The Modern Era of Indigenous College Student Support in Primarily White Institutions

Some institutions have incorporated Indigenous Student Affairs (ISA) programs as an approach to retaining Indigenous college students—but how well do we understand and support ISA work? We interviewed six ISA directors at PWIs across the United States about their roles and experiences on campus and focus on a theme of how the directors’ work is understood and supported within the institutional context of their campuses. We found that while ISA supports increased Indigenous student retention, PWIs still create institutional barriers for both ISA directors and their work. Implications show many potential methods of improvement.