Transportation & Power Admitted Student Resources

PLACEMENT EXAMS FOR FIRST YEAR COURSE MATCHING

UAA believes it is important to start college on the right track, and First Year Course Matching (Placement) is important to your success!  Course Matching helps you and your Student Success Advisor make informed decisions about which classes are best for your first semester.

 

  • Do I have to take any exams? 

    Yes, most people need to take placement exams to make sure we determine your best writing and math courses. UAA relies on standardized exams as part of the course matching process.  It is important for new students to complete their placement exams soon after they are admitted to UAA and before they attend orientation.

    • Mathematics and Statistics: Incoming students must complete ALEKS PPL (For a screen reader friendly version of the ALEKS exam, contact Disability Support Services.) unless they meet the following exceptions:
      • Students who qualify for nontraditional credit (examples include AP exams, CLEP exams, IB) may not need to take the ALEKS. Visit the UAA Academic Catalog to learn more.
      • Students who have mathematics credit from another regionally accredited institution may not need to take the ALEKS. Visit UAA’s Transfer Evaluation System to learn more or talk to your Student Success Advisor. 
    • Writing: Incoming students will need to take a writing sample or the Accuplacer test unless they meet the following exceptions:
      • Students who have ACT or SAT scores that meet the minimum score requirements for WRTG A110 may not need to take the Accuplacer. See if your ACT or SAT scores qualify and send those scores through the SAT and/or ACT system to UAA.
      • Students who qualify for nontraditional credit (examples include AP exams, CLEP exams, IB) may not need to take the Accuplacer. Visit the UAA Academic Catalog to learn more.
      • Students who have Writing or English credits from another regionally accredited institution may not need to take the Accuplacer. Visit the UAA’s Transfer Evaluation System to learn more or talk to your Student Success Advisor. 
  • How do I take these exams?

    ALEKS PPL for Mathematics and Statistics  

    ALEKS PPL is not just a test. (For a screen reader friendly version of the ALEKS exam, contact Disability Support Services.) It is a learning system that covers materials from Basic Math through Precalculus and will take about 90 minutes to complete.  After you take it, a customized study module is available for review so you can take it again and improve each time.  Students have the opportunity to re-test up to five times! 

    This exam is free, can be taken on any computer, and does not need to be scheduled.  All students need is their UA login credentials.  Visit ELMO to retrieve your UA login information.

    Accuplacer for Writing 

    Accuplacer is UAA’s computerized exam to assess reading comprehension and sentence skills.  This exam must be scheduled and can be taken at the University Center. The $22.00 cost is payable by credit or debit card at the time of scheduling the exam date and time.

    Schedule the Accuplacer Exam                   Visit Accuplacer FAQs                       Learn about the scores

  • Advising

    Your Student Success Advisor is here to talk with you about placement exams and the course matching process.  907-786-6475 or samoran@alaska.edu. Please provide your student ID#.  

 

TIPS FOR FIRST YEAR SUCCESS

 In each stage of your first-year college experience there are many steps to be successful. Below are a few checklists and links 

 To Do:

Tips:

 

FYI:

  • There is a difference between Week One and Week Two of the Add/Drop Period. During Week Two, you must receive instructor approval if you would like to register for (add) a course. If you have questions, please call your Student Success Advisor. 
  • If you need to drop a course, be sure to drop it before the Friday of Week Two; otherwise, you will be responsible for paying the full cost of the course. 
  • Part of Term classes follow different drop deadlines. Contact your Student Success Advisor for assistance. 

To Do:

  • Make sure you are happy with your class schedule by the end of the Week One during the Add/Drop Period.
  • Read your syllabi and add assignments/quizzes/exams to your calendar.
  • Go to your classes daily.
  • Check your email daily.
  • Check your UAA account balance in UAOnline. 

Tips:

  • Drop by your instructors' offices and introduce yourself.
  • Check out student organizations and clubs.
  • If you need to return a textbook, do so within the first two weeks of class. 
  • Explore resources on the Navigate app. 
  • If you are on a class waitlist, set your preferred email address as the @alaska.edu account. Otherwise, you may not recieve a notification to register for the class if you are using a personal account (Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc.)
  • Do you need to adjust your schedule?  Contact your Student Success Advisor for help. 

 

To Do:

  • Attend all classes and complete all assignments.
  • Keep checking your email for anything you may need to address.
  • Check your account balance monthly in UAOnline. 
  • Pay your bill or set up a payment plan by the payment deadline.
  • Update your calendar with assignments/quizzes/exams.
  • Schedule your advising appointment through Navigate to plan for next semester and talk about your current classes. 
  • Complete the next year's FAFSA and UA Scholarship Application between October 1 and February 15. 

Tips:

  • Communicate with your instructors if 1) you are worried about your academic progress or 2) you are experiencing personal challenges. 
  • If you would like to withdraw from a course, please talk with your Student Success Advisor beforehand so you are aware of any unforeseen consequences and the effect it may have on your funding. 
  • Visit the Learning Commons's Writing Center or Math Lab for help with your writing and math courses. 
  • Know your financial game plan and attend Seawolf Savvy Financial Literacy Workshops.

 

To Do:

  • Are you in the habit of checking your email yet?
  • Meet with your  Student Success Advisor.
  • Address any account holds in UAOnline.
  • Register for classes and order textbooks.
  • Complete the next year's FAFSA and UA Scholarship Application between October 1 and February 15. 
  • Review Dates and Deadlines for the next semester.

Tips: