday afternoons at our Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks senate meetings to take notes. I then write up a recap for the student body to read in the Sun Star and online at www.uaf.edu/sunstar. Sometimes, I pick up additional articles requiring me to go to events or interview people from all around campus. As a result, I'm getting to know parts of my school I never would have known about had I not taken the article.

This experience is about more than the writing though. The Sun Star team is made up of a diverse group of students. There are no positions strictly reserved for students studying Journalism. In fact, the current Editor in Chief is studying Psychology. As an Elementary Education major, I am able to bring my insights to the table and come away with many new perspectives. Reporters and editors who are studying Journalism are incredibly patient with my slow learning and are showing me how to write journalistically and how to organize my thoughts. Through the Sun Star, I am able to make some pretty interesting connections in the campus community and that is pretty cool.

I would be lying if I didn't say that there were a few downsides to this sort of experience though. There's always the potential of putting more time into a piece than you get paid for and that time might have a negative impact on your academic or social life. (I just had my first late nighter to finish up a big piece.) You might have an assigned article that digs into a potentially controversial or negative subject. You might be excited about covering an event only to find out that it wasn't what you thought it would be. 

However, once you take a piece, you should still complete it. No matter what, a learning experience is to be had. In the case of controversial issues, all anyone can do is maintain objectivity and report the facts. In the end, those late nighters are worth it!

For anyone interested in an Education degree, experiences like this can play into future classroom lessons. I am already planning on having a class newspaper that the students can put together once a month. I'll have students demonstrate their mastery of content standards in whatever form is natural to them. For instance, students with stronger artistic abilities might create a comic that explains the natural process of volcano formation! It's exciting stuff! 

Joining up!

 Posted by Grace

German Club, gathered for a Thursday night meeting.

One of my favorite things about UAF is the abundance of clubs to choose from. I'm the kind of person who enjoys being busy. There's clubs that help you learning things like German, knitting, or juggling, clubs to play like Live Action Role Playing or Chess, clubs to keep fit like Parkour, clubs to compete in competitions like Model United Nations and Steel Bridge...the possibilities are endless.

Clubs are a great place to meet people who share interests. I recently joined German Club - they're awesome! I have a bunch of people I can practice German with whenever I see them, which gives us a way to get to know each other. We do fun activities like playing German Mad Libs and baking German treats. 

Clubs can also be a good resume builder, especially competitive ones. I've been on a few in the past, but the only one I'm on now is Model United Nations. We'll be participating in a United Nations Simulation in New York City this Spring! I can't wait. Model United Nations is a club where we study current events, writing resolutions, fundraising, and diplomacy. It's a great club for anyone interested in international affairs, or who just wants to learn a little more.

These are just things I'm interested in- if I haven't mentioned something you want to do, don't fret! If you still haven't seen a club or two your interested in after the Student Organizations Fair your freshman year, start your own! I've done that a couple of times. I started the student chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, and the UAF Debate Team. The paperwork is a little annoying, but if its something you're interested in doing, its worth it. The Wood Center has plenty of advertising suggestions, and you get a certain amount of design done for free.

Midterms: The Do's and Don'ts That Will Save Your Bacon

Posted by David

Hello,

Midterms are coming up, and if you’re currently a student at UAF like myself, you’re probably groaning and scratching your head.  If you’re a prospective student you’re probably relieved you don’t have to deal with it now, but don’t worry as your time will come. Either way, these tips should help with preparing for, and more importantly, surviving finals.

   1.       DO NOT PROCRASTINATE!

Call of Duty, Smash Brothers, Halo or whatever your game of choice is will still be there when you are done studying and midterms are over. Some courses base the entirety of the grade on exams, so studying well in advance is important.

   2.       Check the weight of the exam.

Not all exams are created equally. A midterm for a class can be 5% of the total grade or 50% of the total grade, and when balancing studying for 5 separate midterms, it is important to take that into account.  Definitely take each exam seriously, regardless of weight, but when allotting time devoted to studying for each subject, it is advisable to take the academic weight of the exam into account.

   3.       Focus on Your Weaknesses.

Determine if there are any subjects that you are struggling with and devote extra time to study for them. Some classes have concepts that are more difficult to grasp than others, and it is important to take this into account when studying for midterms.

