RSS will be closed Dec. 23-Jan. 2. Plan ahead to meet with your advisor, especially if you need your spring registration for scholarship applications.

• Saturday, Dec. 4 - Last day of instruction

• Mon-Sat, Dec. 6-11 - Final examinations

• Mon-Sat, Dec. 6-11 - RSS will have Final Snacks during all week

• Wed, Dec. 8 - RSS will have Christmas cookies in the afternoon

• Sunday, Dec. 12 - Residence halls close, noon

• Dec. 23-Jan. 2 - Winter break (no classes, RSS and most offices closed; reopen Monday, Jan. 3, at 8am)

• Friday, Jan. 7 - Residence halls open

• Monday, Jan. 10 - First day of instruction/classes

Your final exams will rarely take place at the same time as your actual class. It may not even take place in the same room. Make sure you prepare by asking your professor when and where yours are taking place. You can also check the schedule for the time here.

Andrew Nicolai



Tell us about yourself.

My name is Andrew Nicolai. I am Yup'ik from Kwethluk, Alaska. I'm currently finishing up my bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering and graduating this Fall 2021 semester. With my degree, I would like to give back to my community and increase the infrastructure in rural Alaska.

What doors has UAF opened for you?

UAF has opened many opportunities for me and one of them was getting involved with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES). I've been involved with AISES since my freshman year and got the opportunity to travel to conferences in Arizona, Colorado, and Oregon.

What internships have you done?

Most of my internships were with my native corporation (Calista Corp). Through Calista, I've got to intern in Hawaii, Alabama, and Alaska. One summer I got to intern for First Alaskans Institute and was placed with Alaska Native Health Consortium in Anchorage.

What extra curricular activities are you involved with and why are they important to you?

The extra curricular activities I was involved with was with American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) and Inu-Yupiaq Dance Group. These clubs were important to me because it helped me interact and network with other students, staff, and professionals.

What motivates you to do well at UAF?

Helping my community and being in charge with creating better infrastructure in rural Alaska. Also, my family encouraging me to do well and making them proud.

What are some of the challenges you've faced as a student at UAF and how have you overcome them?

Being away from home, missing family, and family gatherings was one of the most challenging obstacles I've faced at UAF. The way I've overcome those challenges was going to RSS and being with students who are facing the same challenges. This community helped me get through the toughest times and made me feel like home.

Do you have any advice for your fellow students?

Get out of you comfort zone, join student groups, and make new friends. Pellugiciquten (You will get over it) keep moving forward and do your best.

Dorms (Moore, Bartlett, Skarland, and McIntosh) close: Dec. 12 at 12pm (noon) so plan everything in advance including your travel back home. Residents will not have access to their room during break. They have to remove any perishable food & trash from their room and kitchen before leaving for break. If you want to stay on campus over break, you need to apply for winter break housing (see next section).

Dorms will reopen Jan. 7 at 8am.

If you are not returning to live on campus, you need to cancel your housing and meal plan for the Spring Semester. You will have to schedule a check-out time with their RA a couple days in advance. Also, residents that are not returning have to thoroughly clean their room and remove all their food from the cabinets, fridge, and freezers.

**If residents plan to leave their vehicle on campus over break, then be sure to relocate it to the Taku Parking Lot, or their car will be towed (at their expense) for snow removal. For more information on UAF's Parking Services, check here. **

Staying on campus over winter break?

The application for winter break housing is now open.

Winter break housing is available Dec. 12-Jan. 7. Students can apply for housing by going to the "Applications and Forms" section in the MyHousing portal.

Winter break housing rates for Moore, Bartlett, Skarland, and McIntosh are $28 per night for a double room, $30 per night for a single room, and $38 for super-single room.

Residents in Cutler will not be charged to stay over winter break but still must apply so they know who will be in the facility.

If you cancel your winter break housing after Dec. 10, your room changes will be refunded but you will be charged a $150.00 cancellation fee. 

For more information, visit the Residence Life break housing webpage, or contact Res Life at uaf-housing@alaska.edu or 474-7247.

Final grades will be posted by noon Dec. 15.

Make sure all your grades are posted before ordering your Official Transcripts.

To order your transcript, you must log in to UAOnline. You will find the option to request an official transcript under the Student Services & Account Information menu. If you need any assistance, feel free to give us a call at 907-474-7871. Keep in mind that this is a process that must be done from your student account. Unfortunately, an advisor cannot initiate it for you.

Arctic Education Foundation (AEF)

• Apply by December 1st
• Must be an ASRC shareholder or a direct lineal descendant of an ASRC shareholder
• 2.0 GPA
• http://www.arcticed.com/

Calista Corporation

• Apply by December 1st
• Official Transcripts
• Must be a Shareholder or Descendant
• Must have a Letter of Acceptance/Good Standing or Proof of Application
• Must have a 2.0 or higher
• Full time is 12 or more credits & Part time is 6-11 credits
• http://www.calistaeducation.org/scholarships.html

MyCache

• Apply by December 1st
• Must be a Bering Straits region resident (for NSEDC and NSHC)
• Must be a shareholder or lineal descendant or tribal member (for BST, Sitnasuak, Kawerak, NEC)
• Must attend an accredited Vocational or College/University Institution
• Part-time (6-11 credits) or Full-time student (12+ credits)
• 2.0 GPA or higher
• https://my-cache.org/required

CIRI

• Apply by December 1st
• Official Transcripts
• Must be a Shareholder or Descendant
• Must have a Letter of Acceptance/Good Standing or Proof of Application
• Must have a 2.0 or higher
• http://thecirifoundation.org/

Caleb Scholars Program

• Apply by December 15th
• Must be enrolled in a tribe located in Norton Sound, Northwest Arctic Borough, or Arctic Slope Borough
• Already have completed 36 credit hours
• Be a full-time student
• Undergraduate students must have a minimum cumulative and current 2.5 GPA. Graduate students must have a minimum cumulative and current 3.0 GPA.
• https://www.calebscholars.org/how-to-apply/ 

Ahtna Inc.

