Denver, Colo., June 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Mellon Foundation has awarded the American Indian College Fund $2,585,000 to support its Native Pathways to College Program. The College Fund created this culturally based program to increase the first-time college enrollment post-high school, retention, and graduation of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students. Most recent data shows AIAN students make up less than 1% of students enrolled in college nationwide, with only 19% of 18 to 24-year-old AIAN students enrolled in college, as compared to 41% of the overall U.S. population (National Center of Education Statistics, 2018). The College Fund’s Native Pathways program gives AIAN students the support and programming they need to go to college and graduate, using a three-pronged approach.
The Native Pathways program provides culturally specific resources to AIAN high school students to help them prepare for and apply to college, including guidance on choosing a major, coursework, college tours, budgeting, and financial aid. The program also provides supports for those AIAN students attending two-year tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), completing an associate degree, or seeking to transfer to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree. The program provides coaching opportunities, training for TCU staff to assist transfer students, and informational events focused on the transfer process. Finally, the program provides in-person and online…