   4.       Put Facebook Away.

One might argue that this is redundant of the 1^st tip, but considering the sheer magnitude of study hours that I and others have lost to Facebook, I felt it was deserving of its own category. Social networking is advantageous at times, but the night before a midterm you’ve barely studied for is not one of those times. It is okay to take occasional breaks, but when the books are out, close that browser and post about the 95% you got on your Chem midterm later.

   5.       SLEEP!

I know, easier said than done, but believe me when I say that it is doable. Try getting the bulk of your studying done a couple nights before the actual midterm. That way, instead of cramming the night before the exam, it’s mostly just a review and then you can get 8 hours of sleep and be ready and alert the day of the midterm.

Exams are a part of college life that not many people (including myself) are particularly enthusiastic about. But as a student at UAF, I am very appreciative how helpful many of the professors are at helping students prepare for exams. Many classes offer supplemental instruction or pre-exam study sessions, and professors at UAF are really good at answering questions that students may have about the material. Overall, I would say as much as I dislike midterms, I’m thankful for the help and resources offered by UAF.

My UAF experience

Posted by Aaron

I was hesitant to go to college. I didn't want to leave my cushy lifestyle back in Juneau to attend MORE school!! Especially away from all my family and friends! But my parents had a plan for me to go to college, so really, I had no choice.

My mother and I visited UAF and UAA a year before graduating high school looking for the right college for me, with in state tuition of course... I had always thought I would like UAA more and told my mother there was no need to visit UAF, I had already made my choice. What with the cold and the... cold, Fairbanks didn't seem like the place for me. But she insisted we at least look at UAF. We landed in Fairbanks on a February winter day. If I remember right, the temperature was hovering around 9°F. We spent the day driving around Fairbanks getting a feel for it. I remember one thing I thought was cool about Fairbanks was the sun. If you have ever been in Juneau, you would know we don't see much sun or even blue sky for that matter...
The next day we went on an all day tour with one of the student ambassadors on campus, and I couldn't express to you over this blog how much my opinion had changed. The tour guide was so nice and seemed to know so much about the campus, which really helped me get a feel for it and eventually that experience convinced me to join the UAF student ambassadors myself. We walked all over campus to each building and even talked to some of the heads in the Justice department on campus (I'm a Justice major). I became hooked on UAF. 

A year later, I was packing up all my belongings, getting ready to move to UAF. "You'll love it!! I had so much fun in college! Once you get your degree, nobody can ever take that away from you," my mother told me as I was getting ready to say my goodbyes. I was nervous, but I know I would be happy with the campus I had chosen.
I had arrived to UAF about a week before classes started which gave me plenty of time to participate in the new student orientation the campus throws for first year college students. All of us broke into smaller groups and each day we did a number of different activities with our groups. While at the time, I thought it was a drag, i'm now very happy that I went to those activities. In those groups, I met some of my first friends at UAF whom I still talk to this day more than a year later. But I knew this was just the beginning. I had not felt the true college experience as classes had not started yet. DON DON DOOON.
Little did I know how interesting the classes would be. While entering my first class of the year, I thought to my self, "Here we go. Let's enjoy another few years of classes just like high school..." But as soon as the professor entered the room, I knew I was dead wrong. The professors here are not like your ordinary high school teachers. It's obvious that they have the experience to teach at a level that I had not seen before in a teacher. They also had the interest to get their students interested, another difference from previous teachers. But the thing I most noticed is their honest, genuine interest for their students to understand the material in the class. Instead of standing there spouting word after word with no confidence that it's sticking in their student's memory then handing out quizzes, these professors are whiling to look past traditional teaching methods to really teach their students. They almost plead with students to visit their office hours if they have any questions. Some even give their personal cell phone number to students in case they cannot be reached by email. They are whiling to stay after class as long as possible to answer a question to a student.
Finally, one last very important aspect of college I found cool was the students you meet. There are people from literally all over the country and even the world coming here at UAF, with different cultures and backgrounds. I love how everyone here is working towards a common goal of getting their degree and furthering their education. Instead of high school, in which everyone's common goal is to make it through the school day without passing out or skipping class. And I absolutely love the friendships that are started once you meet someone in the same major as you. In high school, I had many friends but none with the same interest in Justice as I do. Once coming to college, my world was rocked. I was not used to meeting young adults that appreciated law enforcement and justice like I did. It was pretty cool.
I think one thing I want people to take out of this blog post is that college is definitely a positive experience. Not to say I haven't had negative experiences in college and living on my own, but unfortunately, that's life. I am EXTREMELY proud of attending college and are equally proud of attending UAF. The experiences I have had here I hope to carry with me throughout my entire life. I hope nobody is hesitating to attend college, especially here at UAF. If I could go back in time, back to the hesitant Aaron, working in Juneau's Papa Murphy's Pizza and never having a thought about college, there would be almost too much to tell. I would tell him of the great times I have had my freshmen year and the fantastic people I will meet. I'll talk about the long nights of studying that I hope I'll never forget. The stressful days in class that made me strive to work hard and bring those good grades back to mom. I'll tell him how UAF professors will influence me in so many ways to become who I am today. But most of all, I will tell him how proud I am to become a Nanook, class of 2016!!!

