Project Grant 20237041140933

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE ENABLING ACT OF 1889 GRANTED 190,000 ACRES OF SEIZED TRIBAL LAND TO WASHINGTON TO SUPPORT WHAT WOULD BECOME WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY. NONE OF THE REVENUE GENERATED BY THESE LANDS OVER THE LAST 133 YEARS HAS DIRECTLY BENEFITED NATIVE STUDENTS AT WSU, EVEN THOUGH THEY FACE DISPROPORTIONATELY GREATER ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS DUE TO THE EXPROPRIATION OF THEIR TRADITIONAL HOMELANDS. AS A LAND-GRANT INSTITUTION WSU IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING SUPPORT FOR NATIVE STUDENTS WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE CAN NEVER COMPLETELY ALLEVIATE THE SYSTEMIC INEQUITY CAUSED BY U.S. POLICY. OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH OUR TRIBAL PARTNERS A DOCUMENTED PLAN FOR AN EXCITING NEW WSU SYSTEM-WIDE NATIVE AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, CALLED NATIVE COUG SCHOLARS, THAT EMPHASIZES TRIBAL NATION BUILDING PRINCIPLES. THIS PLAN WILL BE TRANSFERRABLE TO OTHER LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITIES. WE WILL (OBJ 1) ANALYZE INSTITUTIONAL DATA TO CLARIFY THE SCOPE OF UNMET FINANCIAL NEED AMONG NATIVE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT WSU. THROUGH CLOSE AND CONTINUED CONSULTATION WITH REGIONAL TRIBES AND UNIVERSITY LEADERS WE WILL (OBJ 2) ESTABLISH PRIORITIES AND PRACTICES FOR NATIVE STUDENT RECRUITMENT, ENROLLMENT, RETENTION, AND THE AWARDING OF SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS. CONSULTATION WITH TRIBAL LEADERS WILL ALSO HELP US (OBJ 3) IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL FORMS OF INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS NEED TO SUCCEED. THE FUNDS WE ARE REQUESTING WILL BE USED TO BUILD A LONG-OVERDUE NATIVE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT DIRECTLY ADDRESSES THE SEVERE UNMET FINANCIAL NEEDS OF NATIVE STUDENTS, EMPHASIZES TRIBAL NATION BUILDING PRINCIPLES, AND IMPROVES MEASURABLE OUTCOMES IN NATIVE STUDENT RECRUITMENT, ENROLLMENT, AND RETENTION AT WSU AND BEYOND.