The Tribal College as Family Support System

This study asked a single question: What is it that tribal colleges are doing that might explain their success in retention of high-risk students? An ethnography of a typical tribal college identified three ways in which family support contributes to retention. These are provision of a coordinated s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American behavioral scientist (Beverly Hills) 2001-05, Vol.44 (9), p.1492-1504
Main Authors: ROUSEY, ANNMARIA, LONGIE, ERICH
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alcoholism
American Indian Reservations
American Indians
Amerindians
Anthropology
Attrition
Behavioural sciences
Child care
College Attendance
College faculty
College Students
Colleges
Colleges & universities
Community colleges
Cultural Influences
Cultural Values
Dropouts
Drug abuse
Education
Educational Attainment
Ethnography
Ethnology
Families & family life
Family
Family Influence
Family relations
Family Role
Graduation rate
High Risk Students
Higher Education
Interpersonal relations
Native North Americans
North Dakota
Population
School dropouts
School Holding Power
Secondary schools
Social life & customs
Social support
Student retention
Students
Success
Support Networks
Tribal Colleges & Universities
Tribal society
Tribally Controlled Education
Tribes
U.S.A
Unemployment
Values
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Summary:This study asked a single question: What is it that tribal colleges are doing that might explain their success in retention of high-risk students? An ethnography of a typical tribal college identified three ways in which family support contributes to retention. These are provision of a coordinated system of social services, especially child care; incorporation of cultural familial values, knowledge, and traditions throughout the institution's operations; and location on the reservation. The reservation history is one of forced separation of families to obtain even a secondary education. There is a dramatic drop in educational attainment rates of Native American students at the point at which relocation is required. Given these facts, it is recommended that the emphasis on transfer to mainstream institutions off reservation be balanced with provision of baccalaureate and graduate degrees on the reservation.
ISSN:0002-7642
1552-3381
DOI:10.1177/00027640121956926