Introduction

This guide is intended to provide graduate students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) with an understanding of the structure of the existing graduate program in anthropology, and to assist students in completing their work as expeditiously and as meaningfully as possible, while still complying with general UAF regulations.    Students are to be guided by the rules in existence at the time they enter the M.A. or Ph.D. program.    When changes in program rules or requirements occur, the student has the option of completing the program under the new set of rules rather than remaining with the rules of entry.    In this case, the student must obtain approval from 1) each member of the Advisory Committee, 2) the Department Chair, 3) the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, and these approvals must be recorded with the Dean of the Graduate School.  

To some extent, this guide replicates information for graduate students available in the most current General Catalog of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, which sets forth the official Board of Regents’ Policies and University Regulations on admission procedures, completion of requirements, etc.    Additional and specific information relevant to the Department of Anthropology is provided in this manual.

Any additional requirements or means of meeting requirements for a particular student's program, not specified in this Manual or the UAF General Catalog, are to be set by the student's committee.

Students themselves are ultimately responsible for ensuring that they meet the requirements for their degree as set forth in this Graduate Student Manual, that the completion of each formal requirement is properly recorded, and that their departmental and Graduate School files are complete and up-to-date.    Departmental faculty, however, are ready to assist whenever the student feels that there is some uncertainty or problem.

The objectives of this guide are to:

•  delineate  the department’s expectations of students, which in the judgment of the faculty assure high standards of anthropological/archaeological training; and
• assure fairness in the treatment of students by applying common and unambiguous standards to all.

We offer roughly 10 to 15 Graduate Teaching Assistantships per year for a one-year term on a competitive basis with students ranked by multiple variables (GPA, GRE, timely progress toward degree, previous TA performance). Teaching assistant duties vary widely and may involve assisting a faculty member in a course or lecturing in an introductory course. All TAships require 15 hours work/week. We also offer occasional research assistantships associated with faculty grants. 

If you wish to be considered for funding, ALL application materials must be received by the  UAF Office of Admissions (US Students or International Students) AND the internal funding application (new students or returning students) must be submitted to the Anthropology Department by January 15. These departmental deadlines are different from those listed on other UAF web sites.

Renewal is not automatic: new and continuing students must reapply EACH YEAR for a TAship and will be reranked for funding at that time. MA students are limited to two years of departmental funding and PhD students are limited to three years of departmental funding. Mid-year applicants will not be considered for funding but may apply by the January 15 deadline for funding for the next acadmic year.

Information on competitive scholarships open to all graduate students at UAF is available on the web at the Graduate School web page or through the Anthropology Department’s Financial Aid links. Students are encouraged to apply for those scholarships and stipends, and should work closely with Advisory Committee members to develop proposals and applications.

All students, but especially those who are in the Ph.D. program, are encouraged to apply for funds outside UAF.  Information on funding opportunities is posted on the departmental bulletin board, disseminated by e-mail, available from the UAF Proposal Office and through the department web site. Faculty will assist students in developing funding proposals. Ph.D. students are expected to apply to national funding agencies to fund their dissertation research. Obtaining such funding for the write-up phase is also encouraged. 

Major Advisor (Committee Chair) 

Students will be assigned an interim advisor with whom they will meet during the first semester. A permanent advisor should be chosen as soon as possible, but no later than the end of the second semester. This person will serve as the Chair of the Advisory 

Advisory Committee

Advisory Committees set requirements and guide students through their programs of study and research. Students are responsible for arranging meetings and consultations with their Advisory Chair and other committee members, and for arranging periodic  meetings    of  the Advisory Committee    The student should set a meeting with the committee by the end of the second semester at the  latest . Students may wish to change their Advisory Committee Chair or a member of their committee during the course of their studies.    To do so a student must first notify his/her Chair and then file a Graduate Advisory Committee form, showing the change with required signatures (see UAF Graduate School Forms Pamphlet).

