In order to attend a class, students must be registered. Credit for classes may be earned only when tuition and fees are paid in full. Registration is held each semester on dates published in the academic calendar.

The academic calendar designates the first day of instruction for all semester-length courses. However, the actual first meeting of a class may occur any time during that week.

Students assigned an incomplete grade are not entitled to complete the remaining coursework within the classroom/lab or to any additional instruction, nor may they participate in the class/lab during a future semester without re-registering, paying tuition and retaking the course.

When a student registers for classes, they assume financial responsibility for tuition and fees. Failure to pay may result in the university dropping their registration and making them ineligible to receive a grade for those classes.

Academic Advising

Academic advising plays a vital role in helping students make the most of their educational journey. To support a strong start, all newly admitted students are required to meet with an academic advisor during their first semester before registering for classes. Every undergraduate degree and certificate student is assigned an academic advisor who will serve as a guide throughout their academic experience. Together, students and advisors will create a personalized academic plan that aligns with the student’s interests, program requirements, and long-term goals. Advisors are here to help explore course options, identify the best class sequences, and navigate any academic decisions along the way. Academic advising is available across multiple campuses. Visit the Academic Advising and Learning Assistance section section for more details.

Graduate Students

Newly admitted graduate students must meet with an advisor or the department/program chair before registering for classes. Continuing graduate students may confer with their advisor as to what courses to enroll in for each semester, but are not required to meet with their advisor prior to registration. 

Nondegree Students

Anyone interested in attending classes at UAF as a nondegree student may register with the proper permissions. New nondegree students must complete a free nondegree application in order to be eligible to register. However, nondegree students are not eligible for financial aid or priority registration.

Nondegree students may also see an academic advisor, and it is recommended for those taking 9 or more credits in a semester or for those who have accumulated 30 or more UAF credits. 

Nondegree students:

• Are subject to placement examination requirements for courses
• Must meet prerequisites for courses
• May need to provide additional documentation or approvals before enrolling in specific courses

Any nondegree student who wants to be considered a degree candidate must submit an application for admission, meet admission requirements and submit transcripts. 

It’s important for potential graduate students to understand that credits earned as a nondegree student might not be accepted for use toward a graduate degree program. Please see the transfer credit section of the General University Requirements for Master's Degrees page for more information.

High School and Secondary School Students

High school and secondary students may take classes at UAF either as a degree or nondegree student. 

• Secondary Student Enrollment

The secondary student enrollment process allows secondary school students to register for UAF classes. A student meeting course prerequisites may enroll in university classes. Students must consult their appropriate school district officials and school counselors for approval prior to registration if they wish to use university courses to meet high school graduation requirements.

Registering for courses at UAF establishes a permanent academic record that reflects student academic performance in all courses attempted. Students must submit the free nondegree application and must obtain a parent's or guardian's permission to enroll. 

A parent or guardian may not attend a course in which their secondary school student is registered unless and until the parent or guardian is also officially registered for the course.

Note: Enrollment in UAF courses as a secondary student does not constitute formal admission to the university for the purposes of earning a certificate or degree. Please note that in order to qualify for federal financial aid, a student must have either a high school diploma or a GED.

• TECH PREP Opportunities

The TECH PREP program allows students to earn credits toward a UAF certificate or associate degree by completing career and technical education classes in high school that have been approved for college credit by UAF. The classes available for credit vary from school to school, but in general, they are taken from the following areas: applied business; automotive; airframe and powerplant; human services; computer information office systems; allied health; drafting; emergency medical services; and welding. For more information, contact the student's high school counselor or the Community and Technical College at 907-455-2800.

• Alaska Higher Education Admission Decision (AHEAD) program

The AHEAD program allows qualified high school students to be formally admitted to UAF as general studies students. AHEAD students are assigned an academic advisor and follow the registration timeline for degree students.

To qualify, students must submit an AHEAD program application. They must have completed three-fourths of their high school core curriculum and have a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher. However, to qualify for federal financial aid, students must have either a high school diploma or a GED. 

