Educating the Mind and the Spirit. Native American Higher Education Initiative. Profiles in Programming.

Overview & Synopsis

The Native American Higher Education Initiative (NAHEI), funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, has departed from the assimilationist approach typical of past efforts to improve higher education for Native Americans. NAHEI supports Native American educational leaders' efforts to articulate their vision of higher education, strengthen their planning process, and identify major initiatives that facilitate strategic development. The goal is to increase the access and success of greater numbers of Native American students who will provide leadership in their communities, the nation, and the world by strengthening Native American communities and the higher education institutions that serve them. Phase 1 engaged 30 Native-controlled and mainstream higher education institutions in a planning process. Phase 2, now in progress, is funding 56 projects involving over 107 partners. Native-controlled institutions of higher education are becoming fiscally, academically, and administratively stable and strong. Four national Native organizations funded by NAHEI are building their capacities and becoming stronger and more visible advocates for addressing Native higher education needs at the federal, corporate, and foundation levels, as well as throughout the national mainstream of higher education. Partnerships formed with mainstream institutions of higher education are strengthening institutional curricula, augmenting degree programs, sustaining Native languages and culture, enhancing service delivery through new technologies, and building stronger local economies. Five successful fundraising efforts at individual institutions are described. (TD)