The PolarExpress card is the permanent University Identification card for students, staff, and faculty of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.   This card includes your name, photograph, UA identification number, and library number.   A central database contains the information needed to identify the buildings and rooms you may access, meal plan type, some account balances, library check-outs, computer lab access, and other activities. This information is electronically stored on the magnetic strip of the PolarExpress card.

The account balances on the card refer to monetary funds which may be added to the card for making copies, printing documents, purchasing food on campus inn dining facilities and vending machines, as well as some off-campus locations. These declining balance funds are called Bear Bucks. Every PolarExpress card includes a Bear Bucks account so you can decide if you want to use that feature or not. Many meal plans include Munch Money, which may be used for food purchases on campus, and a few off campus locations.

All currently registered students and continuing employees should come in to our office located in Signers' Hall to obtain a PolarExpress card. Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  To get your first PolarExpress card, come in to our office, fill out an application, bring in your government issued photo ID (driver’s license, military ID, or passport,) we will make you a card for free! Please note that during peak times of the year, it sometimes takes one to two weeks for your information to be downloaded in to our database. New employees will be able to obtain an ID card after receiving their first pay check.  

The PolarExpress card is a permanent card, valid for two years after the holder’s last affiliation with the University. All privileges expire upon departure from the University, with the exceptions of your Bear Bucks and Munch Money accounts. Holders who return to the University system within two years and no longer have their PolarExpress Card must purchase a replacement card.

Notify the PolarExpress office immediately if you lose your card. Call 474-7384 and select the menu option for reporting a lost or stolen card. If you call after business hours, the card will be deactivated the following business day. In all cases, your card will be deactivated, until you stop by our office to get a replacement. If you find your card, bring it to the PolarExpress Office to have it reinstated. We cannot reinstate ID cards over the phone.

Come by our office to replace a lost or stolen card. You will be charged $15 for your first replacement card, $20 for the second, and $25 for the third (or higher) replacement cards.  If your card is damaged, bring it in to the PolarExpress office and we will replace it for a $10 fee. There is an $8 charge to obtain a name change on your PolarExpress card. Be sure to notify UAF registration of your name change. We cannot print out a card with your new name until the change has been downloaded in to our database.

Never surrender your PolarExpress card to anyone as a deposit or collateral for any reason. However, your PolarExpress card remains the property of the University of Alaska Fairbanks and must be presented or surrendered upon demand by any authorized personnel.

Our Courtesy Card is for use by individuals who do not have a direct affiliation with the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, who want access to library privileges, use of a Bear Bucks account or the ability to use 10 block meal plans at the Lola Tilly.

Much like the PolarExpress card, a Courtesy Card includes a photo of the card holder, an ID and library card number. The cost for a Courtesy Card is $11.00, and is valid for one year from the date of purchase. For any additional accesses or privileges to be added to the card (as an example access to the Student Recreation Center) a written request from the department authorizing the access is necessary prior to adding to the card.

To obtain a Courtesy Card, come in to our office in Signers' Hall. Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To obtain your first courtesy Card card, come in to our office, fill out an application, bring in your government issued photo ID (driver’s license, military ID, or passport,) and $11.00 in cash, check, or credit card. Please note that during peak times of the year, it may take a week or two for the information to be added to our database before our office is able to process a Courtesy Card.

The charge for renewing an expired Courtesy Card is $8.00. Please come by the PolarExpress office to renew your card.

The University of Alaska-Fairbanks created the Bear Bucks program to be the ultimate compliment to your university experience.  Your ID can be used for dining on campus, but we realize that students and parents want more. So we partnered with your favorite off campus merchants to give you the ultimate flexibility, variety and value you deserve.

Bear Bucks is an account linked to your PolarExpress card which allows you easy access to spending at a variety of locations on campus. This is a purchased value/declining balance program in which you deposit money into the account to be spent at a future time.  You can deposit money into your Bear Bucks at any of the Account Management Centers on campus, at the PolarExpress System POS devices listed below, the UAF Office of the Bursar, or at the PolarExpress Office. We do not process refunds for any balances on your Bear Bucks account.

You can make a deposit in to your Bear Bucks account at the following locations:

AMC Locations

• Wood Center , @ the Kiosk in the food court
• Rasmuson Library , next to reserve counter
• Arctic Health Research Building
• MBS Lobby
• Bunnell Computer Lab
• Reichardt Building
• Community Technical College Campus (located old courthouse @ 604 Barnette)

      POS Locations

• Bookstore
• CRCD Bookstore
• UAF Office of the Bursar
• All Dining Services Locations

You may also add funds to your card from off campus! You may process a Bear Bucks deposit over the phone using a credit card by contacting the Office of the Bursar at 907-474-7384, or thePolarExpress office at907-474-7657 . Checks may be sent to the PolarExpress office for deposit. Please include the name and student ID number of the account where you want your check deposited, and mail it to:

UAF PolarExpress

403 Salcha St. Room 116
P.O. Box 756090
Fairbanks, AK   99775

Once you have purchased Bear Bucks you can spend them on a variety of goods and services on campus including food, vending, copying, printing, school supplies, computer, and computer accessories. Bear Bucks can also be used to purchase textbooks online at www.uaftext2u.com. Bear Bucks is also accepted at some off campus locations.

You can use your Bear Bucks at the following on-campus locations:

*   Wood Center Front Counter

*   UAF Bookstore

*   The Pub (Age restrictions apply)

*    UAFDining Services Locations:

·          Wood Center
 

1.       Pizza Luna

2.       Polar Perks

3.       Taco Bell

4.       Grill 155

5.       Freshens

·          West Ridge Café 

·          Lola Tilly Commons

·          Library Polar Perk - Open during winter semesters

·          Campus Cache - Open during winter semesters (including Subway)

·          CTC Polar Perk

·          Museum Cafe - Open during summer months

*   Vending Machines:

·          MBS Complex

·          Gruening Building, 3rd and 4th Floors

·          Bunnell, 2nd Floor

·          Natural Sciences Building, 2nd Floor

·          Arctic Health Research Building, 1st floor by main entrance

·          Admin Services Center located on College Road

·          Each of the lower campus residence Halls

1.       Wickersham

2.       Macintosh

3.       Nerland

4.       Stevens

5.       Lathrop

NOTE: Having problems with a vending machine and need a refund?

If you have a problem with a vending machine, you may request a refund at the following locations:

·          Signers' Hall Office of the Bursar

·          Patty Center Ticket office

·          MBS Complex Residence Life office

*   Copy Pool Copiers

·          Rasmuson Library

·          BioScience Library

·          Arctic Health Research Building

·          Wood Center

·          Printing Services

·          Duckering

·          Eielson Building

·          Gruening

·          Signers Hall

·          Harper Building

·          O'Neill Building

*   Laser Prints

• Bunnell Computer Lab
• 24hr lab in the Library
• Library Print stations on 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors

Please visit www.uafbearbucks.com for the most up to date information.

If you are receiving a paycheck from UAF, you may deposit any amount starting at $5.00 up to the size of your check onto a Bear Bucks account of your choice, (only 1 recipient allowed).  Fill this form out and submit it to your PPA (personnel payroll assistant) or directly to HR.