Orientation for new graduate students
New Graduate Student Orientation
Date & Time
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Friday, August 21, 2026
Attendance Options
In-Person & Live via Zoom
In-Person Venue
Schaible Auditorium
(Usibelli Building)
[Edit Zone: Add any urgent orientation alerts or live Zoom links right here]
Welcome to the UAF Community
Thank you for choosing UAF! We look forward to meeting you during the New Graduate Student Orientation. Whether you are joining us in the auditorium or logging in remotely from afar, this session is tailored to set you up for a lifetime of research excellence.
Attending in-person or want the digital access pass? Please secure your spot by using the RSVP registry button below so we can arrange accurate seating and distribute vital orientation media packages.
What We'll Cover
At orientation, we will map out your journey through graduate studies. You'll learn what to expect during your critical first year, key dynamic milestones, and how the UAF Graduate School team acts as your dedicated support structure.
Is Attendance Mandatory?
Orientation is not mandatory, but we strongly recommend attending. It will instantly familiarize you with crucial university policy mechanics and establish immediate peer networking circles across diverse departments.
Graduate Student Social
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | The Pub (Wood Center)
Open to all incoming and active grad students! Relax after orientation with a completely free nacho bar starting at 5:30pm. It’s an informal opportunity to swap stories with other students and ease into campus life.
Finding Your Way: Map & Directions
Orientation and Pub Social Navigation
In-person sessions take place inside the Usibelli Building in the Schaible Auditorium. When you pass through the main glass front entry doors, turn right immediately. You will see two wide entryway doors leading straight into the Schaible Auditorium amphitheater on your left side.
The Pub Social takes place in the UAF Pub in the Wood Center, which is on the first floor down the back right corridor when coming through the main entrance.
Full Campus Orientation Schedule
In addition to Graduate School programming, new graduate students are welcome to participate in campus-wide orientation events throughout the week!
Thursday, August 20
| Audience | Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Welcome | 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Welcome Breakfast | Dine 49 or MBS |
| All Welcome | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Residence Hall Move-In | MBS Complex |
| All Welcome | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Orientation Check-In | Wood Center |
| All Welcome | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM | SSC Taking Care of Business Drop-In Hours | Rasmusson Library, SSC |
| All Welcome | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch | Dine 49 |
| All Welcome | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Ice Cream Thursday | Outside Arctic Java |
| Military Only | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Military/Veteran Students Drop-In Open House | Rasmusson Library 404 |
| Grad Students | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Innovation Opportunities for Graduate Students | 401 Akasofu (IARC) |
| Grad Students | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Intellectual Property and You! | 401 Akasofu (IARC) |
| All Welcome | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM | Dinner | Dine 49 |
| All Welcome | 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM | Trivia | Wood Center Ballroom |
Friday, August 21
| Audience | Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| International | 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM | International Student Orientation | BP Design Theater |
| All Welcome | 8:30 AM – 10:15 AM | Breakfast & Student Success Fair | Dine 49 |
| All Welcome | 12:30 PM – 1:45 PM | Lunch | — |
| Grad Students | 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM | New Graduate Student Orientation | Schaible Auditorium |
| Grad Students | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Graduate Student Social (Free Nacho Bar) | The Pub (Wood Center) |
| All Welcome | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Outdoor BBQ | Constitution Park |
Saturday, August 22
| Audience | Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Welcome | 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM | Breakfast | Dine 49 |
| All Welcome | 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM | Lunch | Dine 49 |
| All Welcome | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Choose Your Own Adventures (Karaoke 2:00-3:30 @ Hess Rec; Bike Ride 2:30-4:00 @ Arctic Java; Open Skate 3:30-5:00 @ Patty Center) |
Various Locations |
| All Welcome | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Volleyball Tournament | Patty Center |
| All Welcome | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Dinner | Dine 49 |
| All Welcome | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM | Field Night @ the SRC | SRC / Beluga Field |
| All Welcome | 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM | Costco Night | Shuttle to Costco meets at MBS Complex (residence halls) |
Sunday, August 23
| Audience | Time | Event | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Welcome | 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM | Breakfast | Dine 49 | |
| All Welcome | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch | Nenana Parking Lot | |
| All Welcome | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Mud Volleyball | Nenana Parking Lot | |
| All Welcome | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Choose Your Own Adventures (Open Skate 2:00-3:30 @ Patty Center; Campus Trail Walk 2:30-4:00 @ Trails) |
Various Locations | |
| All Welcome | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Shopping Shuttle - Fred Meyer & Walmart - (Shuttles leaves every 30 minutes from 2pm - 5pm) |
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| All Welcome | 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM | Dinner | Dine 49 | |
| All Welcome | 8:00 PM – 10:30 PM | Late Nighter | Wood Center |
Have questions or require special accessibility support accommodations?
Reach out via email at uaf-grad-school or connect directly at (907) 474-7464.