FAQ

Students apply through the FNSBSD’s Lottery Application Portal. NSC will accept up to 90 juniors and 90 seniors for the 23-24 school year. Prerequisites for applicants include:

• 2.5 Cumulative GPA
• On track for graduation

The school district welcomes applications from students not currently enrolled if they meet minimum eligibility requirements. Students must enroll with FNSBSD if selected in the lottery for the 23-24 school year.

Yes. Eligible students who are not initially admitted via the lottery will be placed on a waitlist for the school year they applied for. If additional spaces become available in that school year, students from the waitlist will be contacted.

The school is designed as a two-year school and students would participate in both their junior and senior year.

Absolutely! Students taking UAF courses can apply for accommodations through the Office of Disability Services on campus. The student applies for an accommodation and meets with the staff, who help determine appropriate reasonable accommodations. Common accommodations include providing a note taker, extra time on tests, transcription, etc. Additionally, the NSC counselor and the NSC program coordinator are available to help all students with goal setting and other forms of support. 

Students must take a minimum of 9 college credits, and can take up to 15 college credits per semester. Many students, however, will take a mix of college and high school level courses. Students who are selected to participate will take placement exams to determine the appropriate Math, Science, and English courses. All students will be required to enroll in a 3-credit support course each semester. 

Students will work with the NSC school district counselor and a UAF academic advisor to choose the courses that best fit their needs. The staff will provide guidance during this process. 

No. UAF does not use PowerSchool. Students at UAF will use UA Online for administrative connections and Blackboard or Canvas for their courses (Blackboard will be retired in the spring of 2024). Parents will need to work with their students and complete a FERPA release form to access these platforms to view grades. Students are responsible for communication with their professors regarding grades and course material.

Not directly. The North Star College coordinator and high school counselor will monitor attendance in the support course and work with students and their parents if issues arise. 

Currently, no. School district policy only allows for Advanced Placement courses to be weighed on a 5.0 scale. Classes taken through North Star College are weighed on the traditional 4.0 scale. A three credit college course counts for a .5 high school credit (semester credit). District administration is investigating a possible policy change to weight specific UAF courses. 

North Star College students take a 3-credit support class each semester that teaches norms, skills, and strategies for success in college courses. UAF also has a Writing Center, a Speaking Center, and a Math and Stats tutoring lab that are available to all students. Finally, the North Star College Counselor and the North Star College Coordinator are available to meet individually with students to help set goals and provide academic coaching.

Yes. 

North Star College will be the educational institution issuing the high school diploma.

Students can take up to two courses at their home attendance area school. Typically, these are during 5th or 6th periods at that school. NSC students are waitlisted until all students enrolled full time have been placed in courses. 

No. These recognitions will be awarded through NSC. Similarly, NSC students should not be included in valedictorian or salutatorian running at their affiliate school.

The school district will cover tuition and required textbooks for North Star College students.

Students will be responsible for personal course equipment and supplies, such as lab coats, kits and art materials. Students will also pay to use other fee-based services on campus, such as on-campus parking or dining plans, if desired.

Students who drive to campus will need to purchase a parking decal, which currently costs approximately $153 per year or $51-$88 per semester, depending on how many credits a student takes. Hourly, daily, weekly or monthly permits are also available at the UAF parking kiosks or through the free Passport Parking app. Students should look closely at the campus map to determine which lots their parking permit covers.

Yes, students can continue participating in sports and ASAA activities at their home attendance area school or the school they’ve established eligibility at. All ASAA eligibility requirements apply. If a student is interested in participating in athletics, they should discuss their intent with the NSC counselor so they are not scheduled in late afternoon classes. Athletic eligibility for NSC students will only be determined at semester as college courses do not have equivalent quarter grades. 

No, North Star College is a school of choice, and FNSBSD does not provide transportation services to schools of choice. 

Yes. They will also be able to participate in the majority of UAF activities with parental consent. This includes attendance at UAF academic, community, and athletic events. As well, they are eligible for participation in intramural sports, most clubs, and student organizations. North Star College students are also eligible for many UAF student jobs, with additional parental and University of Alaska Human Resources approval. 

North Star College students will be enrolled in the university’s emergency alert system, just like other UAF students. In addition, they will have access to UAF’s personal safety app, Rave Guardian. Parents also will be able to sign up to receive emergency alerts from UAF. Visit uafalert.alaska.edu for more information. This website is also where UAF will share information in the event of an emergency.

Yes. They will be required to apply and upload a photo online to obtain a PolarExpress ID card.

Yes. Parents must sign a release form if the student is 15 - 17 years of age.