Winter Fun

Posted by Kaz

Winter is coming...

Inevitably, we must accept that winter will arrive, the cold will try its best to keep us inside and we will try our best to fight it. Whether you are living on or off campus, UAF offers hundreds of activities to distract you from the cold. 

Over 150 clubs on campus allow students to pack every free moment with an extracurriculur if they so desired. Intramural sports pick up a few weeks into each semester to keep everyone active. Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (ASUAF) welcomes all the student involvement that it can get. The Sun Star, UAF's student newspaper, accepts students from all majors as writers, editors and photographers. The UAF Drama Department hosts auditions for plays throughout the school year and during summer sessions without giving preference to drama students. This is a place where you can do anything and everything.

This week, the process of signing up for the first session of intramurals is wrapping up. Students will be forming teams to play anything from broomball to water polo. Captains will be meeting tonight and games will start next week. Unlike the sponsored Nanook games, few people will spectate at an intramural game, especially the midnight broomball matches. Instead, the game is strictly for the players and the scores only matter when they're remembered. Intramurals are all about the activity and being able to play whatever sport you want to play. It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or a professional.

I'm no athlete but I'll play anything I can understand the rules to. I have unintentionally defended a broomball goal with my head (I was wearing a helmet) more than I have with the actual "broom."

Maybe you're not the type of person to get involved in a competitive team sport though, but like the idea? You can still get a group together and play  Student Recreation Center will allow students to reserve courts for games such as polo, volleyball, tennis, soccer and more.

Choose your sport, make a group and have some fun!

Killing Two Birds With One Stone

Posted by Bertrand

I have been in Fairbanks for 14 months now, meaning I have seen the weather all year long... I survived the winter, thumbs up. By the way, someone was joking about how Fairbanks does not have a climate; ‘it has weather instead,’ the reason being the frequent fluctuation in seasons: sometimes it will snow early in mid-September like this year (2013) other times it will not snow until November; Sometimes people will experience long Spring or Summer will break in somehow early. Either way, Fairbanks is exciting and those vacillations make it exceptional and beautiful.

Beautiful sunset around 2pm in Fairbanks December 2012 (courtesy of Bertrand)

People in Fairbanks are generally welcoming, and willing to meet new pew people. One of the frequent questions people get asked is ‘How did you end up in Alaska?’ Either born in Alaska or obviously from far away (like me: a black guy with a heavy accent in English), people will ask that question. I have heard a friend of mine being asked the same question, and guess what: he is an Eskimo.

When people ask me how I came all the way from Africa to end up in Alaska, I make it short and just say ‘adventure.’ However, I hope you will agree with me that there has to be a more convincing reason than that. I am originally from Rwanda, a country located in the heart of Africa, just 2 degrees below the Equator. The climate there is tropical and the temperature is always between 55 and 85 degrees within the city I come from, no snow no frost.

