Anchorage Daily News

A report on UAA's performance contains disturbing news about Native students.

While Alaska Natives make up an increasing share of the UAA student body, few of them graduate.

Nine percent of students on the Anchorage campus, or 1,400 of them, are Natives. But only one in 10 degree-seeking Native students who started at UAA in 2000 had earned a bachelor's degree six years later. That compares to one in four of all UAA students who seek degrees. Neither record is stellar -- the national average is for 56 percent of students to earn a degree within six years -- but the success rate of Alaska Native students is particularly appalling.

The university should do better. The report, by the university's own Institute of Social and Economic Research, said interviews with Native students who graduated between 1980 and 2005 showed the students faced the same sorts of challenges, decade after decade -- not enough help with admissions, advising and figuring out financial aid. Feelings that they didn't belong. Inadequate information from advisers on course levels, degree requirements, policies for adding or dropping classes. At times, the staff and faculty didn't even seem to know the answers, Native graduates told the researchers.

Can the university overcome so many years of not doing right by Native students? It must.

Linda Lazzell, vice chancellor for student affairs, says major changes are already afoot. And there are signs UAA is improving significantly.

A year ago, UAA began sending teams to rural communities to make sure students aiming for bachelor's degrees get off to the right start. A student in Nome can get tested to see what math or English classes he should be in, for example. Advisers on site make sure they get through the maze of applications for money, classes, living space.

Three years ago, UAA leaders started holding periodic meetings with academic advisers, parties, reunions and other events for Native students in a room in the Commons.

While the institute report showed that only 59.5 percent of degree-seeking Native students returned for a second year as recently as 2005, that number is already up, says Lazzell. In 2007, nearly 65 percent of the Native students from the prior year returned.

UAA has been working on other fronts to recruit and retain Native students. Its Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program has been a stunning success, growing from a handful of students in 2000 to 120 by 2006. The program recruits rural students and provides a place where Native culture is appreciated. These kids have buddies. They have study groups. They can come during the summer before to prepare.

UAA has similar programs in the psychology and nursing departments.

There are lots of reasons Alaska Natives have a hard time at UAA or other UA campuses. Many are the first in their families to go to college. Some are behind in academics from the get-go: Native students' graduation rates and performance on tests are behind those of their white peers in the Anchorage School District. Some are far from home, and trying to survive in a big city for the first time.

UAA has proved it knows how to nurture Native students and can make a difference when it makes an effort to do that. After many years of not doing enough, UAA now needs to continue these focused efforts for years to come.

BOTTOM LINE: UAA hasn't done enough to graduate Alaska Native students historically. A more recent focus shows improvement. Check back in a few years.

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