skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

UAW strike continues: Officials say EPA standards must catch up; Mississippians urged to register to vote ahead of the Nov. 7 general election; NYers worry about impacts of government shutdown.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Senate leaders advance a plan to avoid a government shutdown, an elections official argues AI could be a threat to democracy and voting rights advocates look to states like Arizona to rally young Latino voters.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A small fire department in rural Indiana is determined not to fail new moms and babies, the growing election denial movement has caused voting districts to change procedures and autumn promises spectacular scenery along America's rural byways.

Money, Family Responsibilities Limit Indigenous College Attendance

play audio
Play

Tuesday, September 27, 2022   

Native Americans must often overcome long odds to attain a college degree, but first-of-its kind data is helping educators better understand the problem, and New Mexico's new Opportunity Scholarship could also help.

The two-year-old scholarship has been expanded by lawmakers to cover all tuition and fees for some students, and funds can be used at any public postsecondary school or tribal college in the state.

Cheryl Crazy Bull, president and CEO of the American Indian College Fund, said most Indigenous students do not finish college within six years, and cost is the primary factor.

"We rarely think of people running out of money," Crazy Bull pointed out. "We assume that everybody has access to some. But if students are actually experiencing that, it's going to impact their ability to contribute to their own education."

A recent study by the National Native Scholarship Providers found the primary obstacle to college completion is affordability, causing overall college student attrition.

President Joe Biden's announcement last month about how the government will forgive some student loans highlighted the nation's $1.6 trillion student debt, and how it's preventing some students from making a larger contribution to society.

Crazy Bull cited data from 2014 showing 60% of all students entering four-year colleges and universities completed their academic degrees in six years, while it was true for only 36% of Indigenous students.

"More students have dependents, more students are expected to contribute to their family bills," Crazy Bull pointed out. "And then, because so many of the students are still first-generation students, a lot of them don't fully understand the cost of attending college."

New Mexico's Opportunity Scholarship, which only requires a minimum of six credit hours per semester, is intended to provide funds to those who may have graduated from high school or started college years before, and want to complete their degree.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Montana has more than 30 million acres of state and federal lands, nearly one third of the state. Conservation advocates are holding a photo contest featuring people and their dogs to celebrate being outdoors. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

This is the last weekend to get involved in a photo competition designed to encourage Montanans to explore the wilderness with their pets. There …


play sound

In a new poll, about a quarter of Hispanic students in post-high school education and training programs report feeling discriminated against…

Social Issues

play sound

New Yorkers are preparing for an impending government shutdown. State officials are worried about how it could impact the work state agencies have …


In 1920, Black people made up 14% of all farmers. It is estimated Black farmers lost around $326 billion worth of land within the 20th century. BIPOC farmers now make up less than 5% of all U.S. farmers. (Heather Craig/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Advocates are drawing attention to systemic racism in farming across North Carolina and the nation. The National Farm Worker Ministry is hosting its …

Environment

play sound

Researchers have found the amount of land affected by saltwater intrusion on the Delmarva Peninsula has dramatically increased in recent years…

Agrivoltaics is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the use of land for both agriculture and solar-energy generation. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

The arrival of fall has farmers transitioning to the harvest season, but what if some gathered their crops with rows of solar panels right alongside …

Environment

play sound

A new report finds more than half of the sewage facilities in Idaho had pollution violations in 2022. The sixth annual analysis by the Idaho …

Environment

play sound

Amid the United Auto Workers strike, some advocates argued it is time to implement clean car standards. Gary Schlack, a city council member in Allen …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021