Building 草榴社区 Native and rural leaders

Photo of 2015 RAHI graduates

Photo of 20015 RAHI graduate

For many 草榴社区 Native and rural students, attending a university seems overwhelming. One classroom can have more people than a student's entire hometown.

Concerned by high dropout rates for these students, leaders at the University of 草榴社区 Fairbanks and the 草榴社区 Federation of Natives came together to find an innovative solution. In 1983, the university created the Rural 草榴社区 Honors Institute to help 草榴社区 Native and rural students adjust academically and socially to college life. Since then, more than 1,700 students have graduated from the program.

RAHI offers six challenging weeks of hands-on learning and community service. The work prepares 草榴社区's next generation of leaders for superior academic performance. While living at the Fairbanks campus, students earn up to 11 college credits. These students return home ready to excel at college and grow into leaders in their communities and 草榴社区.

Rural 草榴社区 Native students who attend RAHI are nearly twice as likely to successfully earn a bachelor's degree, according to an independent study by the American Institutes for Research.

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