The board of regents approved a new master of arts in applied linguistics degree for UAF at its December meeting in Fairbanks. The board also approved the addition of women's swimming and diving as a new intercollegiate sport at UAF, beginning in fall 2004. The minutes of the meeting are online at www.alaska.edu/bor/.

Former State Rep. and ASUAF President Joe Hayes is the new executive director of the UAF Alumni Association. Hayes graduated from UAF in 1997 with a degree in political science and served in the Alaska House of Representatives the past two years.

Corene Schwartz is the new director of athletics for UAF. Schwartz is expected to arrive in Fairbanks in mid-January after moving from Evansville University in Indiana where she's been the associate director of athletics.

Emeriti, Usibelli Award and honorary degree nomination information, procedures and deadlines are located on the provost's website under "Awards and Recognition" at www.uaf.edu/provost/, or by contacting Hild Peters at 5178 or fnhmp@uaf.edu.

Theatre UAF is holding auditions for shows scheduled during the spring 2003 semester Jan. 18 in the Salisbury Theatre. Those interested in auditioning should turn in a completed information form to the theatre department office and sign up for an audition time. For more information call 6590 or visit www.uaf.edu/theatre/audition/.

The Technology Advisory Board will begin its spring 2003 proposal process Jan. 14. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 7 for faculty or staff and Feb.14 for students. For more information visit www.uaf.edu/tab/.

The UA Office of General Counsel welcomes two new attorneys to its staff. Ardith Lynch comes to UA from the Fairbanks North Star Borough and Mary E. Greene has been a Superior Court judge for the Fourth Judicial District in Fairbanks.

Bill Schneider, Rasmuson Library, is the author of So They Understand: Cultural Issues in Oral History, a comprehensive study of the challenges and concerns involved in documenting, representing, preserving and interpreting oral narratives. The book was recently published by the Utah State University Press. For more information visit www.usu.edu/usupress/.

Applications for the graduate program in Regional Resilience and Adaptation are being accepted for UAF's Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program. The date for applications is Feb. 1, 2003. For more information visit www.regional-resilience.uaf.edu/.

The TVC professional development course schedule for spring 2003 is now available online at www.tvctraining.org.

UA Statewide publishes a weekly newsletter titled, "On the Move" available only online at www.alaska.edu/opa/eMove/.

We all know December's a busy month. To keep up on all the activities, be sure to check the UAF events calendar at www.uaf.edu/events. Want to get the word out on your own activity? Just click on "Add event," fill out the form and submit it! Items are usually posted within 24 hours. For more information call 6438.

Tired of the same old computer desktop? Show off your Nanook pride by downloading your choice of several UAF desktop pictures at www.uaf.edu/univrel/desktops/.

Yelena Matusevich, CLA, has handmade cards with a holiday theme currently on display at the UAF Bookstore.

The Pub will be open at 2:30 p.m. each day during finals week with free coffee and daily price reductions to help get students through their exams.

Fairbanks campus faculty members are reminded to have grades submitted to the Registrar's Office by Dec. 20.

UAF will be closed for the holidays from Dec. 23 at 5 p.m. through Jan. 1, 2003. For a complete schedule of campus holiday hours, see www.uaf.edu/univrel/holiday.html.

A holiday sale will take place in Wood Center Dec. 13 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Participants include the Georgeson Botanical Garden, the Sea Grant Program, the UA Museum and others.

La soiree francaise de Noel aura lieu le 13 decembre a 19 du soir a Copper Lane House. Venez nombreux!

The UA Museum's latest special exhibit is "Made in Fairbanks," a collection of more than 300 creations and commercial products produced in Fairbanks. The holiday sale at the museum store continues until Dec. 24 at 5 p.m.

Chancellor Lind invites all UAF faculty, staff and students to a holiday gathering in Wood Center's multilevel lounge Dec. 18 from 4-6 p.m.

The UA Museum presents "A Sparktacular Celebration," Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. featuring a New Year's fireworks display. Stop in before or after the show for free hot chocolate and cookies or to enjoy the museum's exhibits.

The UA Museum's Junior Curator's Camp, the Entophiles, will be held Jan. 6-8 from 8:30 a.m.-noon. Students in grades 8-11 will investigate the world of Alaska's insects with entomologist Jim Kruse. There is a $75 fee per student. For more information or to register call Jessica Ryan at 6948.

The Seventh Annual Visitor Industry Job Fair, co-sponsored by UAF Career Services and the Alaska Travel Industry Association, will be held Jan. 29-30 in Wood Center.

Trilby Barber , an undergraduate art major with an emphasis in sculpture, has received a Brighter Tomorrow grant from the MS Foundation. Barber used her $1000 award to buy an arc welder which will allow her to finish her final project.

David Klein, professor emeritus of wildlife management and UAF alumnus, received an outstanding alumni award from the University of Connecticut.

The UA Press is proud to announce that its publication "Ice Window: Letters from a Bering Strait Village, 1892-1902" edited by Kathleen Lopp Smith and Verbeck Smith, was honored with the Alaska Historical Society's 2002 Pathfinder Award.

The UAF women's basketball team's last home game of 2002 is Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. against UC-Santa Cruz. The first home game of 2003 is against St. Martin's College Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. Both games will be played at the Patty Center.

The next home games for UAF men's basketball team are Jan. 9 against St. Martin's College and Jan. 11 against Central Washington. Both games begin at 7 p.m. in the Patty Center.

UAF hockey will be back in Fairbanks Jan. 17-18 when the Nanooks face off against Lake Superior State at 7 p.m. at the Carlson Center.

In last week's presentation to the UA Board of Regents, the College of Rural Alaska campus directors shared information about exciting programs at each of the rural sites. Thanks to Sen. Stevens and his support of the Title III programs, and the work of our director of federal relations, Martha Stewart, the rural campuses have ignited interest at the community level. They have developed and are piloting innovative programs in nursing, tribal management, e-commerce, early childhood education, rural human services and more.

CRA has adopted the concept of an "engaged university," as shared by our colleagues at the Cooperative Extension Service. CRA is moving forward with a strategic plan that works to engage our partners. We're assuming a proactive role in responding to health care needs. Through TVC, we're offering certificate and associate degrees in nursing, radiology technician, dental assisting and we'll soon start courses in pharmacy technician. TVC has placed 15 nurses in local hospitals and the Kuskokwim Campus is graduating five nurses this month.

The success of the programs offered is a result of our partnerships with private industry. The Fairbanks Memorial Hospital has been a wonderful partner, evidenced through financial support, internships and opportunities for on-the-job training. The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation in Bethel has also supported our students with housing, scholarships and mentors. Together we're working to build learning communities and the student success that results.

In a previous article, I overlooked the Alaska Native Language Center's contribution in the Brooks Rededication ceremony. They had a fine group of guests and provided tours of their impressive archives. If you haven't had a chance to visit the Brooks, please stop by and do so. The CRA staff, faculty and directors wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season .