Official Encouragement, Institutional Discouragement

The impetus for this book derives from the unusually high percentage of minority students generally, and Native American students specifically, who do not complete a collegiate degree. Of all ethnic groups in the U.S., Indian students experience the most difficulty in obtaining a degree. A host of strategies and policies have been implemented by well-meaning administrators to decrease attrition, yet these ideas have often failed to make any significant difference in whether Indian students graduate. This volume is the result of a two-year study of Native American undergraduate students. It offers suggestions based on longitudinal data for empowering Native American and minority students at the organizational, curricular and classroom levels. By employing a critical framework, the book extends our thinking about minorities in academia, and provides insight into the pitfalls that occur with liberal solutions for retention and recruitment strategies.