Information for LGBTQ2IA+ Students
UAF is a university where EVERYONE is welcome and EVERYONE belongs. Being a welcoming and supportive community is part of who we are as Nanook Nation. UAF Policies and Title IX guarantee that all members of the UAF community are entitled to learn, live and work in an environment free from sex- and gender- based discrimination.
The Nanook Diversity and Action Center (NDAC) promotes inclusion, social justice and cultural pluralism by hosting events and providing educational programs that honor and support diverse and intersectional identities. NDAC's goals are to increase student awareness and appreciation for other identities and cultures, encourage healthy relationships, lifestyles and social norms and to empower students to express themselves and advocate for positive change.
Updating your pronouns, name and gender in UAOnline
- Sign in to
- Go to Personal Information
- Select Chosen/Preferred First Name
- Enter your Chosen/Preferred Name. This is the name that will be used on course rosters, Blackboard, Canvas and housing records
- Click Submit
- Sign in to
- Go to Personal Information
- Select Update Gender/Pronouns
- Use the dropdown choices to select yours
- Hit Submit
- Collect your court order form with the change of name
- Fill out the change of name form
- Bring the form to the Office of the Registrar with your documentation
At UAF, Living Learning Communities, or LLCs, bring together students with similar
identities, values or needs. The goal of these communities is to develop strong friendships
while gaining a deeper connection to UAF with the help of faculty and staff mentors.
The Stonewall LLC aims to celebrate and affirm the cultural experiences of the LGBTQ2IA+
community while welcoming the diverse and intersectional identities of every resident
through the collaboration of various campus and local partners. Together UAF Residence Life
works closely with the Stonewall LLC to create a safe community of respect and support.
Community engagement is an essential part of the success of the Stonewall LLC. Providing
events such as movie viewings, discussions, campus events and more that provide the
community with the opportunity to get to know each other and themselves in a safe
and supportive environment. Our goal at Residence Life is to provide an environment
where all students feel safe to live, learn and develop.
The Gender & Sexuality Alliance is an established student club that has been around for many years. GSA members discuss relevant LGBTQ+ topics, discuss LGBT+ history, watch movies and TV shows, play a lot of games and offer support and resources for students that need them! In the past the GSA has hosted many annual events such as the annual UAF GSA drag show. The GSA seeks to be a great, safe place for students to be themselves and make new friends and connections.
![Safe Zone Project logo - a rainbow gradient circle with the words Safe Zone Project in white](/admitted/images/safezone2.png)
When you come to UAF, you may see a sticker or sign that indicate that a person is
a “Safe Space” or has been “Safe Zone Trained.” These signs mean a person is open
to talking about and being supportive of LGBTQ+ individuals and identities. Displaying
“Safe Zone” stickers is a sign to others of that staff or faculty member's commitment
to creating LGBTQ-inclusive environments.
The goal of a Safe Zone training isn’t to change a particular space, but to create
people who are invested in creating safe and affirming environments wherever they
go, and providing those people the skills and knowledge they need to do that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gender and sexuality
Gender identity is one's own internal sense of self and their gender, whether that is man, woman, neither or both. Unlike gender expression, gender identity is not outwardly visible to others.
Gender Expression is how a person presents gender outwardly, through behavior, clothing, voice, name, pronouns or other perceived characteristics. Society identifies these cues as masculine or feminine, although what is considered masculine or feminine changes over time and varies by culture. For more information please see , and .
Preferred/chosen name is any name a person chooses to use other than their legal name. For example, a student may wish to shorten their first name (e.g. Steven to Steve) or to be referred to by their middle name or a nickname.
The University of 91Ƶ and UAF recognize that many members of its community use names other than their legal names to identify themselves.
UAF policies and practices
The Office of the Bursar, Office of the Registrar and Financial Aid Office. If a student is interested in being employed by the university, they will be hired under their legal name with paystub documentation showing this legal name as well. The department the student is employed under should address them by their preferred name.
Please reach out to the Office of Admissions so that we may ensure communications sent to you are addressed appropriately. Hudson Bolduc is the point of contact if you have further questions or concerns regarding this situation. Contact him at bcbolduc@alaska.edu.
If a preferred name is specified on your UAOnline student profile, it will be used on in-person course rosters and in Canvas and Blackboard. Pronouns aren't listed on the in-person roster or on Blackboard. Students taking in-person courses will also have their preferred name presented on class rosters and in Blackboard and Canvas rosters.
If a preferred name is specified on your UAOnline student profile, it will be used on course rosters and in Canvas and Blackboard. Pronouns aren't listed in Blackboard. Pronouns are listed in Canvas if students have edited their profile in Canvas to include their preferred pronouns.
By filling out the change of name form here, and providing the updated legal documents, such as a new birth certificate, court order of the change, drivers license, or passport, to the Office of the Registrar.