Here are the details of how I ended up in Alaska. I came in United States in 2008 to start my undergraduate studies in Electrical and Computer Engineering; it was in California at the time. During my stay in California I heard and learned a lot of things about Alaska: from the Alaska State Troopers TV show on National Geography Channel to different books that discuss Eskimo’s life. Many stories were too good to be true, I mean from my perspective:

-The northern lights that I hadn’t heard of before;

-The exciting facts about Alaska’s wild life: people mentioned seeing a bear crossing the road at day time or even seeing a moose in their own backyard;

-The big change in day light sometimes including the gain or loss up to 7 minutes of day light per day leading to a day of less than 4 hours of day light in winter versus an extended 22 hours of day light in summer and much more exciting facts…

I wanted to see those changes; I wanted to experience that life, I had heard that people keep normal life even at 50 degrees below zero; I did not believe it and I wanted to experience it. I had a long to-do list: from spending a night in an igloo, through riding a dog sled, up to standing relatively close to a wild grizzly (bear from the zoo didnot count…, this is not a brilliant idea, do not try it). Briefly, to me Alaska was that kind of place you keep in your heart and you wish you could visit before you die, no matter what it takes.

Unfortunately, I did not have enough time and financial means that could allow me to experiences all those wonders as just a tourist.

On the other side, I always wanted to pursue my studies to a graduate level; I was flexible about the choice of school. However, school with accreditation where I could do research in things I enjoy the most, with fairly good student/faculty ration were a must. I could not believe my eyes when I found out about UAF; it was a perfect fit for me, and everything I wanted even beyond was there: from research topics, faculty and facilities accessibility including modernized laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment, twenty-four hour/seven day access to instructional laboratories and much more other opportunities. Additionally; as a graduate student, I applied and was offered a teaching assistantship. From then, the choice of a school became obvious; coming to UAF was like a dream coming true. I accepted the offer, and straight came to UAF, that’s how I ended up in Alaska.

University of Alaska Fairbanks, Campus (Courtesy of Bertrand)

Pursuing my studies from a reputable school while I enjoy Alaska’s wonders has been one of the best experiences I have had in my life; it feels like killing two birds with one stone.  Stay tuned, in my next blog, I will share my outdoor-adventurous experience so far: including dog sledding, moose sighting on campus, white water rafting and bear sighting and much more.

Making a Splash In Residence Life

Posted by Nicole

(Disclaimer: All ocean-related puns are entirely intentional.)

I'm going to start out by saying I love the ocean. It's erratic and chaotic, not to mention absolutely and fascinatingly beautiful. I'm not crazy about boats or pirates or anything of the sort; however, start talking to me about the mating habits of prowling female anglerfish, the life-giving currents that circle the globe, the struggling fisheries, the ancient bacteria trapped in sea ice, or pretty much anything along those lines, and I'm hooked (pun intended).

There always bizarre events and creatures to be found there. Not only that, but the ocean connects everyone on some level; people can travel coast to coast, ship goods across the waves, or thank the turn in the ocean currents for the warm weather in a certain location. The ocean also teaches us humility—there's a whole world down there of which we have barely scratched the watery surface, and the colossal scale of the ocean can remind us how fragile and small we really are. On the flip side of that, we also gather new ideas for the future from this knowledge, and learn how we can use things as small as zooplankton to things as large as international tides for energy.  

                                      

The ocean is also ridiculously terrifying. It's brutally competitive, to the point where I know I would never ever survive as a fish—there's too many fanged alien-looking mouths out there. Consequently, the ocean is a demanding place for its inhabitants and humans alike in order to survive. Those waters are prone to trying our patience—any fisherman could attest to that fact, and researchers even more so as we struggle just to understand why things are the way they are. It's a complex place, with only more challenges appearing the more we explore it.

Have I also mentioned I work as an Resident Assistant up in the dorms? You wouldn't think the two topics are connected—the only abundance of water the land-locked UAF campus has is generally in a white frozen form. Two years ago, however, I convinced my employers as to why the same person who appreciates the watery world of the ocean should be placed into a position of authority of a campus dormitory. There are great similarities between a dorm hall and the ocean, if you're willing to dive in and take a look.

Bizarre events and creatures. There's an incredible amount of diversity in the campus dorms. Residents come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, colorful and plain, followers and leaders, quiet and assertive, artistic and mechanic, and so on and so forth. No two residents are ever the same, and a researcher would be hard-pressed to catalogue them all; the list just keeps growing.

The axolotl: the official Pokemon of the ocean.

