Indigenous and Rural Student Center

Welcome to the Indigenous and Rural Student Center

Find your community at the Indigenous and Rural Student Center (IRSC) at UAA. IRSC supports Alaska Native, Indigenous, Native American, and rural students through culturally grounded programming, academic support, and community connection. Visit us in Rasmuson Hall 108 to connect, belong, and thrive.

 

The Indigenous and Rural Student Center (IRSC) at UAA, formerly Native Student Services, provides culturally grounded support for Alaska Native, Indigenous, Native American, and rural students throughout their college experience. Located on the Chanshtnu Campus in Anchorage, IRSC serves as a welcoming and community-centered space where students can access academic support, participate in cultural activities, and build meaningful connections. Through programming and resources rooted in care and culture, IRSC works to uplift students’ identities while fostering a campus environment that honors Indigenous history, culture, and contemporary issues.

We always recognize and give thanks to the Dena’ina, Ahtna, Alutiiq/Sugpiaq, and Eyak/dAXunhyuu Peoples on which UAA’s campuses are located.

 

IRSC bird logo.

  • Hours: Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm 
  • Rasmuson Hall (RH), Room 108 ()
    The IRSC is located in RH 108. Walk through the Multicultural Student Center (RH 106) and look for the IRSC entrance, or find the IRSC entrance outside of RH.
  • 907-786-4000
  • uaa.irsc@alaska.edu

 

IRSC Programs & Opportunities

At the IRSC, you’ll find a place to study, connect, and take part in programs that support your academic and cultural journey. We host workshops, community gatherings, and cultural activities throughout the semester, and we offer resources to help you stay grounded in who you are while navigating college. From scholarship support to drop-in tutoring and opportunities to join Native and Indigenous student clubs, the IRSC is here to help you succeed and feel at home at UAA.

Scholarship & Funding Resources

Tutoring Schedule at IRSC

Explore Native Clubs

 

IRSC Events

Indigenous students are an essential part of the °µÍøÊÓƵ community, making up more than 10% of the student body. The Indigenous and Rural Student Center (IRSC) is here to support you through culturally grounded programming, academic support, and meaningful community connection. IRSC is a welcoming space dedicated to helping Indigenous students feel seen, supported, and connected throughout their college experience.

 

Our Resources at the IRSC

  • Community, Culture & Programming
    • Cultural support and gatherings
    • Regular programming open to all °µÍøÊÓƵstudents
    • Student organization meetings (Traditional Games Club, Native Student Council, etc.)
    • Community information and resources
    • Community connection and peer support
  • Academic & Student Support
    • Academic support and tutoring
    • Computers and printers
    • Laptops for students to check out
    • Library books, including Alaska Native language and history texts
    • School supplies and basic resources
    • Private study rooms
  • Space, Wellness & Amenities
    • Low-stimulation, healing, and crafting room
    • Craft supplies and art materials
    • Affiliated club storage
    • Coffee maker, water kettle, refrigerator, and microwave
    • Snacks

 

NET Program

The NET Program supports incoming/first-year Native, Indigenous, and rural students as they transition to being a college student and to the °µÍøÊÓƵcampus through direct assistance with cultural support. We know that this is a big change for many of you, and we are here to be a resource alongside you, from before you even arrive at our °µÍøÊÓƵcampus until the day you graduate! There are a lot of steps to navigate (financial aid/scholarships, placement testing, housing application, course registration, etc.) -- and we’re here to help you each step of the way to get ready!

There are 2-3 parts of the NET Program:

  • Preparing for Your Start at UAA
    We will help you complete every part of preparing yourself for your first semester by providing information and guidance on admissions, financial aid/finding scholarships, placement testing, housing applications, advising (helping you choose classes) and course registration. We’ll help ensure you are set up for success when you arrive!
  • NET Week orientation
    [Fall semester only, August 17-21]: All students attend NET Week, our week-long orientation program the week before Fall semester begins. NET students also move into residence halls earlier, and we will help facilitate that process throughout NET Week. We'll make sure you are ready for the first day of classes, introduced to technology and campus itself, while also building community with other NET students and NET Student Mentors.
  • Ongoing NET Cohort
    The NET Program continues during the semester with ongoing support for students. The cohort-based program provides students with NET mentors, academic guidance throughout the year, cultural support and connection to Native communities. We are here with ongoing support during all of your time here at UAA!

 

 

Traditional Games Club members group photo

 

Meet Our Team

Photo of
Sara Caldwell-Kan

Director of Community and Belonging
Email smcaldwellkan@alaska.edu

Sara Caldwell-Kan (she/they) is an activist, scholar, dreamer, and long-time higher education professional. They received a  PhD in Education and a Masters Degree in Public Health. Her dissertation research was focused on understanding how Asian American college students understand and experience wellness. Sara’s work is centered on uplifting students and transforming higher education to be an institution where all students can be their full selves all the time. She believes that wellness is wholeness and imagines a future where we can embrace our full selves, including our ancestral strength, to build a collective community of love.

  • Favorite thing about MSC + Pride + IRSC: MSC + Pride + IRSC nurtures our need to connect and find community and inspires us to embrace all dimensions of ourselves.
  • Favorite Activities: I love to be outside as much as possible. I find great enjoyment in learning new things and challenging people’s notions of what it means to be outdoorsy. I also love cyclocross and racing around on my bike, though I am not a particularly great racer.
  • Rejuvenating Practice: To be honest, I love to read romance novels. There are so many beautiful stories of love in all forms, and I love that I can trust that a book will end positively.

 

Photo of Phillip Charette (Aarnaquq)
Phillip Charette (Aarnaquq)

Associate Director, IRSC
Location RH 108D
Phone 907-786-4005
Email pjcharette@alaska.edu
Website

Phillip Charette (Aarnaquq) is Yup’ik/Cup’ik and Québécois and serves as the Associate Director at UAA’s Indigenous and Rural Student Center (IRSC). He brings a lifelong commitment to serving Indigenous, rural, and diverse students across educational settings in Alaska and the Lower 48. Phillip is passionate about helping students recognize their strengths, develop a sense of purpose, and reach their full potential. He enjoys creating and working in culturally relevant spaces where students and families can connect, participate, grow, and thrive. The IRSC space is always open, and visitors are warmly welcomed.

 

Photo of Kierann Bailey (Panigruaq)
Kierann Bailey (Panigruaq)

Engagement and Belonging Coordinator, IRSC
Location RH 108E
Email kbbailey2@alaska.edu
Website

Kierann Bailey (Panigruaq) is Iñupiaq from Unalakleet and serves as the Engagement & Belonging Coordinator at the °µÍøÊÓƵ’s Indigenous and Rural Student Center (IRSC). Her work focuses on helping Indigenous and rural students find a sense of belonging, connect with resources, and thrive both academically and personally. Kierann brings years of experience in supporting Indigenous and rural peoples through her work with programs such as the Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program (ANSEP) and Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC). She approaches her work with intention, creativity, and care, believing that community, culture, and meaningful connection are essential to student success. Through IRSC, Kierann is committed to creating welcoming, culturally grounded spaces where students can show up as their full selves and feel supported throughout their college journey.
  • Favorite thing about IRSC: IRSC feels like a home away from home. It’s welcoming, grounded, and built around relationships, making it easy for students to find connection and support.
  • Favorite Activities: I love to travel and explore new places, learn languages, read, bead, and make art. I also enjoy watching anime, spending time fishing, and picking berries whenever I can.
  • Rejuvenating Practice: I write poems as a way to metabolize and process what I’m feeling. Creating art, especially traditional art, is deeply grounding for me. There’s healing in the intention behind making something with care.