The Advisory Committee must meet with the student during the first year to develop a Graduate Study Plan.    At this time, the committee determines if any deficiencies exist and provides direction to the student for carrying out remedial work.    Later meetings are held to update the study plan.    The student must file the Graduate Study Plan in the Graduate School (by the end of the first academic year), with, at the same time, a copy placed in the student’s file in the Department of Anthropology.   Students should consult sections of the General Catalog on Graduate Advisory Committees and Graduate Study Plans for further details.

The UAF Graduate School website (http://www.uaf.edu/gradsch/forms) contains the forms which constitute the body of official documents for the student’s file.    Two copies of the student’s file are maintained, one in the office of the Dean of the Graduate School and one in the Department of Anthropology office.    The student is responsible for ensuring that copies of all documents are provided in order to keep the file up-to-date.    The Graduate Studies Coordinator and the Chair of the Advisory Committee will assist students in this matter.

According to federal law, students have a right to see any materials maintained in their file.    The file may be examined and a copy made in the department office.    Nothing may be removed from the file by the student .  

Graduate School regulations require that  a student’s performance be evaluated by the faculty  at the end of each academic year.    Such evaluations are completed by the Advisory Committee Chair in consultation with the faculty .    The evaluation (Annual Report of Graduate Advisory Committee) is signed by all members of the Advisory Committee and by the student.    The original is filed with the Office of the Graduate School, with a copy in the student’s departmental file.    The evaluation is based on the student’s overall performance in coursework, research, and as a teaching or research assistant (when this consideration applies).    It may read “satisfactory,” “conditional,” or “unsatisfactory.”    It is the responsibility of the chair of a student’s Advisory Committee promptly to inform the student of the results of this annual evaluation.

Upon receipt of the completed evaluation form from the Advisory Committee Chair, the student must sign and return it to the department office.    If a student receives a “conditional” evaluation, the Advisory Committee will specify the conditions to be met and a timeline for completion.    Failure to meet the specified conditions will result in an unsatisfactory rating on the next evaluation.    Two consecutive unsatisfactory reports will result in dismissal from the program.

1. 24 credits course work (21 credits at 600 level), including  Anth  629 &  Anth  6522. Six credits ANTH 699 thesis

3. 30 credits total

4. One language or one research tool

5. Written comprehensive exam

6. Approved thesis proposal

7. Advancement to Candidacy (at least semester before graduation)

8. Written thesis with public oral defense

9. Maintain good standing with 3.0 GPA or better

10. Time limit: 7 years to degree

The M.A. degree in anthropology is an advanced degree that may either lead to further study in a Ph.D. program or to work in a professional career.    The department expects that most applicants for the M.A. degree either  hold    a  B.A. or B.S. degree in anthropology or have had an equivalent of at least fifteen semester credit hours in anthropology along with an undergraduate degree in another field.    In the latter case, the normal expectation is that the applicant has successfully completed lower division courses in three of the four subfields of anthropology (archaeology, physical/biological anthropology, social/cultural anthropology, and linguistics), two of which are at an advanced undergraduate level.  

Exceptions may be granted under certain circumstances.    If the  faculty are  uncertain about the student’s academic background, they may require the student to take several undergraduate courses without graduate credit or additional graduate courses beyond those normally required for the M.A. degree to remedy deficiencies in his/her background.    The precise requirements will be developed by the student’s Advisory Committee and recorded in the student’s file.    Whenever remedial work is indicated, the student should be prepared to spend an extra semester or two in earning the degree.

Official degree requirements for the M.A. degree are stipulated in the  University General Catalog . The UAF Regulations state (see General Catalog) that all requirements for the M.A. degree must be completed within a seven-year time period. The faculty expect  that, in the normal course of events, a student with an adequate background in anthropology at the undergraduate level will complete all the requirements for an M.A. degree in two to three academic years.     Readmission is possible only under exceptional circumstances and only with the concurrence of the student’s Advisory Committee and the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.    All applications for extensions or readmission must also be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School .

