The Rural Alaska Honors Institute (RAHI) is a bridging program that assists students in Rural Alaska in making the academic and social transition between high school and college. RAHI is for college-bound students who are willing to work hard and who are dedicated to excellence. RAHI was organized by the University of Alaska Fairbanks to serve rural and Alaska Native high school honors students. Those who apply should have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and plan to have finished their junior or senior year. They should read at or above grade level and committed to earning a college degree.
CURRICULUM: UAF courses are offered for full university credit (7 to 11). Most credits earned apply toward requirements for an academic degree. Completion of all RAHI courses (whether developmental or regular courses) help move the student closer to an academic degree. Required courses are writing (the student is placed in one of two offered) and study skills. Students then choose either Alaska Native dance or swimming. In addition, optional classes could include desktop publishing or video production. The student also chooses one of several specialty classes, such as math, psychology, geoscience, and biochemistry. Credits earned may also help satisfy some requirements for high school graduation, depending upon your school district policy. Course work loads are substantial. RAHI has a safety net to give individual help and encouragement to those who may struggle from time to time.
CAMPUS LIFE: Housing – Students live in a UAF residence hall with a RAHI roommate and full-time residence staff who supervise, tutor, and give support to students to live comfortably and to work efficiently. Students are divided into family groups of roughly eight each. Weeknight study hours are required and tutors are on hand to help with all courses. Recreation – Recreational offerings on weekends are available. A fun, stress relieving midterm break weekend outing occurs June 23-25. Student Recreation Center, Wood Student Center, and Patty Pool are among campus recreational facilities available for use. Meals – Students eat at the campus dining facility. Permission to Leave Campus – Students may be checked out to leave the campus only with adults, approved in writing, in advance, by parents or guardians, and only at times that do not conflict with academic schedules. Students may not be checked out overnight or weekends.
Costs of Attending— RAHI – Selected students are sponsored by the program with a $6,000 scholarship. This covers all costs for the entire program, including travel and a weekly stipend.
Graduation — A cap and gown ceremony graduation ends the program followed by an evening banquet. UAF tuition waivers are awarded to the top two academic students.
SELECTION OF STUDENTS: Admission to RAHI is competitive, that is not all who apply are accepted. If you are committed to earning a college degree, you should apply. The RAHI selection committee reads each application and ranks it, then makes their recommendation to the RAHI office. RAHI will notify all applicants by mid-April. Not everyone is accepted. Alternate summer plans include Upward Bound Math/Science, or Upward Bound Classic, U-Doc/Della Keats, Raven’s Quest, or other programs.
For more information visit the RAHI website at http://www.uaf.edu/rahi/.