The Blue Blog

The original article by Stacey A. Teicher can be found at:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0222/p14s01-legn.html 

After two and a half years at Michigan State University, I have seen a lot of different factors make an impact on the success of students during their time here at MSU.  Physical and mental health, family problems, alcohol or drug use, and all manner of personal difficulties can plague any college student, and sometimes these problems are overwhelming enough to cause someone to leave temporarily or permanently. However, I have rarely talked to people who are having problems because of an issue with culture that is related to their ethnic background.  I think that this probably demonstrates the limited scope of my experiences, since I am sure that there are many students who do deal with these sorts of issues.  In the article I read from the Christian Science Monitor, Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff has taken a unique approach to making the college environment more conducive to the success of the Native American students who attend the school and have to deal with cultural clashes and other issues that arise from their backgrounds.

While I know that there are aides and advisors in all sorts of different departments on any college campus who are there to help minority students, NAU has altered this establishment and taken it one step farther by hiring “resident elders.”  These people are there to assist Native American students with the issues that result from a culture change to college life, including prejudice, language barriers, and financial needs.  There is also an Applied Indigenous Studies program that is focused on acquiring skills and knowledge to use in indigenous communities.  I think that these programs are significant developments for two reasons.  First of all, together these programs provide a comprehensive way to help struggling students find a way to stay in higher education and succeed.  With all of the social forces mentioned in the article that are affecting Native American college students, the combination of social support and relevant degree programs probably makes a world of difference.  Second of all, the university is actually showing an effort to be culturally sensitive to the specific needs of a group. By allowing the elders to be employed as a type of counselor for those students who need assistance, NAU is acknowledging that someone who understands the specific context of the situations these students face would be absolutely vital to their success.  While this specific model may not work in or apply to all institutions of higher education, it is a model that should be kept in mind as a means of helping students stay in college.