UNM is developing a new scholarship program to attract the nation’s top American Indian students. The proposed National American Indian Scholars Program, scheduled to launch in fall 2009, is the first national scholarship or recognition program of its kind focused on American Indian students.
UNM is working in partnership with the American College Testing program, or ACT. The program would be open to students whose ACT score is within the 95th percentile for their region, and would admit approximately five to 10 students each year.
Special Assistant to the President for American Indian Affairs Pamela Agoyo first suggested the program five years ago, and she worked with Associate Vice President Terry Babbitt to begin planning over the past two years. Provost Suzanne Ortega and Vice President for Enrollment Management Carmen Alvarez Brown made this venture a reality soon after joining UNM.
“We are absolutely delighted that UNM is playing a leadership role in recognizing the outstanding academic accomplishments of the next generation of American Indian students and scholars,” Ortega said.
Brown said that the ACT was chosen as the qualifying test because most American Indians live in a state where the ACT is the primary college entrance exam. The Division of Enrollment Management is already working to identify potential applicants.
Agoyo said that UNM has great wealth in its American Indian student population and understands that improving graduation rates is of paramount importance.
She said this scholarship program, combined with support services like UNM’s American Indian Student Services and academic programs including Native American Studies, can help students learn early on in their collegiate experience what it means to become scholars and successfully attain degree status.
“The university has a commitment to advancing opportunities for American Indian students and this is part of that commitment,” she said.
Media Contact: Sari Krosinsky, (505) 277-1593; e-mail: michal@unm.edu
Posted by scarr at December 11, 2008 01:13 PM