If you would like to create an alias email address that utilizes your preferred name, you can create one by logging into with your Student ID number or single sign-on credential and password. Once logged in, find ‘Email Selection’ and select ‘Change.’ Scroll down and select ‘Manage Email Aliases.’ From there you will see 4 alias email options to choose from. Once you make your selection, click ‘Activate’ on the alias you would like to use as your new email address and select ‘done’. If you do not see your preferred name featured in these alias options, make sure your UAOnline account has been updated with your preferred name.
Next, log into your UAF google account on a desktop or laptop computer. Once logged
into your account go to ‘Settings’ select ‘All Settings’ and ‘Accounts and Imports.’ Under the ‘Send Mail as’ section add your alias email address. Choose this address as your new default. The
emails you send will now match your alias email address. If you have any questions
about updating your alias email please contact UAF’s OIT office at 907-450-8300 or
helpdesk@alaska.edu.
When you’re in your final semester at UAF, you’ll apply to graduate with the Office of the Registrar, and Graduation Services will evaluate your completed coursework to ensure you meet degree requirements. On the application to graduate, you will have the choice to decide if your preferred name or legal name will be used on your diploma.
By filling out the change of name form here, and providing the updated legal documents such as a new birth certificate, court order of the change, drivers license, or passport to the Office of the Registrar.
Yes, alumni who wish to request a reissued diploma are encouraged to reach out to the Office of the Registrar. You’ll need to fill out the change of name form. Contact the Office of the Registrar for assistance on ordering a new diploma, updating your name on the diploma, or if you have any further questions.
states:
"Discrimination against any individual because of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, physical or mental disability, status as a protected veteran, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, parenthood, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, or other legally protected status is prohibited."
Although only gender identity is specified in the nondiscrimination statement, both gender expression and gender identity are covered under the protected class of sex.
UAF takes the protection of minors very seriously. UAF's Protection of Minors policy follows the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Administrative Regulation 130 regarding confidentiality. Personnel should not disclose a student's transgender status to others, including parents, and/or other personnel unless there is a specific "need to know." Protection of Minors information can be located at Environmental Health, Safety & Risk Management.
UAF housing
Living Learning Communities (LLCs) are residential groups that bring together students with similar identities, values or interests — usually on the same residence floor. LLCs also have faculty and staff who support member’s experience within the residence halls and engagement with campus. The Stonewall Living Learning Community is a safe and inclusive community for students. Through collaboration with various UAF campus partners and the Fairbanks community, UAF's LGBTQ+ student population is supported through connection, education and advocacy. The Stonewall LLC is located in Bartlett Hall (6th floor) for returning students and Moore Hall (6th floor) for first-year students.
Yes, UAF is committed to accommodating transgender students in on-campus housing. Placement within Residence Life is based on a student's disclosed gender identity. If a student states that they identify as a male and they're a first-year student in Moore, they'll live on a male floor. If the floors have more than one gender and they have a roommate, then they'll be placed with a male roommate. The same is true with the restrooms within the Moore-Bartlett-Skarland (MBS) housing complex. The Stonewall LLC has gender inclusive restrooms, and students should use the restrooms, locker rooms and housing that corresponds with their gender identity. Gender inclusive bathrooms are available in many areas of campus and can be found on this map.
You can find a list of gender inclusive and ADA showers and bathrooms here including a map of campus detailing the location of these restrooms and showers.
If a preferred name is specified on your UAOnline student profile, Residence Life will use preferred first name as default, and preferred name is the only indicated name on housing rosters.
Help and resources
NDAC has created a comprehensive list of LGBTQ organizations in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. advances 91Ƶ’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community through advocacy, education and connectivity and has a comprehensive list of resources, community events and businesses that are welcoming to the LGBTQ2IA+ community.
The Nanook Diversity & Action Center, in collaboration with community organizations and student leaders who host a number of celebrations and observances to honor our LGBTQ+ community. The Nanook Family Connection platform provides family members with resources to help their students navigate the challenges, opportunities and responsibilities of college life.
At the Student Health and Counseling Center, students may receive health care, counseling, substance abuse referrals, health education and assistance with student health insurance. Students must pay the Fairbanks consolidated fee to be eligible for these services. The medical staff provides primary health care and referrals for specialty medical services when appropriate. General office visits for preventive care, illness and injury are provided at no charge. Medications, laboratory services, medical supplies and some physical examinations are provided at reduced cost. Students should call for appointments. Urgent care appointments are available when necessary. The Student Health and Counseling Center is located on the second floor of the Whitaker Building. The SHCC offers a that meets weekly. For more information and current hours, call 907-474-7043, email uaf-sh-cc@alaska.edu or visit the Student Health and Counseling Center website.
UAF is committed to providing a safe and respectful campus environment free from gender-based violence and sexual harassment. The Title IX Office leads the effort to ensure UAF moves beyond mere compliance with civil rights laws to embodying the principles of respect and equality for all. Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. All members of the university community and visitors have the right to be free from all forms of gender and sex-based discrimination, including sexual violence, sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.
Visit the Title IX Office website for resources and more information.
Have other questions? Email uaf-admissions@alaska.edu, call or text 907-474-7500 to connect with us. We'd love to chat!