What is ASUAF?

The Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks is UAF's representative student body. All UAF students who pay the consolidated fee are members of the association.

While ASUAF technically refers to the entire association and its membership which encompasses almost every student at UAF, in colloquial use, ASUAF typically refers to the student government officials of ASUAF.

ASUAF's constitution establishes a government of ASUAF, consisting of "a President and Vice President elected by the student body on the same ticket, a Senate elected by the student body, and a Chairperson of the Senate elected by the Senate."

A Very Brief History

What we now know as the University of Alaska Fairbanks was first called the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines. Founded in 1917, AAC&SM wouldn't see its first class of students until 1922. Even then, the students organized a student government and John Patrick Shanley, who would become the college's first graduate the following spring, was selected as the first student association president.

Eventually, the student association would come to be known as the Associated Students of the University of Alaska. Following a major restructuring of Alaska's higher education system in 1975, the University of Alaska became the University of Alaska Fairbanks. ASUA followed suit, becoming the Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (ASUAF).

The history of ASUAF and the student government bodies that preceded it is intricately tied to the history of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The student government was present during the expansion of the student population under UA President William Wood and served as a valuable asset to the university administration regarding student issues and student engagement. ASUA was present while the Alaska State Constitution was being drafted in 1956 in what would become Constitution Hall, then the student union building. The student government was also instrumental in getting various buildings and programs established for the benefit of the student body including the Wood Center, Student Recreation Center and Student Support Services.

ASUAF will continue to play a vital role in the growth of UAF as the university enters a second century of service to the state of Alaska.

John Patrick Shanley, third from left, was the first graduate of the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines (which would later become UAF) and was also first president of the Student Association.

What does ASUAF do?

ASUAF's primary responsibility is to represent the voice and opinion of UAF's student body to the UAF administration, Board of Regents, University of Alaska President and Alaska State Legislature. This is accomplished through formal membership on various university committees, close collaboration with Faculty Senate and Staff Council, participation in the Coalition of Student Leaders, through resolutions and legislation and through individual conversations.

Additionally, ASUAF provides the following free services for students:

Individual advocacy
Coffee, tea and hot chocolate
Printing, faxing, and scanning
Legal consultation via a local law firm
Design services
Alaska voter registration

ASUAF members meet with Governor Bill Walker in December 2015.

Credit: UAF Sun Star

Organizational Overview

ASUAF is UAF's student government, composed of two branches -- an executive branch and a legislative branch -- and supported by a number of paid staff positions. The purpose and structure of ASUAF is defined by Board of Regents' Policy and ASUAF's own constitution and bylaws.

Board of Regents' Policy establishes the structure of governance within the University of Alaska System in BOR Policy 03.01. This policy defines the purpose of governance as such:

provide an effective opportunity for university faculty, staff and students to play a meaningful role in matters affecting their welfare;
represent the viewpoints of university faculty, staff and students on regents’ policy, university regulation, and other matters affecting the interests of the university;
address through legislative action other matters as described in their approved constitutions;
advise the president and chancellors in a timely fashion and in a manner set forth in individual organizational constitutions; and
communicate to faculty, staff and students information which is of interest and concern to the university.

Board policy further describes the responsibilities of student governance stating, among other things, that student governments must create a constitution and bylaws to govern the organization's functions. ASUAF's constitution and bylaws will be reviewed in other sections of this orientation, but broadly, the constitution and bylaws establish the executive branch, senate, senate committees and paid student positions within the office.

Executive Branch

The ASUAF Executive Branch is composed of the student body president and vice president. The president hires and provides direction to the public relations director, government relations director and student advocacy director.

Senate

The Senate is ASUAF's legislative branch, led by the senate chair. The Senate conducts business by passing bills and resolutions.

Office Staff

A number of other paid positions support ASUAF. These include the advisor, Senate clerk, public relations director, government relations director and student advocacy director.

Other ASUAF Activities

ASUAF's has a broad reach across campus through appointments to the following boards:

R.I.S.E. Board: The R.I.S.E. Board oversees expenditures from the student sustainability fee and advises the operations of the Office of Sustainability.
Nanook Recreation Board: The Nanook Recreation Board provides input on the services and programs of Nanook Recreation.
ASUAF Student Media Board: KSUA and the Sun Star -- along with events produced by Student Media -- are governed by this body of students, faculty and media professionals.
Trust Fund Board of Directors: The ASUAF Trust Fund was created decades ago when the university required ASUA to liquidate assets and cease operation as a corporation separate from the university.

You'll learn more about these boards in the Governance Groups section of this website.

ASUAF officials also sit on a number of university committees. Speak with the student body president for more information about these committees.

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