UAF Regulations specify that an M.A. student’s Advisory Committee is to be composed of a minimum of three members.    The Advisory Committee Chair must be a tenured or tenure-track member of the UAF Department of Anthropology. The Advisory Committee of an M.A. student must be composed of at least two members from the department.    All  three faculty  members must be employed primarily by the University of Alaska Fairbanks.    Additionally, a fourth member may be appointed from either within or without the University system.  

M.A. students must complete a minimum of 30  credits    as  outlined in the General Catalog (24 credits of course work – 21 credits at 600 level –    and 6 credits of ANTH-699 Thesis).    M.A. students who choose to produce a museum project in lieu of a thesis must complete at  least    36  credits (24 credits of regular course work and 6 credits of ANTH-698 Research).

Required Courses:   All M.A. students must successfully complete the following (included as part of the 24 credits): 
•  Anth  629 Structures of Anthropological Argument
•  Anth  652 Research Design and Professional Development Seminar

M.A. students are required to demonstrate competency in one language relevant to their academic interests, or in a research tool (such as statistics or field methods).    Each student consults with his/her Advisory Committee Chair to determine how s/he will satisfy this requirement.    This information forms part of the Graduate Study Plan (see above).    Completion of this requirement should be registered with the form “Report on Completion of Language or Research Tool Requirement” (http://www.uaf.edu/gradsch/forms).   

For advancement to candidacy, each student will be expected to prepare a written research proposal in his/her subfield.    The research proposal should be a clear statement of the research problem and its significance.    In conjunction with this, the proposal should include a literature review that addresses the general area of the research problem.    The student should explain the methodology or research strategy that will be employed in researching the topic, and this should also be substantiated with reference to relevant literature.    The written proposal will be reviewed and approved by the student’s advisory committee.    The Proposal Approval Form (available in Word doc format), with a project title and abstract of the research proposal must be submitted to the Department office after the  project has been approved by the student’s committee .    The title and abstract will be placed on the Department’s web site.

The topics of the comprehensive exam will be decided by the committee in consultation with the student and will be concentrated in the student's subfield(s). The aim of the exam is to test general competence in the broad subject areas of the student's training and is therefore not specifically tied to the student's research project.    The exam will consist of three questions and will be given out on a specified Friday (second week of November) and due the next Monday morning by 9:00.     Exam answers are limited to 5000 words maximum for each question.    Students will not know the questions in advance of the exam.     

If the student fails to pass the exam, the committee has the option to create a new exam.    This new exam should be taken not earlier than six weeks and not later than one year after the original.    If the student fails to pass a second time, the committee will decide whether the student is to continue in the program.  

A “Report on Examination” form will be signed by the student’s advisory committee  after the comprehensive examination is approved (GS forms).    After a passing Report on Examination has been submitted and the Research Proposal has been approved, the student will be eligible to apply for advancement to candidacy

With advancement to candidacy, the department certifies that the student’s thesis topic has been approved, that the research proposal has been approved (Comprehensive Exam Passed), that the language or research tool requirement has been completed, that all course deficiencies have been remedied, and that all further course requirements have been spelled out in the Graduate Study Plan. Each student must have completed at least 9 UAF credit hours and be in good standing.    The Application for Advancement to Candidacy form (GS forms) must be completed and turned in no later than the semester before a student plans to graduate.

It is expected that by the end of his/her first year in the program the student will have defined a thesis topic.  The student will be guided in completion of the thesis by his/her Advisory Committee , with primary responsibility resting with the Advisory Committee Chair.

The thesis must be at least 14,000 words in length and not more than 50,000 words (excluding bibliography, figures, tables and appendices). Upon approval of the written draft by the committee, the thesis will be defended in a session open to the public. UAF Regulations pertaining to defenses are set out in the UAF General Catalog.  

THESIS DEFENSE TIMELINE

1) Three weeks before the planned thesis defense:   the final draft of the thesis should be submitted to the committee for approval.

