The Honors Program at UAF

The Honors Program Application will reopen April 1, 2013.

Front view of the Honors House
Click here to take a Virtual Tour

This is our, and soon to be your

Mission
Challenging and educating our best and brightest toward becoming critical thinkers, problem solvers and global community leaders by setting examples of resilience and sustainability.

Vision
 Becoming a global community of academic achievers.

Values
 Focused on Integrity, Inclusiveness, Collaboration, Insight, Leadership, Mentoring, Service, Innovation, Teamwork, Respect and Trust.

Program
 The Honors Program is, amongst many things, an academic philosophy and forum by and through which UAF students and faculty are provided the unique opportunity to explore, create and engage in educational practices outside traditional pedagogical boxes. The program embellishes the student's support base with:

  • Scholarships,
  • National and international academic internship opportunities,
  • One-on-one advising,
  • Priority registration,
  • Small class instruction,
  • Direct contact with visionary professors,
  • An academic and social "home away from home" Honors House,
  • Travel,
  • Social and entrepreneurial engagement opportunities, and
  • Launch into the market place and graduate education

Our Philosophy

The Honors Program is based on the conviction that genuine achievement in college means broad competence in areas inside and outside a student's major field of specialization and service. There is strong emphasis on cross- and inter-disciplinary studies both national and abroad. We encourage all to capitalize on our Alaskan and circumpolar experience: the Honors Program promotes personal growth, academic achievement, and participation in myriad intellectual and social communities.

Honors Student development is facilitated through:

  • Challenging and Honors-specific active learning courses with limited enrollment,
  • Curricular choice supported by personalized Honors Program staff advising,
  • Research, scholarships, internships, artistic engagement, international study, and service opportunity,
  • Availability of study and recreational facilities,
  • Encouragement to persevere and flourish,
  • Participation in intellectual and social communities of student scholars.

To provide exceptional educational opportunities and support, the Honors Program works closely with departments, individual faculty members and staff to create and maintain Honors courses, advice and assessment for faculty who teach Honors courses. This includes information about a variety of non-classroom educational activities such as undergraduate research, study abroad, community service, off-campus internships, national and local scholarship competitions.

Please visit our Academics page to peruse the Program and Graduation Requirements.

Eligibility Criteria

  • You must already be accepted and planning to attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks as a FULL TIME student.
  • High School GPA of 3.6 or higher, and 
  • Combined SAT score of 1820 or higher, and/or 
  • Combined ACT score of 27 or higher, or  
  • Transferring college GPA of 3.5 or higher. Students with junior or senior class standing are eligible to apply for the Honors Thesis Scholar option.
  • Fill out our Honors Program application* (w/ required essay), after UAF acceptance through the UAF admission application.

*The Honors Program Application process will only be open during the UAF Course Registration period. The application process will reopen April 1, 2013.

Provisional Portfolio Acceptance

If you do not meet Eligibility Criteria

Each year a number of highly motivated students, both entering and continuing, who do not meet acceptance criteria, are admitted on a provisional basis by the Honors Faculty Advisory Council and the Program Director. If you are interested in becoming a member of UAF's Honors Program and believe that acceptance will benefit both you and the program, you have two options:

1. If you are or will be a new UAF student, successfully complete one semester of full time classes (12 cr. or more) with a GPA of 3.5 or higher to qualify for admittance. You will then need to re-apply to the Program for consideration.

2. You may apply to the program without improving your GPA or test scores by filling out the online Honors Program Application (w/ required essay) and:

a. You will submit a Provisional Portfolio (postmarked within two weeks of receiving an email from the Honors Program asking you to do so) with the following information to be considered:

i. Your academic resume. Include current cumulative GPA, school(s) attended, extracurricular activities, volunteer or service experience, leadership experience and all club/ organization affiliations. Please limit to two pages or less.

ii. Three references from current or recent teachers. Provide relevant and current contact information.

iii. A secondary essay explaining your current low test scores, GPA, etc. and why you think your UAF scholastic performance will rise and be maintained at Honors Program standards.

iv. A sample of your best academic work (ex. writing, art project, research project, etc.).

b. Send your provisional portfolio BY MAIL or HAND DELIVER to:

Dr. Gary A. Laursen
UAF Honors Program
Re: Provisional Portfolio
P.O. Box 756282
Fairbanks AK, 99775-6282

If you submit your Provisional Portfolio postmarked within the two week deadline of receiving the initial email from the Honors Program with all required documents, you will be notified by email of the decision made regarding your application.