American Indians
Academic
Native American Studies provides a point of academic focus and identity for American Indians and allows students the flexibility of taking part in a community-oriented education. The L&S Reading and Composition requirement can be fulfilled by Native American Studies R1A and R1B (506 Barrows Hall; 510/642-6613).
The Native American Studies Collection is part of the Ethnic Studies Library in 30 Stephens Hall (eslibrary.berkeley.edu; 510/643-1234).
The American Indian Graduate Program seeks through outreach, individual recruitment, and student services, to counteract the barriers that prevent the full participation of American Indian and Alaska Native students in graduate programs at Berkeley and to advance the University's mission of fostering academic excellence through diversity (www.grad.berkeley.edu/aigp; aigp@berkeley.edu; 510/642-3228).
Student groups
Student organizations include the Intertribal Student Council, which hosts an annual Pow Wow in the spring; American Indian Graduate Student Association; American Indian Science and Engineering Society; Native American Law Students Association; and Native American Recruitment and Retention Center.
Scholarships
The Morris K. Udall Scholarship provides $5000 per year to outstanding sophomores and juniors, who either plan to pursue careers in environmental policy or are Native American, Alaska Native, Pacific Islander and planning to pursue careers in health care or tribal public policy. Applicants must be US citizens with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applications are due in early February (scholarships.berkeley.edu; Scholarship Connection, 301B Campbell Hall; 510/643-6929).
Support
California Alumni Association (CAA) sponsors Native American Mentoring, which matches Native American students with Native American alumni for one-on-one mentoring via an online mentoring program (alumni.berkeley.edu/samp; Alumni House; 510/642-5780).
Native American Recruitment and Retention Center (NARRC) motivates Native American elementary and secondary students in Northern California to plan and prepare to attend college and assists Native American students at Cal with academic programs. NARRC members work as tutors, coordinators, and retention counselors (multicultural.berkeley.edu/naac/narrc.html; 510/643-7876).
Native American Students Orientation is held during the first or second week of the fall semester. New graduate and undergraduate students can meet other American Indians, including faculty and staff, and learn about support services. In the spring, there is also a reception for continuing students to touch base with other students, faculty, and staff (510/643-7876).
Student Life Advising Services (SLAS) staff are key University resources for American Indian students (Student Life Advising Services, 119 Cesar Chavez Student Center; alexaa@berkeley.edu; 510/643-7876).