In January 2025, the American Indian College Fund hosted a webinar in collaboration with the Brookings Institute and the Institute for Higher Education Policy to preview a report on Indigenous students’ access to and success in higher education.
Representatives from the American Indian College Fund, Brookings Metro, United Tribes Technical College, and the Institute for Higher Education Policy discussed recommendations from the report titled Native Higher Education Success Strategies: Strengthening Policies, Respecting Tribal Sovereignty, and Leveraging Data to Address the Decline in Native American Higher Education Enrollment.
According to recent data, only 16% of Native Americans hold a bachelor’s degree, compared to 44% of White Americans.
Additionally, approximately 30% of Native American students drop out of high school, a rate that is about twice the national average. This trend can be attributed to factors such as high poverty rates, social bias, and systemic failures within the education system.
This month, the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Scholarship Webinar Series announced that the AISES Student Success Team will host a four-part webinar series every Wednesday at 6 p.m.
These informative sessions will cover topics including Letters of Recommendation, How to Write a Scholarship Essay, Navigating the OASIS Portal, and a Q&A session with AISES Scholars and Reviewers.
AISES will also host its Canada National Gathering in Toronto, Ontario, from March 6 to 8. This gathering is a platform for Indigenous students and professionals in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to connect and build lasting relationships within Canada and North America.
The 2025 American Indian Higher Education Consortium Student Conference will occur from March 8 to 11 in Rapid City, South Dakota.
The conference will feature workshops on various topics, including tribal college and university esports teams, career pathways in health careers, the value of a college degree, student retention, and practical applications of artificial intelligence (AI). One specific workshop will address best practices for utilizing AI tools.
The conference will also include competitions in Critical Inquiry, Cyber Security, Science Bowl, scientific poster presentations, Traditional Plants and Herbs, and the NASA Unpiloted Robotic Vehicle.
The AIHEC Student Congress (ASC) is also scheduled to hold a congress to promote leadership, self-governance, cultural preservation, educational achievement, and community development.
AIEF has set March 1 as the early deadline for submissions for its 2025-2026 scholarship application, with the final deadline on April 4, 2025.
Applicants must attend an accredited two- or four-year college or university in the United States. Undergraduates must be full-time students, while graduate students may enroll for a maximum of six credit hours.
Past scholarship recipients have shared how the AIEF scholarship alleviated financial burdens, allowing them to focus on their studies and empowering their academic and career goals. One recipient emphasized that scholarships provide enriching life experiences beyond merely attaining a degree.
AIHEC will host a Health Research 101 Webinar on Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Research Methods on March 21.
This webinar series aims to provide introductory information on conducting health sciences research, specifically emphasizing incorporating Indigenous perspectives and methodologies.
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