Everyone's connected. Residents that used to live on opposite sides of the globe now live three feet apart. Not only does everyone live physically in close quarters, but as the semester continues, I've found that residents start to live mentally close as well. The mentality of being part of a community starts to sink in, and the most unlikely combinations of people become the closest friends. These people dine together, brush their teeth together, study together, cry together, laugh together, and live together in every sense of the word.

If you think you know everything, think again. My time as an RA continually reminds me about how much I have to learn. Surrounded by these incredibly different people, I'm constantly learning new things about myself and about my residents, and how small my growing world is in comparison to reality. If you ever need a lesson in humility, the dorms are a good place to start.

The deep ocean: confirming your fear of the dark, but fascinating at the same time.

Competitive. Combine a wide variety of people, put them in close quarters, mix their knowledge, and what do you get? The natural side effect of competition. Usually it's in healthy amounts, as residents use the strengths of their fellow residents as motivation to improve themselves. However, there are always times when the urge to better oneself blends into the urge to be better than someone else—a very important distinction to make. Living in a dorm can be exceptionally demanding on a personal and academic level, which blends into my next point.

I think he missed.

Prone to trying our patience. Sometimes two people just don't click well together; friends drift apart; the hours of sleep dwindle; the stress of classes accumulates; roommates bicker and Murphy's law kicks in hard. These challenges happen to even the best of people, and are never missing from a dorm community. Part of the experience living in a dorm involves learning how to handle these situations correctly, and to learn from our mistakes along the way.

Incredibly complex. As a Natural Resource Management major, I'm well acquainted with how complex an ecosystem can get, with all the interactive pieces constantly working. I'm still baffled by how complex the “ecosystem” of a dorm is. Each resident has their own story and motivations; they all act uniquely in their environment and with the other students around them. Each action ripples through the community in sometimes unpredictable ways, which can either strengthen or shatter relationships. While it usually works out in the end, watching this ecosystem in action never ceases to startle and fascinate me.

The opportunities for the future are endless. Residence Life dorms are havens for student possibilities. Between the fun-yet-borderline-educational programs hosted by RA's, the events hosted by Res Life for Nanook Traditions, and the extensive list of faculty and staff poised to help at any time (including Peer Mentors and RA's), these dorms have plenty of tools for residents to utilize. Here, decisions are made, degrees are earned, friendships are forged, and memories are made. No matter how stressful dorm life can get, there's always a better step forward.

 So like I said: I love the ocean. I also happen to enjoy dorm life; both are terrifying and rewarding. Both have taught me the same lesson time and time again: when in doubt, just keep swimming.  

                                  

Livin' the [Campus] Life

Posted by Valerie 

 

Speaking as a lifelong Alaskan, living in Alaska is HARD. Fairbanks, with its extremely cold temperatures, is no exception. Living on campus is super convenient for students! Living on campus is also a part of the college experience for a ton of college students! At UAF, living on campus makes day-to-day life a little easier and provides a fun community.

Some of the perks include:

• You don’t need a car, meaning you don’t need to worry about plugging your car in at 20 below, or your car not starting, or waking up 20 minutes earlier to allow your car time to heat up. Also, no parking! And just think how much you'll be reducing carbon emissions!



Not what you look forward to in a daily commute. Photo from carpediammag

• The amazing community that surrounds you, always. When I came to UAF as a freshman, I knew very few people. Within a few days, though, I had met a ton of excellent people, and I attribute that mostly to the programs and atmosphere of living in the dorms. Lounges provide a good place for people to meet and talk. Resident Advisors are accessible and plan programs for their residents, like group sledding, Casino Night, or movie nights—No matter who you are, you will be able to find a group of people who enjoy similar things!  And living in the dorms means that each time you walk in the doors, you see the bajillions (I’m not exaggerating. I promise) of fliers letting you know what’s going on! 

Some friends I met in the first week of school.

• The Tilly, which is the source of sustenance for most on-campus dwellers, is literally less than 5 minutes away, from whichever dorm. And if you sled down the hill from the MBS complex, you can cut that time in half!

• Need help with schoolwork? Peer Mentors are tutors that literally live next door to you. They are super awesome and help you with all your homework needs.

