Alaska's Exemplary Program: The Rural Alaska Honors Institute (RAHI) Over A Quarter Century of Success of Educating, Nurturing, and Retaining Alaska Native and Rural Students

Begun in 1983, RAHI is a six-week summer college-preparatory summer bridge program on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus for Alaska Native and rural high school juniors and seniors. The program's students are 94 percent Alaska native. RAHI students take classes that earn them 7-11 college credits. Courses include writing, study skills, Alaska native dance or swimming, and a choice of geoscience, biochemistry, math, business, education, or petroleum engineering.

A program of rigorous academic activity combines with social, cultural, and recreational activities to make up the RAHI program of early preparation for college. Students are purposely stretched beyond their comfort levels academically and socially to prepare for the big step from home or village to a large culturally western urban campus. They are treated as honors students and are expected to meet all rigorous academic and social standards set by the program.

All of this effort and activity support the principal goal of RAHI: promoting academic success for rural students in college. Over 28 years, 1,300 students have attended the program. Of these students, 488 have received degrees ranging from a medical doctor, five lawyers, two PhD's, 39 masters, 274 bachelors, 116 associates, and 51 certificates. At least 300 students from the program are presently attending college this semester.

An April 2006 report by the American Institutes for Research funded through the National Science Foundation found that rural Native students in the UA system who participated in RAHI are nearly twice as likely to earn a bachelor's degree than those who did not attend RAHI.

In 2007 and 2009 in celebration of the International Polar Year and in collaboration with Ilisagvik College, at the completion of the traditional RAHI program, ten RAHI students flew to Barrow each summer for an additional two weeks of study. Half participated in an archaeological dig and the remainder performed research with the Barrow Arctic Science Consortium scientists studying climate change. In 2008, one RAHI student was chosen to participate in the Students on Ice Arctic Expedition.

Global warming is an issue that is hotly debated, as its' effects are so evident in the polar regions. In the Arctic, one's life is directly tied to the ice and snow. As the ice disappears and/or changes, the indigenous people have to adapt. RAHI is doing what it can to assist young people to be a part of the change.