| Summer / Fall 2024 |
Circle of Hope
With Supplementary Funding Ending, Support is More Critical than Ever
Wishing you all a happy fall – and sharing my enthusiasm and excitement, we are back in school! I am so happy we have been able to increase our student support commitments this school year. This is critical, as every single bit of research reinforces my closely held belief that all good things start with education.
To that end, this year we will continue to emphasize the importance of meeting students where they are at and providing the full slate of support systems they need to succeed – financial support, application and FAFSA process guidance, coaching, mentoring, mental and emotional health, degree planning, etc. – all the things they need to persist and graduate.
In recent years, the College Fund and the Tribal Colleges and Universities have been better able to meet students’ comprehensive needs with an influx of funding, not only from donors, but through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund and the CARES Act, both of which expire this year. This additional funding has provided pathways to addressing some of the most pressing issues in Native higher education, such as:
- Removing technology barriers to online/virtual access by providing equipment and internet support, including hot spots.
- Increasing capacity of TCUs to provide virtual services by providing equipment and assisting with facilities modification.
- Providing faculty and staff development to assist in creating more responsive online programming.
- Increasing investment in student wellness resources.
- Reducing or subsidizing tuition to maintain enrollment.
- Most importantly, providing more scholarship funds to more students.
Both HEERF and the CARES Act support have ended, which means wellness resources, reduced and/or subsidized tuition, and more scholarship funds may no longer be financially possible. Now, it is critically important we work together to chart our path forward to sustain these important supports we know keep students in school. Specifically, with additional support, persistence rates increased from 66% in 2019 to 70% in 2023 and retention rates increased from 49% to 56%.
Maintaining programs and services while increasing the level of support is our primary goal this school year. College Fund staff and the Board of Trustees are working diligently to ensure this happens – approving a budget and work plan to include 11% growth in direct support to students. I am optimistic we will achieve this, because so many people, like you, remain steadfast in your support.
I am deeply humbled and grateful for your continued commitment to students – both through providing each student exactly what they need, as well as continually increasing the number of students we support. I know many of you have been helping Native scholars for 5, 10, 20, or even 30+ years – and it is always my hope you see and feel both the impact you have on each and every student, but also the growth and advancements tribal nations are experiencing because of the increased number of college graduates in their individual communities. I realize we still have a long way to go, and at the same time it is so important to pause and celebrate the overarching progress and the individual wins.
I have been doing this work for an extraordinarily long time, and yet I have never been more optimistic and energized. And that is because of you.
Wopila, thank you.
CELEBRATING
Indeginous Peoples’ Day
& Native American Heritage Month
Both Indigenous Peoples’ Day (October 14th) and Native American Heritage Month (November) will be here before we know it – and we are well into our planning for both. We will be hosting live culinary/ music performance events in Denver and the Twin Cities in October and November, as well as launching a new resource website and hosting two new book discussion events. Watch your email inbox, text messages, and mailbox for more information!
College Fund by the Numbers
INCREASE IN # OF SCHOLARSHIPS ANNUALLY
INCREASE IN SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT ANNUALLY
2022-23 – 45 STATES AND 254 TRIBAL NATIONS REPRESENTED BY COLLEGE FUND SCHOLARS
Chenoa’s Learning Experience Inspires Her to Teach
Chenoa (Oneida Nation)
College of Menominee Nation
Early Childhood Education
“Education is meant to be something to help heal you…
not something you have to heal from, but that wasn’t my experience.” Like many Native children, Chenoa felt like she was forced into a system that was not constructed for her – not for her values and beliefs, her language, her identity, or her voice. So, Chenoa was silent, and only stayed in school long enough to get a high school diploma.
But it was challenging supporting herself and her two daughters with the jobs she could get without a college degree. And it got even harder when she was trying to raise her daughters to value education when she herself did not have her degree. Being a role model to her girls and to the children in her community became a driving force in Chenoa’s return to school. Initially, she had her sights set on an associate’s degree, but attending a tribal college changed that.
For the first time in her life, Chenoa felt like she was learning in an environment constructed for her and where she could succeed. For the first time, she was seen and heard and valued for exactly who she was, and that profound impact made her start dreaming even bigger.
What if she could redefine the early childhood education system to see and love children for exactly who they are? How many lives could she change?
Wanting that experience for her daughters inspired her to reach farther than she ever thought possible. Chenoa decided it would be her life’s passion and goal to ensure every child has a learning experience grounded in love and acceptance.
Attending a Native-centered college has helped Chenoa see what can be possible and is helping her shape a career path centered in early childhood education and the development of curricula that honor inclusivity of tribal values, languages, self-identity, and love of self. She now plans to attend graduate school so she has the education she will need to make fundamental structural changes to the education system itself.
“Our youth are stronger than we were growing up … they have such a strong and powerful voice, and are so connected to our culture, language, heritage, and our ancestors, and I see us getting stronger each and every generation.”
Chenoa needed to go to school to be the role model she wants to be, not only for her daughters, but for all the other children in her community who look up to her as their teacher. She wants to show them that even at a later stage in life, you can still turn things around.
“I didn’t think I had many opportunities and now I feel like I have unlimited opportunities. I only went to school at the College of Menominee Nation to get my associate’s degree, and the experience I had there was such a positive, healing experience that has empowered me to want to change the world and specifically the education system for our youth.”
As with many students, Chenoa’s dreams and goals are lofty and life-changing for entire communities. With your support, the likelihood of her, and all Native students, seeing their dreams come true is real and possible.
EATSS Twin Cities is also coming back with a vengeance – and it promises to be bigger and better than ever. Returning to the historic Guthrie Theater, we’re bringing along some of our favorite Native chefs, artists, and musical guest stars on November 12th – grab your tickets, it’s going to be one unforgettable evening!
If you’re in the Denver area, EATSS Denver is coming to you once again on November 23rd! With award winning chefs, rising artistic stars, and a one-of-a-kind, intimate concert performance from a very special guest, we know you won’t want to miss it. learn more about what the evening has in store, and get your tickets today!