2) Once the thesis has been approved, the student may then schedule the defense, which is to be an oral public presentation (possibly as part of the colloquium series).    Students are required to post flyers to advertise the event.    The student should see the department administrative assistant for available time slots for the defense and for help in producing the flyers. Defenses must occur during the regular academic year.    Exceptions to this rule can only be approved by a vote of the faculty.

3) At least one week before the planned defense:  

          A copy of the approved thesis must be submitted to the department office.

          The Defense Approval Form, with a project title and abstract of the thesis must be submitted to the Department office (available in Word doc or rtf format).    The title and abstract will be placed on the Department’s web site.

4) As specified in the General Catalog, the defense will consist of a presentation by the candidate.    The  length of the presentation will be determined by the Advisory Committee .    Following the presentation there will be a question period.    Normally, the Advisory Committee Chair will conduct the defense meeting and the Chair and members of the Advisory Committee (which may be augmented by other faculty members at the discretion of the Dean of the College, Dean of the Graduate School or both) will conduct the questioning.    If the Chair cannot fulfill this duty, the Dean of the College or the Dean of the Graduate School will appoint a substitute.    At the conclusion of the public portion of the defense, the Chair, as a rule, will open the questioning to the public.

5) Afterwards, the Advisory Committee will meet in closed session to pass or fail the student on the defense.    The student may be advised on revisions the committee deems necessary.    The student will then submit the revised thesis for the committee’s final approval in accordance with UAF Regulations.    These regulations are set out in the General Catalog, and a Thesis Format Workbook should be obtained from the Graduate School.    Students must conform to thesis format requirements and to thesis submission deadlines as specified in the workbook.  Students    should  also refer to the American Anthropological Association guidelines for formatting of publications (e.g., in the journals American Anthropologist, American Ethnologist, Current Anthropology, etc) in order to conform to disciplinary conventions.

Final Thesis
The thesis must be prepared in accordance with the Graduate School’s thesis requirements.     Once the final draft has been approved in the proper format a pdf version must be submitted to the department office .

To remain in good standing in the department, the student must maintain a 3.0 GPA or better, must meet with the interim advisor at least once per semester until the Advisory Committee Chair is designated, must designate an Advisory Committee Chair no later than the end of the second semester, and must assemble a full committee and select a research topic no later than the end of the third semester. Receiving departmental funding (T.A., R.A.) is contingent upon remaining in good standing. Students who fail to remain in good standing will be placed on probation for one semester, and asked to correct the problems. Students who do not correct the problems after one semester will be dropped from the program

1. 18 credits minimum total

2. Three years of full-time study

3. Two languages, or one language and one research tool (advanced statistics, field methods or equivalent)

4. Three Synthesizing Papers

5. Written dissertation proposal with public oral defense

6. Advancement to Ph.D. Candidacy

7. Written dissertation with public oral defense

8. Maintain good standing with 3.0 GPA or better

9. Time limit 10 years to degree

The Ph.D. degree in anthropology is a research degree, and the department offers highly individualized training in areas in which the graduate  faculty specialize . The department expects applicants to the Ph.D. program to hold an M.A. or M.S. degree in anthropology (other disciplines are occasionally accepted), and to have chosen UAF because they are fully aware of the specializations offered by and the strength of the faculty.    In some cases, an incoming student may be expected by his/her Advisory Committee to take specific courses to address weaknesses or to acquire further expertise in some area essential for dissertation research or career development.

Official degree requirements for the Ph.D. are stipulated in the  University General Catalog .    UAF Regulations state (see General Catalog) that all requirements for the Ph.D. degree must be completed within a ten-year time period. Ph.D. programs vary widely in length of time devoted to coursework, research and dissertation writing. However, students are generally expected to complete their degrees many years before the Graduate School's maximum time limit of 10 years. Extension and readmission are possible only under exceptional circumstances and only with the concurrence of the student's Advisory Committee and the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.    All applications for extensions or readmission must also be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School .

