College Fund Staff Shares Ways to Improve Native Student Success at NIEA

October 7, 2016
American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIAN) have the lowest higher education attainment rates for people age 25 and older in the United States. Several American Indian College Fund professionals shared their expertise for improving Native student academic success at the 47th National Indian Education Association Convention.

Matthew Makomenaw shared how Native students can find the right fit when choosing a college or university and how the College Fund’s Native Pathways to College is designed to assist Native high school and tribal college transfer students to apply to higher education institutions including those with competitive admissions requirements.

Jack Soto provided a pre-conference focus forum on higher education and the Higher Education Act. Later Soto teamed up with Rachel Piontak shared the College Fund’s Native Scholars 101 Student Toolkit and how it can help students succeed throughout their college careers, and information about the College Fund’s newly offered MentorCore program.

Tiffany Gusbeth and Stevie Lee presented a session on how to use financial aid to pay for college.