Orientation

What is Orientation?

Orientation events are designed to help you "orient" yourself, meaning to help you find your direction. UAF offers a variety of orientation events at the beginning of every semester. 

There are three groups who will help you find your way on campus through orientation programming:

New Student Orientation (NSO)
New Student Orientation is an office that specializes in helping new students find their way around UAF. NSO plans a variety of events that help you learn about student life, academic life, and life in Fairbanks. Dedicated student volunteers, called Orientation Leaders, help new students learn about campus and make connections with other students. New Student Orientation is REQUIRED for all new undergraduate F-1 and J-1 students, but we also encourage new graduate students to attend as well. You can register for New Student Orientation here

A fee will be added to your student account for the UAF orientation. Undergraduate students, because they are required to attend, will automatically have the fee charged to their account.  

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)
We provide orientation sessions every semester for new international students. These sessions cover important information about your immigration status and the rules and requirements for being in the United States as a student. We also cover topics of special interest in a way that is relevant to international students, such as explaining some of the details of higher education in the United States, dealing with culture shock, opening a bank account, and so on.

You do not have to register for International Student Orientation, because we know you will be there! All new international students are REQUIRED to attend International Student Orientation.  There is NO FEE for the International Student Orientation sessions.  The date, time and location are included on the International Student and Scholar Services calendar on the home page.  The information is also included in your welcome package.

UAF Graduate School
The UAF Graduate School provides orientation sessions for new graduate students. These sessions will help you understand the complexities of being a graduate student, and can make a big difference in your success as a UAF graduate student.  All new international graduate students are required to attend the New Graduate Student Orientation, and teaching assistants are required to attend the New Teaching Assistant Orientation. You can register for it, as well as the TA training required for new Teaching Assistants at the Upcoming Orientation and Trainings link on their home page.

Orientation Schedule
Fall orientation is held the Wednesday through Saturday before classes start.  The Graduate and International Student orientation sessions are held on Friday. 
Spring orientation is held the Friday before classes start.  The Graduate and International Student orientation sessions are also held on Friday.

Orientation for Graduate Students - F-1 Status

International graduate students are required to attend the Graduate Student Orientation Sessions and the International Student Orientation sessions.  Graduate students need to register for New Student Orientation if you wish to attend the full new student orientation. The orientation fee will be added to your student account.  There is no fee for the Graduate Student or International Student orientation.