UAF Regulations specify that an Advisory Committee for Ph.D. students is to be composed of  a    minimum  of four members, one of whom may be from outside the department (see below).    The Advisory Committee Chair must be a tenured or tenure-track member of the UAF Department of Anthropology.

The Advisory Committee for a Ph.D. student must consist of a minimum of four  faculty  whose primary employment is with UAF.    The Ph.D. students should carefully consult the General Catalog on regulations pertaining to the composition of their committees regarding faculty outside the department.    (Note:    this regulation does not preclude faculty other than those of UAF serving on a Ph.D. committee.    Such members, however, serve in addition to the four members specified above.)    Please note that  any exceptions to the composition of the Advisory Committees as prescribed in the General Catalog must be explicitly approved by the Dean of the Graduate School .    Exceptions are extremely rare and only occur on an individual basis."

Ph.D. Course Work Requirements
There are no general coursework requirements for the Ph.D.;  all specific coursework requirements are set by the student's committee .    The Graduate School requires a minimum of 18 graduate UAF credits and at least three full years of study, including transfer credits

Language(s) and/or Research Tool

Ph.D. students are required to demonstrate competency in two languages  relevant to the student's work , or one language plus a research tool (such as statistics or field methods).    Specifics are to be determined by the student in consultation with the Advisory Committee, but language proficiency should be the equivalent of two academic years of study with a grade of "B" or better. Completion of these requirements should be registered with the form "Report on Completion of Language or Research Tool Requirement" (http://www.uaf.edu/gradsch/students/current/forms/LangResearchTool.pdf).

Language proficiency will be determined by an examination in a form agreed to by the Advisory Committee.    Normally, a Ph.D. student is expected to translate an article in the language and area of specialization appropriate to his/her field.    The student may choose, however, to take the language proficiency exam of the Educational Testing Service.

Area Papers

To qualify for advancement to candidacy, Ph.D. students must write three synthesizing papers (approximately 40 pages each), reviewing the state of knowledge in a specified area of anthropological research.    (These are sometimes referred to as "comp papers" or "field statements").    The areas to be synthesized will be established in advance by the student's Advisory Committee, and students will be responsible for preparing an extensive bibliography of sources for each.    The bibliography will be submitted along with each paper.    After approval by the student's committee, a copy of each paper, signed by the committee chair, should be submitted to the department office for the student's file.

Ph.D. students will present a written research proposal (prospectus) prior to beginning their dissertation research.    The research proposal should detail the research topic, with particular attention to the theoretical framework, research methodology, relevant literature, and development of a pertinent database.    The  written research proposal must be approved by the Advisory Committee .    Students must make a public oral presentation and defense of the research proposal

Ph.D. Research Proposal (Prospectus) Timeline

1) Three weeks before the planned proposal defense:    the final proposal should be submitted to the committee for approval.

2) Once the proposal has been approved, the student may then schedule the defense, which is to be an oral public presentation (possibly as part of the colloquium series).    Students are required post flyers to advertise the event.    The student should see the department administrative assistant for available time slots for the defense and for help in producing the flyers.

3) At least one week before the planned defense:  

A copy of the approved research proposal must be submitted to the department office.

The Defense Approval Form, with a project title and abstract of the research proposal must be submitted to the Department office (available online in Word doc or rtf format).    The title and abstract will be placed on the Department's web site.

4) Proposal presentations should be approximately one half hour in length and will conclude with the opportunity for the public to ask questions.    At the end of this question/answer session, the public will be asked to leave.    Departmental faculty will then have the opportunity to ask further questions.    The committee then determines the pass/fail status of the defense.    The Report on Examination form should be completed and the category "Other" checked, filling in "Research Prospectus Defense."

