Resources on American Indian and Alaska Native Postsecondary Success

As part of the Native-Serving Institutions Initiative WICHE has compiled a wide variety of resources to help institutions create a culture in which American Indian and Alaska Native students can succeed.  When possible, we have included links to these resources.

Resources for Campus Diversity Efforts and Institutional Change (Guides and Websites)

• American Association of Colleges and Universities. (2017). Committing to Equity and Inclusive Excellence. Peer Review Magazine. 19(2).
• The Center for Urban Education at the University of Southern California lists a variety of processes, tools and other resources, including its Equity Scorecard Project.
• The Education Trust. 2016. These Guides are intended to help college leaders begin or re-energize the change process in their own institutions to promote success for underrepresented students.
  • Education Trust Higher Education Practice Guide: Learning from High-Performing and Fast-Gaining Institutions.
  • Education Trust Higher Education Practice Guide #2: Using Data to Improve Student Outcomes: Learning from Leading Colleges.

• Montana State University Northern Little River Institute.  Indigenizing the 21st Century Classroom.  Classroom materials.
• National Congress of American Indians Policy Research Center and Montana State University Center for Native Health Partnerships. (2012). ‘Walk softly and listen carefully’: Building research relationships with tribal communities.
• Reclaiming Native Truth. (2018). This is a collaborative project to dispel America’s Myths and Misconceptions including a research report and several messaging guides titled Changing the Narrative about Native Americans.
• Wisconsin’s Disproportionality Technical Assistance Network.  The Network works with schools, districts, and other community partners to reduce racial disproportionality in education.
• W.K. Kellogg Foundation. (2017). Restoring to Wholeness: Racial Healing for Ourselves, Our Relationships, and Our Communities.

Resources on Student Access to college (Reports and Articles):

• ACT. (2015). The Condition of College and Career Readiness 2015: American Indian Students. 
• Katz, J.R., Oneal, G., & Paul, R. (2011). “I don’t know if I can make it”: Native American students considering college and career. Online Journal of Cultural Competence in Nursing and Healthcare, 1(4), 11-26.
• Rearden, A. K. (2012). Recruitment and Retention of Alaska Natives into Nursing: Elements Enabling Educational Success. Journal of Cultural Diversity 19 (3): 72-78.

Resources on Student Persistence in College (Reports and Articles):

• ACE. (2019) Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education: A Status Report.
• Crosby, H.  (2011). Exploring Achievement: Factors Affecting Native American College Student Success. Texas State University.
• Falkenstern, C. & Rochat, A. (2018). Native American-Serving, Nontribal Institutions (NASNTIs) Survey of American Indian/Alaska Native Students in Higher Education.
• Jackson, A. P., Smith, S.A., & Hill, C.L. (2003). Academic Persistence among Native American College Students. Journal of College Student Development 44 (4): 548-65.
• Okagaki, L., Helling, M.K., & Bingham, G.E. (2009). American Indian College Students’ Ethnic Identity and Beliefs about Education. Journal of College Student Development 50 (2): 157-76.
• Smith, B. L., Stumpff, L.M., & Cole, R. (2012). Engaging Students from Underrepresented Populations: The Enduring Legacies Native Cases Initiative. Journal of College Science Teaching 41 (4): 60-68.
• Smith, J.L., et al.  (2014). Giving Back or Giving Up: Native American Student Experiences in STEM. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology 20 (3): 413-29.
• Xapkaid, C., Inglebret, E., & Krebill-Prather, R.L.  (2011). Views and Perspectives of Native Educational Success: A National Survey of American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and Others Associated with Indian Education.

Resources on Student Affairs/Academic Support Services (Reports and Articles):

• Cajete, G. (2005). American Indian Epistemologies. In Fox, M.J.T, S.C. Lowe, & G.S. McClellan. (Eds). Serving Native American Students: New Directions for Student Services.  69-78. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
• Cech, E. A., Metz, A., Smith, J. L., & deVries, K. (2017). Epistemological Dominance and Social Inequality: Experiences of Native American Science, Engineering, and Health Students. Science, Technology, & Human Values, 42(5), 743–774.
• Finley, A., & McNair, T. (2013). Assessing Underserved Students’ Engagement in High-Impact Practices. Includes an assessing equity in high-impact practices toolkit.
• Tachine, A.R., Cabrera, N.L., & Yellow Bird, E. (2017). Home Away From Home: Native American Students’ Sense of Belonging During Their First Year in College, The Journal of Higher Education 88(5): 785-807.
• Ward, C., Jones, K.W., Coles, R., Rich, L., Knapp, S., & Madsen, R. (2014). Mentored Research in a Tribal
• College Setting: The Northern Cheyenne Case. Journal of Research in Rural Education 29 (3): 1.

Resources on Campus Climate and Institutional Research (Reports and Articles):

• Akee, R.Q., & Yazzie-Mintz, T. (2011).  “Counting Experience” among the Least Counted: The Role of Cultural and Community Engagement on Educational Outcomes for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Students. 35 (3): 119-150.
• Lopez, J.D. (2017). Factors Influencing American Indian and Alaska Native Postsecondary Persistence: AI/AN Millennium Falcon Persistence Model. Research in Higher Education.  59 (6): 792-811.
• Lopez, J.D., & Marley, S.C. (2018). Postsecondary Research and Recommendations for Federal Datasets with American Indians and Alaska Natives: Challenges and Future Directions.  Journal of American Indian Education.  57 (2): 5-34.
• Lundberg, C.A. (2014). Institutional Support and Interpersonal Climate as Predictors of Learning for Native American Students. Journal of College Student Development 55 (3): 263-277.

Resources on Native Student Success in K-12 (Reports and Articles):

• Education Commission of the States. (2016).  Policy Analysis: State and Federal Policy: Native American Youth.
• National Conference of State Legislators. (2008).  Striving to Achieve: Helping Native American Students Succeed.
• The Education Trust. (2013).  The State of Education for Native Students.
• U.S. Department of Education. (2015). White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Natives.
• Education: School Environment Listening Sessions Final Report.

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