• If it IS 40 below and too ridiculously cold to show your face outdoors (and believe me, we all reach that point sometime), the UAF shuttle can pick you up and deliver you from anywhere on campus to your dorm sweet dorm. The shuttles are heated guys. Do not underestimate the power of a warm shuttle.

  

  The drivers are friendly too! Photo from UAF Cornerstone

• Things like electricity, heat, and internet are provided for. You don’t have to worry about monthly bills because these, as well as food, are included in your bill for the semester. It’s pretty nice not to worry about going over your hot water budget for the month or trying to figure out if the fall in outdoor temperature is going to be bad news on your heating bill. Also, food is prepared hot and close, and you don’t have to cook it.

• You get to spend ALL OF YOUR TIME with amazing people! Roommates are awesome! You can live with you best friends? POINTS!

  

  My roommates this year!

Living on campus is an experience that I would recommend to any college freshmen, and I wouldn’t overlook the UAF campus even as a transfer student!

For more information about campus life or individual dorms, go here.

Research in Rural Alaska

Posted by Ashley

Getting involved in undergraduate research is one of the most involving and unexpectedly enriching experiences one can have as a student. Students tend to think of research as something "extra" that they do- as if it were club or sport that fits into a little box and is only opened whenever it is time to get work done.  However, as a  psychology major who gets to travel to a remote village in Western Alaska, I have to protest that philosophy. My experience in research has gone so far above and beyond my wildest dreams that it still floors me sometimes to think about the projects I have been able to work on and the absolutely life-changing  effect this research has had on my academic and professional career.

Right now, I am actively involved on several projects related to Alaska Native cancer survivorship in Fairbanks and the Interior. Every chance I have had to travel, to meet people, and to hear stories has been a phenomenal experience. Just to live without cell service and a good internet connection for a few days really puts all of your values into perspective. You immediately start to focus more on what people are saying rather than thinking about that message your friend just sent you. You start to spend more time in conversations because you realize that, really, you don't have to be somewhere at that very second. Before you know it, you start to forget why you ever needed all that other stuff in the first place, and by the time you get back you just miss the calm you felt while you were hanging out at the edge of the map.

Out of all the exciting opportunities I have taken advantage of over the course of my college career at UAF, I still go back to my decision to start working for my mentor as being perhaps the most pivotal decision that I made. From there, everything just became more and more and more amazing until I can look back on the last three years with complete satisfaction on what has been accomplished. The work is intriguing to me, challenging in multiple ways, and keeps me going. It makes me excited to get up in the morning, and leaves me with a smile on my face when I go to sleep at night. It feels like a calling. 

And honestly folks, isn't that why we're here?


For those of you wanting to get involved in undergraduate research (and you should try!), here are some tips: 

1. Don't wait until your a senior to get involved.  Heck, why not start as a freshman!
2. Find the mentor in your major/field you are most interested in working with.
3. Don't be afraid to ask questions/ mess up/ admit when you need more time/ admit when you don't understand something important. 
4. Be prepared to work on projects that are not exactly what you originally hoped to do. Independent projects are really hard and time consuming, and many professors want to test your skills on their own work first. Plus, you never know, it may become your passion too!
5. When working with people, remember to listen actively.
6. Always, ALWAYS be respectful, courteous, and open-minded when working with mentors or participants. 
7. Don't be ashamed when you start to get seriously worked up and excited about your field/ work/ project. It happens to the best of us, and we CANNOT CONTAIN ALL THE JOY SOMETIMES. 

First official club meeting with/as brand new officers!

Posted by Bruce

Ever feel nervous about becoming involved in a club/organization?
Well... I myself become a brand new leader of "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers" or widely known as the acronym "IEEE". There are also, 3 other brand new officers, making it a whole new generation.

Short detail about IEEE:
IEEE is an worldwide organization for Electrical Engineers and it gives many opportunities for students and professionals to learn about what is going on in today's technological world and be up to date on the latest research. One of the main things about IEEE is that it can offer scholarships and networking opportunities. If interested, you can learn more about it at IEEE.org.