With advancement to candidacy the department certifies that the student has successfully completed the comprehensive examination (synthesizing papers), that his/her dissertation topic has been approved, that the research proposal has been successfully presented, that the language research tool requirements have been completed, that all course deficiencies have been remedied, and that all further course requirements have been spelled out (in the Graduate Study Plan).    The student must have completed at least 9 UAF credits and be in good standing.    The Application for Advancement to Candidacy form (GS forms) must be completed and turned in no later than the semester before a student plans to graduate.    It is expected that Ph.D. students will advance to candidacy before beginning their primary dissertation research

It is expected that by the end of his/her first year in the program the student will have defined a dissertation topic.  The student will be guided in completion of the dissertation by his/her Advisory Committee , with primary responsibility resting with the Advisory Committee Chair.

The dissertation, upon approval of the written draft by the committee, will be defended in a session open to the public.    UAF Regulations pertaining to defenses are set out in the UAF General Catalog.  

Dissertation Defense Timeline

1) The final dissertation draft should be submitted to the committee for approval at least three weeks in advance of the planned proposal defense.

2) A copy of the approved dissertation must be submitted to the department office one week before the dissertation defense.

3) At the same time, at least one week before the defense, the student must submit the Defense Approval Form (available online in Word doc or rtf format), with a project title and abstract of the dissertation.    The title and abstract will be placed on the Department's web site.

4) The date of the defense is set by the student and the Advisory Committee (along with an alternate date) .    The student will need to arrange a room for the defense.    Since this is a public defense, the student will be required to post notices specifying the date, hour, place and event.    When the date for the defense is confirmed, the student can contact the department secretary about producing a flyer for this purpose.    Defenses must occur during the regular academic year.    Exceptions to this rule can only be approved by a vote of the faculty.  

5) It is the responsibility of the Ph.D. student to request that the Office of the Graduate School assign an outside examiner for their defense (see http://www.uaf.edu/gradsch/forms.html for the necessary form).    The request must be made a minimum of two weeks in advance of the defense, and the students must supply a copy of the dissertation to the examiner at least one week prior to the defense. There is an online form for requesting the outside examiner at http://www.uaf.edu/gradsch/facstaff/OutsideExamForm.html.  

6) As specified in the General Catalog, the defense will consist of a presentation by the candidate. The  length of the presentation will be determined by the Advisory Committee .    Following the presentation there will be a question period.    Normally, the Advisory Committee Chair will conduct the defense meeting and the Chair and members of the Advisory Committee (which may be augmented by other faculty members at the discretion of the Dean of the College, Dean of the Graduate School or both) will conduct the questioning.    If the Chair cannot fulfill this duty, the Dean of the College or the Dean of the Graduate School will appoint a substitute.    At the conclusion of the public portion of the defense, the Chair, as a rule, will open the questioning to the public.

7) Afterwards, the Advisory Committee will meet in closed session to pass or fail the student on the defense.    The student may be advised on revisions the committee deems necessary.    The student will then submit the revised dissertation for the committee's final approval in accordance with UAF Regulations.    These regulations are set out in the General Catalog, and a Thesis Format Workbook should be obtained from the Graduate School.    Students must conform to thesis format requirements and to thesis submission deadlines as specified in the workbook.    Students    should  also refer to the American Anthropological Association guidelines for formatting publications (e.g., in the journals American Anthropologist, American Ethnologist, Current Anthropology, etc) in order to conform to disciplinary conventions.

To remain in good standing in the department, the student must maintain a 3.0 GPA or better, must meet with the interim advisor at least twice per semester until the Advisory Committee Chair is designated, must designate an Advisory Committee Chair no later than the end of the second semester, and must assemble a full committee and select a research topic no later than the end of the third semester.    Receiving departmental funding (T.A., R.A.) is contingent upon remaining in good standing. Students who fail to remain in good standing will be placed on probation for one semester, and asked to correct the problems. Students who do not correct the problems after one semester will be dropped from the program.