Non-Attendance Drop Policy

Students are expected to begin attending classes on the first day of instruction. Some departments, in trying to find space for students on waitlists, require that students to attend the first class session or notify the department in advance that they cannot attend the first class. If the first class is missed without notifying the department, a student may be dropped from the course, and the space may be assigned to a student on the waitlist.

Because of the high demand for writing, English, and communication courses listed below, students who fail to attend either of the first two meetings of a basic course will be dropped even if they registered in advance and paid their fees. If space becomes available in a class from which they have been dropped by the department, they need to follow the add procedure to re-enroll.

Withdrawing

• Withdrawing from a Full-Semester Class
  Withdrawing from a full-semester class later than the second Friday after the first day of instruction (last day to drop classes) results in a grade of W appearing on a student's academic record. While a W grade does not affect GPA, it may impact financial aid. Be sure to check with the Financial Aid Office before withdrawing from classes. The last day for withdraw from a class is the 10th Friday after the first day of instruction. For specific dates, see the academic calendar. Fees and tuition are not automatically refunded for W grades. See the tables above for classes lasting less than a full semester.

• Withdrawing from a Class Shorter than the Full Semester
  Withdrawal must be done by the 60% point of instruction.

Withdrawals After the Deadline

Appeals for a late withdrawal after the student-initiated withdrawal deadline — the tenth Friday after the first day of instruction — are exceptions to policy and are allowed only in exceptional cases. Approval is not automatic, and documented evidence needs to be provided to support the request. Acceptable serious and compelling reasons may include:

1. death in the immediate family;

2. serious illness or injury of the student or immediate family; and

3. factors outside of the student’s control (for example, fire or flood).

Failing a course, avoiding an unsatisfactory grade or ignorance of policies are not serious and compelling reasons for seeking a late withdrawal and will not be approved.

Appeals for late withdrawals must be submitted within 30 class days after the beginning of the next regular semester. The request for appeal for late withdraw form is available at either the Office of the Registrar forms page, through the Office of the Registrar in Signers’ Hall on the Troth Yeddha' Campus, or through local campus student services offices. Once received, the appeal will be evaluated by a campus-wide committee, which will return a decision to the student. The decision of the university is final, and a student who files a written appeal under these procedures shall be expected to abide by the final disposition of the review, as provided, and may not seek a further appeal of the matter under any other procedure within the university.

Faculty-Initiated Drop or Withdrawal

Instructors have the right to drop students who do not meet course prerequisites, did not obtain a grade of C- or better in all prerequisite courses, or who have not participated substantially in a class. Faculty-initiated drops submitted prior to the last day to drop classes will not appear on the student’s transcript. Faculty-initiated withdrawals may occur between the last day to drop classes and the 10th Friday after the first day of instruction. A grade of W will appear on the student’s transcript for faculty-initiated withdrawals. Fees and tuition are not automatically refunded for W grades.

Directed and Individual Study

Directed Study: Directed study sections allow students to enroll individually in catalog-listed courses that are not offered during a particular semester. A directed study proposal may be approved if the course is unavailable that semester and the student needs it to graduate. Directed study course titles will include "DS."

Individual Study: Individual study sections (ending in 97) allow students to expand their knowledge in areas not covered in the current catalog. Students requesting or advised to pursue an individual study must:

• Submit a brief proposal to the appropriate faculty member.
• Collaborate with the faculty member to develop a syllabus.
• During the creation of an Individual Study section, the syllabus must be submitted using the Office of the Registrar Individual Study Syllabus Submission form.

Registration: Students can register for directed and individual study sections online after the details are finalized with the instructor. The student will work with the instructor and department to create and schedule the section, then complete registration via UAOnline.

Where to Get More Information

Office of the Registrar
University of Alaska Fairbanks
102 Signers’ Hall, 1810 Salcha Street
P.O. Box 757495
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7495
Email: uaf-registrar@alaska.edu
Telephone: 907-474-6300