This study examines the conditions that contribute to the success of indigenous minority
students in higher education by focusing on the experiences of 50 Alaska Native teacher
education students who graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) between
1989 and 1993. Although the number of Alaska Native students enrolled at UAF has
increased in the past 10 years, the percentage of graduates continues to be significantly lower
than their percentage of the student and state population.
The study addresses the question: what factors have contributed to the academic success
Of Alaska Native teacher education graduates at UAF? It includes three components: a brief
history of schooling for Alaska Native people; a description of the programs, student services
and academic coursework at UAF designed to respond to the interests and needs of Alaska
Native students; and a review and analysis of the experiences of 50 Alaska Native teacher
education students based on data obtained through interviews, reviews of student records and
participant observation.
The study identifies multiple factors that have contributed to the academic success of
Alaska Native students, including the following: a teaching and learning environment
responsive to the interests and needs of culturally diverse students; student support services
respectful of the interests and needs of culturally diverse students; strong family and
community support; supportive prior school and life experiences; and exceptional individual
efforts. Accommodations and adaptations by both the students and the institution were
essential. Recommendations are made for institutions, faculty, students and communities who
are interested in developing campus environments where Alaska Native, and other cultural
minority students, can be fully represented, respected, involved and successful.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU.2429/6842 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Barnhardt, Carol |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Relation | UBC Retrospective Theses Digitization Project [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/retro_theses/] |
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