Grignon, C. M. (2009). Native American student perceptions of the cultural environment and factors for academic success at the University of South Dakota. University of South Dakota. [PhD Thesis]

ABSTRACT

Considering the high retention rates for Native American students in 2009 and 2008 in the two semesters at the University of South Dakota, there is a need to know the Native student perceptions of factors for their academic success. Native professors and administrators would benefit to know this information to continue to make improvements in working with Native students at high schools, community colleges, and universities.

The University of South Dakota current Native undergraduate student who responded in this study reported that the institution was a good place for them to study. However, the students indicated that racial prejudice toward persons of Native descent

continues in South Dakota, the University, and the Nation. Respondents found the many student support services at USD to be helpful, yet some of the organized support services (such as the Tiospaye extended family organization) were better known and considered effective in assuring academic success than were some support services that were less known and not considered as essential (such as the STAR Program, an academic student tracking, advocacy, and retention service).

Respondents believed that there was support for spiritual growth at USD, whether through traditional community churches, or through Native religious structures.

The support for Native students from the family, peers, faculty, and spiritual was perceived by students to be very important for the semester that they are attending and whether the academic accomplishment is positive or negative.

Racism toward Native Americans in South Dakota continues to be a problem that must be confronted by educators and society, but Native students at USD believe those times and values are continuing to change and the learning environment at USD is producing more Native graduates because there are people who are committed to making a healthy learning environment.