First Generation College Freshman Attrition And Persistence For Native American Students

Abstract

This qualitative study examined factors contributing to Native Americans’ low college graduation rates. As of 2016, just 41% of first-time, full-time Native American students managed to earn a Bachelor’s degree within six years. In contrast, the national average for all students was 59%. A constructivist, case study approach was used along with a theoretical framework consisting of Tinto’s Model, viewed through the lens of Tribal Critical Race Theory. Sixteen first-generation, Native American, college-bound high school seniors were interviewed before and after their first semester in college in order to better understand the challenges they faced, as well as the strategies they used to persist.

Several salient themes emerged from analysis – family environment, support, college transition and achieving success. The effect of the family environment upon the study participants was the most significant, and was woven into and throughout the other themes. Family is critical to Native Americans. Several universities have established Native American centers on their campuses as homes away from home for Native students. Participants found these to fail at their mission. While first-generation families tend to discourage college attendance, the study participants’ families encouraged it and were highly supportive. Participants evidenced under-preparation for transitioning to college. Tertiary education came as a shock. Achieving success involved a variety of factors, including having the right stratagems, skills, and more importantly, the self-efficacy necessary to advocate and fight for their goals.

The attrition and retention of Native Americans merits further research. The roles that trauma and self-efficacy play, jointly as well as separately, in persistence, needs to be explored. The effect that education has on an Indian community should also be looked at. Finally, persistence and attrition rates should be examined, to include students of all ages and for periods longer than six years.

American Indian college graduation rates have historically ranked below that of all other minorities. The benefits of economic prosperity through education have a direct effect on individuals as well as their communities. While not a complete solution to the social problems facing Indian reservations, the more educated a population becomes, the higher the level of economic growth.