Grievance Procedures

Students may feel, as individuals or as a group, that they have a grievance against another student, a faculty member, the department, or the school.    If such circumstances arise, it is suggested that the matter be openly and frankly discussed in consultations with faculty members, the Graduate Student Representative, and the Department Head.    Depending on the nature of the problem, one or the other may be able to mediate the matter and resolve the grievance.    If the matter is not resolved, the student has a right to bring up the matter officially in a faculty meeting, before the faculty as a whole.    Students may also request a meeting with individual faculty members, or faculty members and other students.    If departmental policy is implicated, the faculty as a whole may need to arrive at a decision.    If a grievance is not satisfactorily resolved within the department, students are referred to the Office of the Graduate School.

Student-Faculty Interaction
In our department, faculty work closely with graduate students and most faculty members maintain an "open door" policy.    From time to time students request individual faculty members to write recommendations either for study elsewhere or in applying for a job, research or training grant, summer institute, language school, and so on.    Normally the  faculty respond  promptly to such requests.    However, to facilitate the process, it is desirable that the student provide the faculty member with curriculum vitae, a stamped and addressed envelope, information about the institution or job for which the recommendation is needed, and any required forms well in advance of deadlines.    Faculty who provide students with recommendations would appreciate hearing the results of the student's applications.    Copies of letters of recommendation are placed in the student's departmental file.

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Ethics in Research
Students are encouraged to conduct field research.    It is especially important for anthropology students to remember that research on human subjects is regulated by federal law and agency regulations, and is subject to review by the UAF Institutional Review Board (http://www.uaf.edu/irb/index.html).    All proposals, including those for summer research, are reviewed by the faculty  with this in mind.    IRB Approval in all cases must be secured before research commences.    This applies to even seemingly innocuous situations.    A statement on the use of human subjects is required in which potential harm is discussed, as well as means to avoid or minimize any such potential harm.    This statement must be signed by the proposed investigator .    The student should specify the proposed methods, such as participant observation, questionnaire, interview schedules, and so forth.    A consent form for study participants is also typically required.    Informal consultations with the faculty on this aspect of anthropological research are encouraged.

Students must adhere to professional ethics guidelines (copies of the guidelines are appended to this manual.)    Students are also responsible for obtaining the appropriate permits and permissions from communities, agencies and others who may be involved in or affected by their research.

Graduate Student Office Space
Office space in the department is limited, and priority is given to teaching assistants and Ph.D. students.    Space will be allocated on a year-by-year basis with no automatic renewals.    Students must see the department administrative assistant for a space assignment. Library carrels are also available and can be applied for at the  Rasmuson  Library Circulation Desk.    Students who are not in residence on campus should not expect to be assigned space in the department.

Graduate Student Organization
UAF abides by the Students' Rights Document of 1967.    On a more formal level, graduate students elect a Graduate Student Representative who reports to the faculty, usually through the Department Head and/or in faculty meetings, the students' concerns, plans and interests.    From time to time, a departmental student/faculty meeting may be called by the Department Head to address common concerns.

The Graduate Student Representative is also responsible for calling meetings of the graduate students to organize educational or social activities.    There are opportunities to invite guest speakers (periodically funded by the Graduate School) and to hold special events (such as a film screening, a holiday potluck, or a joint graduate/undergraduate social gathering).    Graduate students also typically assist with the Alaska Anthropological Association Meetings, which are hosted in Fairbanks on a rotating basis.

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Forms
There are numerous forms that students are required to submit or that need to be submitted on their behalf during the course of their studies.    The most common and important forms are available on the Graduate School web page.    Hard copies of most forms can be obtained from the Administrative Assistant in the Anthropology Main Office.  

Additional Information
More information about the UAF Department of Anthropology can be found online at http://www.uaf.edu/anthro.    This website includes links to other UAF online sources, including the General Catalog, Admissions, and Financial Aid.

The UAF Graduate School forms and Thesis Format Workbook can be found online at http://www.uaf.edu/gradsch/forms.html.