The students, most of whom are Alaska Native, were chosen to attend RAHI from 90 applicants statewide. Students must have a 3.0 grade point average and must plan to pursue a college degree in order to participate. Students receive full UAF credit for successfully completing classes, averaging eight or nine college credits earned during the summer program. While at UAF, students will live in residence halls as they get a headstart on their collegiate careers and begin the sometimes difficult transition from a village to city environment. This is an early opportunity for students to make this difficult transition.
Expectations are high but individual help and encouragement are everywhere.
Academic achievement is a major RAHI objective, but Kowalsky said that building a tight and mutually supportive community of peers is also extremely important to the program's overall goal of increasing the opportunity for college success. Students are encouraged to value and to share the various Alaska Native cultural backgrounds that they represent here and also to be generous in helping each other make it through. The RAHI program began in 1983 through the support of the Alaska Federation of Natives, and for the 17th year is being sponsored by UAF's College of Liberal Arts Alaska Native Studies Department.