• Apply by December 15th
• Must be an Ahtna, Inc. shareholder who holds at least 10 voting shares (Original, Inherited, Gifted, Class L)
• Must be accepted to an accredited college or university
• https://www.ahtna.com/shareholders/vocational-scholarship/

Central Bering Sea Fishermen's Association

• Must have a goal beneficial to St. Paul Island, AK
• Deadline: December 15th
• For application and more information, visit  
• http://cbsfa.com/education.html

Coastal Villages Regional Fund (CVRF)

• Apply by December 17th
• Verification of CVRF Residency 
• Part-Time (6-11 credits) or Full-Time (12 credits or more) enrollment in accredited college/university/vocational school for the 2022 Spring Semester
• Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher 
• http://workfishhope.coastalvillages.org/

Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP)

• Apply by December 30th
• Must be an enrolled member of AVCP compacted tribe
• Enrolled in a minimum of 3 credits (and a maximum of 18 credits)
• 2.0 GPA or higher
• http://www.avcp.org/

Native Village of Kotzebue, Kotzebue IRA

• Must be enrolled in Kotzebue I.R.A.
• Deadline: January 10th
• For application and more information, visit 
•  http://kotzebueira.org/

The UAF Financial Aid Office is hiring student employees to work in their own communities. These students can work in the school or library, working with kids on math, reading or other academic tutoring. They can also work at our campus, as long as K-12 students are able to use the service.

This is a great way for a student to support their community, build relationships, gain job experience and earn money!

The pay starts at $15 and students can work up to 20 hours per week. The Financial Aid Office is negotiable based on their location, experience and course schedule. 

To be eligible, applicants must:

1. be admitted to UAF

2. be enrolled in spring at least 6 credits

3. have a 2.0 GPA

4. meet SAP and be eligible for financial aid

5. have a FAFSA on file that shows need (They can help you determine that!)

They're looking to hire 5-7 students as soon as possible. Students can apply directly to the position posting, or you can email Ashley Munro at akmunro@alaska.edu for more information.

Camp Fire Alaska is currently recruiting for their summer program, the Rural Alaska Program. They are especially interested in Indigenous Studies majors or students interested in facilitating youth development and cultural activities in rural communities. The position includes wages, lodging, food and an experience of a lifetime. There will be a flight stipend based on completion of the 10 week program.

Training

Monday, May 23, 2022 – Friday, June 3, 2022, starts in Anchorage

In-Communities (2 communities each for 4-Week)

Monday, June 6, 2022 – Friday, July 30, 2022

Close-out/Debrief (in Anchorage)

Monday, August 1, 2022 – Wednesday, August 3, 2022

To learn more about their program and the position, visit their website.

American Indian Graduate Center is recruiting Academic Coaches and Scholars to participate in the 2021-2022 cohort! Rising Native Graduates is American Indian Graduate Center’s premier academic coaching program available to Native undergraduate juniors and seniors pursuing graduate or professional school opportunities located within Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.

To learn more about being a Rising Native Graduates scholar, attend the following webinar events:

Scholars FAQs Webinar

Dec. 14, 2021, at 1pm MT

Native undergraduate juniors and seniors pursuing graduate and professional degrees in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington are invited to join the Scholars FAQs Webinar! This webinar is geared toward undergraduate scholars who are navigating the graduate school application process. 

Register for Scholars FAQs Session

To learn more about becoming a Rising Native Graduates Academic Coach, please attend the following webinar events:

Academic Coaches FAQs Webinar

Dec. 15, 2021, at 1pm MT

Native graduate students or new professionals are invited to join their Academic Coaches FAQs Webinar! Tune in to learn more about academic coaching and how you can empower the future generation of Native leaders by joining their program.

Register for Academic Coaches FAQs Session

For more information on how to apply, check out their website. Please reach out to their Rising Native Graduates Program Manager directly with any additional questions at arlin@aigcs.org or (505) 205-1745.

RSS has Chromebooks to checkout. They can be checked out at the RSS front desk. Please let us know if you have any questions. If you checked out a Chromebook this fall semester you can return it anytime before the end of the semester unless you need it for spring as well.

Need support with a current classes?

RSS Study Hall

3:30-4:30pm Monday, Wednesday, & Friday

At RSS Gathering Room in the Brooks Building

If you need help with a class, check out UAF & CTC's learning resources down below:

UAF is an AA/EO employer and educational institution and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual: www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination/

Contact

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Rural Student Services

PO Box 756320, Fairbanks, AK 99775

(907)-474-7871

"Student success is achieved with the help of family, a group of persons of common ancestry. At Rural Student Services, I feel at home."

- Karly Gundersen, Port Lions