UAF Badges

To request a Facility Services badge, employees must complete the PolarExpress Badge Request form. Once the employee’s supervisor approves the request, the Office of the Bursar will process the form and print the badge.

Forms must include a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID and a photo for the badge. Badge photos must meet the card photo requirements.

If the department is covering the $10 replacement fee, the employee or approver must include the fund and organization account numbers on the request form. Alternatively, the employee’s Access Approving Authority may email the Office of the Bursar a memo that includes the employee’s name, employee ID number, fund and organization account numbers, and confirmation that the department will cover the $10 replacement fee.

To request a Facility Services contractor badge, contractors must complete the PolarExpress Badge Request form (N-SSO). Contractors must create an account before completing and submitting the form.

The request must include the name of the company the contractor works for on campus, a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID, and a photo for the badge. Badge photos must meet the card photo requirements.

For replacement badges, if the department is covering the $10 replacement fee, the contractor or approver must include the fund and organization account numbers on the request form. Alternatively, the contractor’s Access Approving Authority may email the Office of the Bursar a memo that includes the contractor’s name, UAF assigned identification number, fund and organization account numbers, and confirmation that the department will cover the $10 replacement fee.

Currently enrolled students: Students who work for a UAF contractor company must use the PolarExpress Badge Request form (SSO). These students will continue using their student PolarExpress card for campus access and will receive a separate contractor badge for identification purposes.

To request a firefighter badge, applicants must complete the PolarExpress Badge Request form. Once the applicant’s supervisor approves the request, the Office of the Bursar will process the form and print the badge.

Forms must include a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID and a photo for the badge. Applicants must wear their uniform in the badge photo for it to be accepted.

If the department is covering the replacement fee, the firefighter or Access Approving Authority must include the fund and organization account numbers on the request form.

To request a student firefighter badge, applicants must complete the PolarExpress Badge Request form and enter “Firefighter” in the rank field. Once the applicant’s supervisor approves the request, the Office of the Bursar will process the form and print the badge.

Students enrolled in UAF’s firefighter program will receive a student firefighter badge that serves as their official UAF identification and replaces the regular student PolarExpress card. The badge provides building access, supports purchases, and performs all other functions of a regular PolarExpress card. These students will no longer be issued a separate student PolarExpress card.

Forms must include a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID and a photo for the badge. Applicants must wear their uniform in the badge photo for it to be accepted.

Students who leave the program must return their firefighter badge to their immediate supervisor and submit a request for a regular student PolarExpress card.

To request police identification cards, officers must complete the PolarExpress Badge Request form and attach an approval memo from the UA President.

Forms must include a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID and a photo for the badge. Applicants must wear their uniform in the badge photo for it to be accepted.

Officers will receive both an employee PolarExpress card and a separate State Police identification card. The State Police identification card must be signed at pickup.

Students enrolled in the following CTC programs will receive both a PolarExpress card and a separate program identification badge:

• Medical Assistant
• EMS/Paramedicine
• Practical Nursing

To request these cards, students must complete both the PolarExpress Card Request form and the PolarExpress Badge Request form.

Forms must include a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID and a photo for the badge. Applicants must wear their uniform in the badge photo for it to be accepted.

Once the student’s supervisor approves the badge request, the Office of the Bursar will process that form and print the program badge.

EMS/Paramedicine students must also include their program start and end dates on the badge request form in the format MM/YYYY–MM/YYYY.

For replacement badge requests, the appropriate fund and organization must be specified on the form by the approver if the student is not covering the fee.

Courtesy Cards are available to individuals affiliated with UAF who are not current employees or currently enrolled students. Eligible affiliates include emeritus faculty, researchers, volunteers, spouses, dependents, and other affiliated individuals.

To request a Courtesy Card, complete the Courtesy Card Request form.

Forms must include a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID and a photo for the card. Photos must meet the card photo requirements.

Courtesy Cards are valid for one year from the date of purchase. A $20 annual renewal fee is required to maintain card eligibility for access after the first year. Courtesy Cards function like regular PolarExpress cards, but access privileges are not assigned automatically.

Emeritus cards are issued as Courtesy Cards and are exempt from the $20 annual renewal fee.

To request or renew access, cardholders must contact their Access Approving Authority. Cardholders who do not know their Access Approving Authority should contact their affiliated department. For renewals, the Access Approving Authority will notify the Office of the Bursar via departmental memo.