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News, Views and Careers for All of Higher Education

Aug. 26, 2005

Half Empty or Half Full?

Contrary to what you might think from recent headlines, Native Americans on campus are not limited to those who entertain fans at halftime at Florida State University.

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Enrollments of American Indian and Alaska Native students more than doubled in the 25 years prior to 2002, when there were almost 166,000 such students enrolled — or about 1 percent of total enrollment. Those data are from a report issued Thursday by the U.S. Education Department’s National Center for Education Statistics. The report provides an overview on numerous issues related to American Indians in all levels of education.

While the report noted the tremendous gains of the last 25 years, it also noted numerous ways — such as college-going and graduation rates — in which Native Americans lag behind other ethnic groups in higher education.

Besides growing, Native American enrollments have changed in other ways since 1976. Until 1994, more Native American students were enrolled in community colleges than at four-year institutions, but since that year, a majority of the students were enrolled at four-year institutions. Also in 1976, enrollments of male and female Native American students were relatively equal. But enrollments of women have grown at a much faster rate, such that there are just over 100,000 female Native Americans enrolled but only 65,700 men.

Enrollment has also been growing at tribally controlled colleges. Nearly 16,000 students were enrolled at these institutions in 2002, up 17 percent in five years. While only 8 percent of all Native American college students are enrolled at these institutions, these are the colleges with the largest proportions of Native American students.

Despite all of these increases, the Education Department data show that Native American students are less likely than other students to be enrolled in or to graduate from college. Of Native Americans between 18 and 24 years old, only 17.7 percent are enrolled in colleges and universities — lower than the national average of 37.8 and the figures for every other ethnic or racial group. (Asian Americans lead at 60.3 percent.)

The data also suggest low graduation rates for Native Americans in higher education. The Education Department analyzed “likely postsecondary participants” (based on transcripts and other information) who were seniors in high school in 1992. By 2000, 15 percent of Native Americans in the group had a bachelor’s degree, compared to a national average of 45 percent. The Native American percentage was the lowest for any racial or ethnic group, with Hispanics the closest, at 24 percent.

Of Native Americans earning degrees, the largest number are bachelor’s degrees. The following table shows the number of degrees earned by male and female Native Americans:

Degrees Conferred on Native Americans, 2002-3, by Gender

Degree

Men

Women

Associate

2,624

4,846

Bachelor’s

3,858

5,945

Master’s

1,022

1,819

Doctoral

73

119

First professional

293

293

Total

7,870

13,022

In terms of subject matter, Native American students were most likely at the undergraduate level to be studying business, education or social sciences. At the master’s level, education and business were the most popular areas of study, and at the doctoral level, they were education and psychology.

At the faculty level, Native Americans have very few positions in higher education. They make up 0.5 percent of full-time faculty members. Within the faculty, Native Americans are more likely to have positions in the lower ranks. They make up 0.9 percent of instructors, 0.5 percent of assistant professors, 0.4 percent of associate professors, and 0.3 percent of full professors.

— Scott Jaschik

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Comments

Disturbing trend

As a program officer at a study abrod provider I have seen very little Native American Indian representation in the groups of students we send abroad for study. Apparently this is also reflected in the involvement of this population in higher education. I think we, as educators, would benefit immensely from a higher level of participation, graduation and faculty representation of Native American Indians. I am glad to see that some progress has been made, but there is much more work to do.

Tom Millington, Program Officer at BCA, at 9:02 am EDT on August 26, 2005

Graduation

American Indians will graduate when the colleges learn how to serve them. Just getting us to college is not promoting diversity. We are dumped into a very strange land with a strange culture that does not value us—-except as mascots.

mike, at 9:36 am EDT on August 26, 2005

Natives from India

Is there new evidence that the indigenous peoples of North America are originally from India or are we talking about multiracial Native American/Asian students? All of my Indian friends from India are confused and want to know.

... Ok, sorry, I couldn’t help teasing.

Ian, at 6:11 pm EDT on August 26, 2005

Native American data in higher ed

The census criteria are flexible as to ethnic identity. Native Americans have greatly increased in numbers since the 1980 census. This is mainly due to many persons being more willing to identify themselves as Native Americans and not due to a record-breaking birth rate. Obviously, it is not due to immigration (sic.

Any attempt to describe the record or non-record numbers of Native Americans involved in higher education or anything else has to adjust data to these realities.

I await such a study. The data provided in the article are simply irrelevant

Lee, at 7:15 pm EDT on August 26, 2005

I feel that most higher educational institutions don’t cater that much to Native American students. Most students are unaware of how to live in a non-indian country. This problem has been ignored by most colleges. Some tribal education schools are to blame also most are not equiped to help the children when they are young so, they accept the fact that they don’t need to go to college and depend mostly on what the tribal government will supply for them and their family. It is a problem that began many, many, many years ago and has not been solved. This could be a reason why Native American Students are rare. Especially in college.

delcinia thomas, student at High Tech Insitiute, at 7:11 pm EDT on August 29, 2005

Native American Post-secondary School Rates

Many Native American students arrive on campuses having come from schools that are severely underfunded, crumbling infrastructures, and less-qualified teachers. In the Southwest are recent poll indicated that the students who had the highest academic achievement graduated from Tribally controlled schools. In a distant second, third, and fourth, were public, mission, and BIA (federally run) school, respectively. Among the many systems in Indian Country that are underfunded by the treaties guaranteeing their existence are our schools.

anne, at 11:18 am EDT on August 30, 2005

NATIVE EDUCATION/STUDENT/DIVERSITY

At the moment...I’m listening to ‘We Don’t Need No Education’ by the WHO. There are a number of factors that contribute to the lack of Native students in higher education as well as professional occupations. However... the solutions are as complicated as the factors that keep Native student numbers low. It is important to include Alaska Native students when talking about Native Americans. Granted there are underfunded education programs, poor education institutions, sparce parental involvement, poverty, and social issues on many reservations and villages across Indian Country. And I agree with the comment by another contributor that institutions of higher education don’t foster opportunities for Native students. However...(and speaking as a medical practitioner/parent/student/educator) put more money in schools and education programs won’t bring up the numbers of Native students in colleges, universities, and the work place. As a practitioner, I know all too well that there needs to be the acknowledgement by a patient to understand their responsibilty when seeking medical attention. A patient must act, respond to the directions of a provider, and follow through with the recommendations of a provider.(I have cared for Native people on a remote reservation as wells as a IHS hospital in a large city and in an HMO in another large city. As Native people we must hold parents, students, and tribal officials accountable in addressing the education success of Native students. Because of what I said above...I am acting on that understanding...and have returned to college to get certified in secondary education. Each of us(who have achieve the education we sought or career we are in) should got out and see what we can do for our communities. That is our responsibility. That is our charge. Encourage parents to be a part of their child’s lifes and education. Also look at our lives... > do you smoke? > do you abuse drugs or alcohol? > do you consider yourself a role model? These are just a few questions we must ask ourselves. I have... I apologize for the preaching...however...I feel I must act...and this is that action.’* BADGER

Badger, UNM, at 3:39 pm EDT on August 31, 2005

“We Don’t Need No Education” is by Pink Floyd, not The Who.

Redawuk, at 12:34 pm EDT on September 2, 2005

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