HR: 16:30h
AN: ED42C-03    [PDF]
TI: Experiential Learning for Native American Students at Tribal Colleges and Universities
AU: Sauve, M L
EM: msauve@american.edu
AF: American University Washington Semester American Indian Program, 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016-8083 United States
AU: * Moore, K
EM: kamoore@american.edu
AF: American University Washington Semester American Indian Program, 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016-8083 United States
AB: In reaffirming its commitment to Indian tribes and Alaska Native entities, the Federal Government issued Executive Order 13270 of July 3, 2002, stating the policy that " this Nation's commitment to education excellence and opportunity must extend as well to the tribal colleges and universities." Further, the Federal Government has called on the private sector to contribute to these colleges' educational and cultural mission. American University, through its American Indian Internship Program, has responded to this call. American University, a private liberal arts institution of higher education in the Nation's capital, has long ago recognized the importance of experiential learning in undergraduate education. For over 50 years, its Washington Semester Program brings students from other universities around the country and the world to American University's campus and to Washington, D.C. for a unique academic experience. The Washington Semester Program combines academic seminars in various fields of concentration with internship work in government agencies, congressional offices, non-profit organizations, foundations and research institutions in the Nation's capital. Students in this Program get to meet the Nation's leaders, experts in the field, and notable newsmakers while incorporating their academic skills and courses in practice at their internship assignments. The American Indian Internship Program (also knows as Washington Internship for Native Students-WINS) is one of the programs in Washington Semester. This program is designed to give American Indian students the chance to study issues of interest to the Native community and to gain valuable work experience through an internship in the Nation's capital. All costs to attend the program are paid by the internship sponsors and American University, including transportation between the students' home and Washington, DC, tuition and program fees for 6 credit hours in the summer and 12 credit hours in fall/spring semester, books for all courses, housing for the duration of the program, travel to/from internship sites, and a weekly stipend to cover meals and personal expenses. As with all the other Washington Semester Programs, the American Indian Internship Program/WINS provides a unique opportunity for the young people of sovereign Native American nations to build leadership skills while living, studying, and interning in Washington, DC., and to bring those skills back to their communities. While this challenging experience is open to all American Indian and Alaskan Native students, it is particularly valuable to students from tribal colleges and universities. The Washington experience serves to expand the tribal college students' understanding of the government's policies towards Indian Nations, the structure of government agencies and their functions, and their impact on tribal communities. Students meet Natives from other tribes and schools from across the country in a very diverse campus community. Our students have a 95 percent completion rate and nearly 10 percent return to do another session, One of the most significant effects of this Program is to reinforce students commitment to completing their undergraduate education. In addition, once students have been exposed to the professional and academic environment offered at the WINS Program and at internship sites, many students have been inspired to also pursue a graduate or professional degree.
DE: 6605 Education
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting