Native Americans in Higher Education: An Ecological Systems Perspective

As a result of the U.S. government's involvement in Native American education, the current experiences of Native American college students are characterized by educational disparities. Higher education professionals are in an ideal position to meet the needs and interests of Native American students; however, most of the literature concerning this population takes a deficit approach. We offer a reconceptualization of Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems model as an alternative framework for the experiences of Native American college students. In privileging historical and cultural factors, this reconceptualization demonstrates how transforming educational institutions could influence the experiences of Native American college students.