UAF classes started on Sept 5th, 2013 and campus is in full swing. Our first officer meetings didn't happen till the third week of school on Thursday or Friday due to scheduling and conflicts but... our IEEE student meetings are supposed to be held the last week (or fourth week in this case) of each month on either Tuesday or Thursday. Our guest speaker has said they only had time to come on Tuesday. We were scrambling to get things organized and planned with a very constraint amount of time.

We were feeling nervous at first to how this meeting would turn up thinking, how many people that we reached out to will come? Will we have enough pizza to feed everybody who comes? Will our speaker actually be there as promised? Will we have done a good job in reaching out to students to come and keep continuing to join us in the future?

All of these questions arise in our heads as we prepare for our first meeting, but...

On September 24, 2013 the IEEE club has had its first meeting this semester with four brand new officers that were selected at the end of spring semester 2013. The meeting has had a great turn out of about 35+ electrical engineering students and couple other disciplines. Room 341 was full, and when I mean full.... these classrooms are not very big like an auditorium. But judging from my previous experience in going to the meetings before I became an officer, usually of about 20 students or less would attend the meetings in the middle of the semester. Everybody was able to get their pizza, and we had just enough for everybody that showed up. People were enjoying their time as we did our introduction, and I was able to get some great feedbacks that we did a good job.The guest speakers from Tesoro did an awesome job in presenting information to those that were present at the meeting. Information such as internships, what Tesoro does, what an individual can do working for them, and any other questions asked were answered.

I am hoping that the we can maintain the amount of students that showed up before and hope to go beyond what the previous leaders  have done in growing the club and ourselves. I believe if the team is willing to make a good effort in reaching the goals, then anything could be possible without worries.

What can a student get when becoming involved in a student club/organization?  I would like to think, what ever you want to make most of it. Depending on the club/organization, one can get involved with the school community, city community, projects, have guest speakers, fundraisers, travel, networking, leadership skills, and an endless amount of ideas.

So get INVOLVED!

Searching for a home

Posted by Mathew

    As future college students, I’m sure you’ve all heard a great deal about the dormitory experience. You’ve probably wondered who your roommates will be, whether you’ll get along or fight, whether the dorm halls are really those wild and crazy centers of night life that they seem to be in movies (no, they aren’t). Being comfortable in your living space is certainly vital to a successful journey through college. However, there’s another sort of home that’s even more important: your community home.

    If you’re busy enough, you’ll hardly spend any of your free time in your dorm room. There’s too much to do in the outside world of UAF’s campus to restrict yourself to such a small and constrained area! Locking yourself into your room and never coming out is a terrible idea. You’ll end up like one of those guys who spent too much time in his remote cabin, then finally snapped and got featured in a local, small town newspaper as “that crazy man who thinks he’s a moose.”

    In short, your mind needs a home as much as your body. That’s why UAF offers such a wide variety of student clubs and organizations. In my time in Fairbanks, I’ve been spent at least some time in the UAF German Club, the Model United Nations, the Honors Student Advisory Council, the Associated Students of University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the Chordinated a capella group. Some of these I’m more active in than others, and some I don’t visit at all anymore. But they’ve all given me at least a temporary home, a way to express myself and to meet friends.

    Do you want to learn about your academic interests? Join the American Chemical Society, or the Wildlife Society, or the Anthropology Society, or the History Club, or any one (or two, or three) of the other clubs around. Do you want to get in touch with your religion? Play a sport, whether it’s volleyball or ultimate frisbee? Sing? Dance? Do community service? Get involved in politics? There’s a club for that.

    Even if you’re not looking for a club, get out and meet people! Remember, a stranger’s just a friend you haven’t made yet! UAF regularly hosts ice cream socials, barbecues, dances, and much more. Or, if crowds aren’t your thing, join in on one of the conversations or games in the Wood Center or any other social venue. You can even go on a trip with Outdoor Adventures, and make friends while hiking, kayaking, or enjoying any number of other outdoor activities.

    The point is to get involved. I’d encourage you to join some clubs, but maybe that’s not for everyone. Regardless, participating in UAF’s social events provides you with the opportunity to build a social support network that will lead to more fun in the future and help you make it through your semester now. Statistically, the more involved you get, the more likely you are to finish college! It’s not hard to find these events. Look for posters around campus (especially at the Wood Center), browse the club registry on the Wood Center website, or attend a student organization fair. Friend “UAF SAO” (Student Activities Office) or “UAF LIVE” (Leadership, Involvement, and Volunteer Experiences) on Facebook. Put yourself out there! You’ll meet awesome new people and enjoy amazing opportunities – for instance, the Model UN can send its members to a conference in New York City!

