Only 13.8% of American Indians have a college degree. The American Indian College Fund is changing that. American Indian students know an education will change their lives and communities by giving them knowledge and confidence to defend their rights and amplify their voices, as demonstrated in the recent Standing Rock protests.
The American Indian College Fund has received a $1 million grant to continue its Restoration and Preservation of Traditional Native Art Forms and Knowledge program at tribal colleges and universities (TCUs). The program is expanding knowledge and skills at these institutions across the country while also placing endangered art forms at the center of its focus.
The Republicans failed at their attempt to rewrite the Affordable Care Act. That’s good for Indian Country. But health care in Indian Country could get even better. And better health care for Native Americans translates to a healthier economic and educational outlook.
The American Indian College Fund joined national industry leaders to educate and empower business leaders about expanding diversity in the workforce. Native American students have unique perspectives to offer employers and their voices and perspectives helps strengthen the quality of American commerce.
American Indian College Fund President and CEO Cheryl Crazy Bull weighs in on how companies can make the workplace friendly to diverse employees.
The American Indian College Fund honored 34 American Indian tribal college students of the year, tribal college president Dr. Laurel Vermillion, and U.S. Department of Education employee John Gritts on March 19 at the 2017 Student of the Year and Coca Cola Award Banquet in Rapid City, South Dakota in conjunction with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium Spring Student Conference.
The College Fund named Dr. Laurel Vermillion, President of Sitting Bull College in Fort Yates, North Dakota and a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Nation, the 2017 American Indian College Fund TCU Honoree of the Year. This honor recognizes a distinguished individual who has made a positive and lasting impact on the tribal college movement.
At the heart of Iḷisaġvik College’s Restorative Teachings project is the desire to nurture and support meaningful connections between early childhood students, their families, and the community as a whole. It is through these connections that knowledge of language and culture, love, respect, and compassion are passed from one generation to the next.
The Achieving the Dream (ATD) program helps networking colleges to improve student success by providing a menu of services to its colleges, including technical assistance, leadership, data coaching, and more. In addition, ATD hosts an annual DREAM conference where more than 2,000 leaders from 200 community colleges across the country gather.
As a staff member with the College Fund, I had the honor to attend the spring Scholarship Awards Night at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) to witness 260 students moving one step closer towards their educational goals. The event awarded 534 College Fund scholarships to 260 students totaling $519,906.
