History - RANA - Alaska Distance Education Program

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More than ever, Alaska needs to grow its own professionals!

The RANA Distance Education Program is itself growing to give Alaskans opportunities to transform their communities from within.

RANA was initiated with a grant written in 1997 by President Douglas North of Alaska Pacific University. The purpose was to serve rural Alaskans and Alaska Natives by offering high quality distance education.
The original grant was sponsored by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. The grant helped to establish an infrastructure for technology within the university system to better serve remote learners across Alaska.

RANA was then envisioned as a cooperative partnership dedicated to the idea of self-determination for rural and Native communities. It was born out of APU's mission to promote "international and multicultural education while welcoming learners of all ages." In particular, RANA was meant to serve as an educational interface, helping to mediate between the need in Alaska to sustain indigenous cultures and the competing need to gain modern skills so as to take part in an emergent global economy.

RANA entered its first students in January 1999.

At the time of its inception, RANA offered only one degree in Business Administration with an emphasis on Health Services. Later that year, RANA received a major grant from the U.S. Department of Education, providing start-up funds to develop Associate and Bachelor degrees in Education (K-8).

In August 2000, RANA had its first graduate in a business program, and the first education major graduated in December 2004.

Over the years, RANA has developed its degree programs particularly to serve the professional needs of Alaskan communities. We now offer a bachelors degree in Business Administration and Management with a possible emphasis in Nonprofit Management. As well, we offer degrees in Education, Health Services Administration, and Human Services. These degrees allow Alaskans to move into professional leadership roles within local businesses, corporations, healthcare services, tribal organizations, human services, and schools.

In the fall of 2007, RANA embarked on a collaboration with the Alaska Vocational and Technical Center (AVTEC) to offer an Associate degree in Career and Technical Education. As with all RANA degrees, this one meets crucial professional needs in Alaska, and provides access to higher education through quality online courses.

In its short history, RANA has become well-respected as a provider of excellent educational opportunity. Working adults have joined RANA from all parts of the state. While our student numbers have grown, we have maintained our small class size and emphasis on real-world, experiential learning. With RANA, APU seeks to make education directly relevant to Alaskan communities and generative of local leadership.

RANA will continue to grow with Alaska, providing educational opportunity for the citizens of our state.