Indianz.Com > News > Michael Ulroan: Unique program puts Native students on path to success
Higher education is failing Indigenous students, Alaska program models solution
This sequential education model is placing Alaska Native students on a path to academic success.
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Senior Director of ANSEP Acceleration Academy
Indigenous students have been rendered virtually invisible in higher education. As an Alaska Native Cup’ik from Chevak, and a once drastically under-prepared college student, I understand the challenges Indigenous students face and how to overcome them.
The future of our nation lies in the proper education of our youth. All of our youth. Why, then, are Indigenous students and their academic needs being neglected? As we celebrate Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month, we should not only be honoring the cultural traditions and contributions of America’s Indigenous people, but we should also be asking ourselves how education can be more responsive to the values, needs and perspectives of Indigenous students.
As an undergraduate student at the University of Alaska Anchorage, I began my first semester taking the lowest level of math and English though I had completed advanced English and pre-calculus in high school. I repeatedly failed my college courses but not for a lack of trying. Many Indigenous students, including myself, grow up in small, rural villages so the culture shock of transitioning from our village to living on a college campus is rattling.


Michael Ulroan serves as Senior Director of the Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program (ANSEP) Acceleration Academy. ANSEP’s objective is to effect systemic change in the hiring patterns of Alaska Natives in science and engineering by placing our students on a career path to leadership.
Search
Filed Under
Tags
More Headlines
Native America Calling: A personal portrait and a summer blockbuster
Source New Mexico: Tribes demand protections for sacred lands
Arizona Mirror: Fire prompts evacuations on Navajo Nation
Cronkite News: Congress poised to reauthorize radiation compensation program
Native America Calling: The new limits on challenging federal actions
VIDEO: ‘We have a lot of support throughout Indian Country’
Native America Calling: The necessary, but imperfect reality of the Indian Health Service
Cronkite News: President Trump claims victory in birthright citizenship case
Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation achieves milestone as first film ready reservation
Native America Calling: Dune Lankard recognized, a controversial path forward for chestnut trees, and bison for school lunches
Native America Calling: Tulsa takes new tack on tribal jurisdiction
Arizona Mirror: Native advocates oppose ‘disposal’ of public lands
Montana Free Press: State budget includes funding for tribal colleges and repatriation
Daily Montanan: Tribes challenge restrictions to voter registration
VIDEO: H.R.2556, the CORE Act
More Headlines
Source New Mexico: Tribes demand protections for sacred lands
Arizona Mirror: Fire prompts evacuations on Navajo Nation
Cronkite News: Congress poised to reauthorize radiation compensation program
Native America Calling: The new limits on challenging federal actions
VIDEO: ‘We have a lot of support throughout Indian Country’
Native America Calling: The necessary, but imperfect reality of the Indian Health Service
Cronkite News: President Trump claims victory in birthright citizenship case
Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation achieves milestone as first film ready reservation
Native America Calling: Dune Lankard recognized, a controversial path forward for chestnut trees, and bison for school lunches
Native America Calling: Tulsa takes new tack on tribal jurisdiction
Arizona Mirror: Native advocates oppose ‘disposal’ of public lands
Montana Free Press: State budget includes funding for tribal colleges and repatriation
Daily Montanan: Tribes challenge restrictions to voter registration
VIDEO: H.R.2556, the CORE Act
More Headlines