    However you choose to do it, I hope you’ll get involved in the UAF community. It’s a remarkable place, and I’m sure you’d love it!

Discover UAF: Inside Out October 11, 2013

Posted by Lindsey

Thinking about college? Want to see what UAF looks like from the Inside Out? Well then come join us for a fun filled day of mock classes, campus tours and all kinds of other pertinent college information. 

Here's a run down of what your day at Inside Out will look like:

Current students excited for Inside Out

8am: Check-In and Registration

Free coffee, tea, and breakfast (yes, we're feeding you!) while you register. It's also a chance to peruse the different schools and colleges UAF has. This is also a great time to meet other people and sometimes there are current UAF students around to chat with. 

8:40am: Welcome

A group of UAF's fearless leaders, including our Vice Chancellor Mike Sfraga will welcome you and tell you a little bit about our awesome university.

This awesome guy is doing some of the introduction

Learning to be dinosaurs in mock class

9:15am Students- Mock classes

You will be divided into groups based on what you think you may want to major in or if you aren't sure you can join a group that sounds interesting to you! This is a great way to get a feel for what goes on in a UAF classroom. It's super fun! Last year one class got to learn how to walk around like dinosaurs. How cool is that?!

9:15am Parents- Transitioning to College

Moms and dads all over the US and the world experience sending their kids off to college every year. The transition can be difficult for both the student and the parents. This seminar will give you some tips to help make that transition easier. :)

10:15am Walking Tours

This is arguably the best part of the whole Inside Out (in my opinion). The tours are generally led by current students.They are all excited to share their knowledge and love of UAF with you on this tour! In an hour and a half you will see most of what this campus has to offer. You will see the dorms, academic buildings, the student recreation center, and more. Make sure you wear your comfy shoes and bring a hat and gloves. It shouldn't be dreadfully cold yet, but there might be a bit of a fall chill in the air. This is a fun hour and a half full of information! Feel free to ask as many questions as you want!

11:45am- 1:45pm Build Your Own Schedule

There are so many options in college. This block of time allows you to explore some of those options with a variety of workshops.

11:55am- 12:25pm (30 minute session)

Admissions Process

Let us help guide you through this process. We'll walk through the process as well as some of the requirements. 

OR 

On your own:

- Lunch- check out our food options here on campus with a buffet lunch at the Lola Tilly Commons.

- Honors House- Drop by the Honor's house to get a tour and say hi to some of the students that might be hanging out there. Also feel free to ask them questions about the UAF Honors Program.

- Bookstore- Take this little break to check out all the Nanook apparel available on campus. They've got everything from hoodies and sweat pants to pens and coffee mugs! Also check out how to order textbooks from our bookstore.

- Safety First!- Take a walk over to the Whitaker building. This houses our on-campus police station, student run fire station, university health center and disability services. 

- Art Walk- Feeling artsy? Take a walk through our Student Art Gallery and see the works of some truly talented students!

1:15pm- 1:45pm

Explore! Study Abroad/Away

Interested in studying abroad while your in college? This is the workshop for you! Find out how you can study internationally with our study abroad program. Don't want to leave the U.S. that's ok! We have a great study away program through National Student Exchange! 

2pm Students: Student Panel 

Chat with a panel of current UAF students! We're here to answer all your questions about just about anything from why we chose UAF to what campus life is like to what the transition from high school to college was like. Anything! We're here to answer your questions. 

2pm Parents: Taking Care of Business Panel

Admissions, Financial Aid, Residence Life, Student Services and the Business Office. Find out how to help you and your child make the transition to college smoothly. 

3pm GRAND FINALE

You made it through the day! Now for a little fun and games. There may also be a chance to get your picture with our mascot the Nook! Woo!

If you are interested in registering for the awesome event check out this link: http://www.uaf.edu/admissions/visit/inside-out/register/ 

We can't wait to see all of you at the event! It will a a fun and information filled day for both parents and students. 

See you here!!