From Staff Reports
Southeastern has been ranked number six in the nation for graduating Native Americans.
SE’s rank has increased from the tenth place spot last year.
Currently, approximately 30 percent of Southeastern’s enrollment is comprised of Native Americans.
In the undergraduate degree category, SE ranks first in engineering technologies and engineering-related fields (occupational safety and health).
The ranking report was given by Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine
. The report is found in the “Top 100 Degree Producers” list for 2013 article.
In 2011 SE was given a 2 million dollar Title III grant.
According to edu.gov in order to receive the grant SE needed at least 50 percent of its degree students receiving need-based assistance under Title IV of the Higher Education Act or have a substantial number of enrolled students receiving Pell Grants and have low educational and general expenditures.
SE has implemented the “Connect2Complete (C2C) project” to help bolster the retention rates of Native American students at SE.
The Native American Center for Student Success at SE is a program that offers advisement and assistance in assessing external funding for Native American students.
SE offers several Native American related courses such as, a Native American management option, courses in Choctaw language and culture and a Native American version of college success courses.
Other Native American based activities that SE offers are, a Native American Graduation reception, the Native American Student Association and the Miss Indian Southeastern pageant.
According to SE President, Larry Minks, “It is a real honor for Southeastern to be recognized in this manner,we have a number of programs in place to assist our Native American students as they work toward their goals. We are also fortunate to have partnerships in place with The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the Chickasaw Nation that directly benefit our students.’’