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 (3416 Seawolf Dr)
    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
  • uaa.irsc

 

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.

Join our Newsletter

Scholarship & Funding Resources

Tutoring Schedule at IRSC

Explore Native Clubs

 

IRSC Events

Indigenous students are an essential part of the University of Alaska Anchorage 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 UAA students
    • 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

 

IRSC Programs

The Indigenous & Rural Student Center (IRSC) offers two transition programs for incoming Native, Indigenous, Native American, and rural students. Both programs provide support before and during your first semester at UAA, the difference is how structured you want that support to be.

  • NET vs STEP comparison
    NET STEP
    Structured, cohort-based program Flexible, drop-in support
    Mandatory orientation and regular check-ins No mandatory meetings or attendance requirements
    Includes a scholarship Eligible for scholarship drawings and incentives
    Built-in community with peers and mentors Access to IRSC staff, mentors, and events
    Best if you want accountability and consistency Best if you want flexibility and independence
  • NET Program
    The NET Program supports incoming and first-year Native, Indigenous, and rural students through a structured, community based transition into college life at UAA. We help you navigate financial aid, placement testing, housing, registration, and campus life - starting before you arrive and continuing throughout the year.
  • STEP Program
    STEP is a flexible support option for students who want access to IRSC resources without a structured cohort or required meetings. STEP students can connect with staff, attend events, and get help with college logistics on their own schedule.

Scan or click to apply for NET or STEP

FY26 Application QR Code

Deadlines
Priority deadline: May 15
Final deadline: June 30
Spaces in NET are limited; applying by the priority deadline is strongly encouraged.

 

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 Schedule a meeting

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 Schedule a meeting

Kierann Bailey (Panigruaq) is Iñupiaq from Unalakleet and serves as the Engagement & Belonging Coordinator at the University of Alaska Anchorage’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.