TRANSFORMATIVE AID H E L PI NG OU R ST U DE NT S AND TRIBA L COLLEGES A N D UN IVERSI T I E S S U CC E E D T H ROU GHOU T T HE PA N DEM IC
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he pandemic had devastating consequences for Native scholars and tribal colleges and universities (TCUs). The challenges students and institutions faced were exacerbated by existing disproportionate poverty and food and housing insecurity. A decline in Native student college enrollment and persistence in Native communities could cause the loss of the next generation of teachers, doctors, nurses, scientists, entrepreneurs, artists, and leaders. The result would create economic instability and stagnant job growth. This would negatively impact health care, infrastructure, innovation, education, and more.
In response, the College Fund has provided more than $9 million in direct aid to Native students, 35 accredited TCUs and their 89 campuses, and TCU communities since the onset of the pandemic. In 2020-21, we evolved our pandemic response to meet Native scholars’ basic needs for college persistence and to strengthen the TCUs’ ability to adapt educational programming, tools, and resources to serve Native students and communities.
Fall 2020 } Student Enrollment and Persistence Support at 35 TCUs • Financial aid and incentives to stay in school • Financial education • Early warning systems to prevent student dropout • Online tutoring software • GED funding • Money for hiring tutoring staff and tech assistants and for establishing help desks • Mental health services • Virtual counseling • Podcasts • Talking circles • Training for faculty and staff to recognize issues
} IT Infrastructure Support for 20 TCUs • Hardware and software upgrades • Laptops • Wireless internet hotspots • Transmission towers to boost internet access for students in remote areas • Specialized equipment for students with physical or learning disabilities • Software applications to improve the online delivery of coursework and administrative and student support • Website redesigns • Virtual labs • Virtual campus tours and platforms for high school students • Funding for distancing and hygiene } Food and Personal Protection for 35 TCU Communities • Distributed food boxes, meals, vouchers, and TCU food bank support • Expanded support for 10 TCUs’ food sovereignty programs to gather and preserve traditional foods, to grow and preserve crops, to access wild and domestic meats, and to distribute food • Acquired food from Native businesses • Distributed $1 million of masks, hand sanitizer, gloves, and disinfectant to TCUs, tribes, and Native-serving organizations
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2020–21 ANNUAL RE PORT
Results
Spring 2021 to Present
From Fall 2020 to Spring 2021, tribal college and university (TCU) student persistence rose to 63 percent, higher than the three-year average of 59 percent, meaning more TCU students remained in school through 2020-21 than before the pandemic. This contrasted with the significant decline in enrollment and persistence of Native students at colleges and universities nationwide during the pandemic.
} Support for Enrollment and Persistence for 33 TCUs • Incentives to support enrollment and persistence in workforce training and technical and academic degree areas • Computers • Internet access • Paid internships • Mental and emotional health support • Help desk and tutoring services • TCU faculty and staff training • Student engagement and intervention software • IT infrastructure • Distance learning adaptation and tools
63%
59%
} Ongoing Community and Food Security Support at TCUs Program ended September 2021. Reporting is ongoing.
Fall 2020 to Spring 2021 TCU Persistence
Fall 2020 to Spring 2021 TCU Persistence
All Emergency Aid Grantees
Three-Year Average, All TCUs
E DUCATI ON I S THE ANS WE R
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