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Education News
Be Aware of Private Training Schools with Big Promises
Every year the Tribal Education Program is ap
proached by students who do not want to devote time
toward pursuing a two year program at a local commu
nity college. Instead they see and hear glamorous sales
pitches on TV made by a variety of private or proprie
tary schools offering training in everything from broad
casting, to modeling and fashion design, to becoming a
professional wrestler. Many of the schools are legiti
mate and they do offer alternative programs. However
a majority of the schools will have a student immediately
signed up and locked into a large loan. Many of the
schools are not concerned that you have completed
applications on file with respective Tribal agencies. And
will usually promise a student that if you sign up today,
we will force or strongly encourage the Tribe to pay for
your schooling. Jhe bottom line is. before you sign up
with any school there are a few things you need to be
aware of, such as:
1. Is the School accredited and is it approved for
training by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and your Tribe?
2. What type of FINANCIAL AID is offered by
the school? Many of the schools only offer a Pell Grant
(if you're eligible and if your program is more than three
months in length) and possibly a Stafford Loan or GSL.
In many cases, schools will require you to register for
the loans. You are locked into debt immediately, if you
are not careful.
3. Will your start date (the day you will begin classes)
begin immediately? In many cases schools will have you
committed to starting classes within a few days, even if
this does not meet the 45 dav rule. YOU MUST HAVE
YOUR APPLICATION SUBMITTED INTO THE
TRIBAL EDUCATION OFFICE 45 DAYS PRIOR
TO THE DATE YOU WILL START CLASSE&ealize
the Tribe has 45 days prior to the date your classes
begin, to review, approve or disapprove your application.
If you sign up for classes and begin before your applica
tion is actually approved, you may find yourself locked
into some financial obligations with the school.
4. What is the success record of the school and does
the school really follow up on the promises they might
make on television, "we guarantee job placement".
Does the school really help you find a job?
5. Some schools won't allow you to register unless you
pay a $50 or $100 registration fee. Is this fee refundable
after you begin the registration process then change
your mind?
6. What type of interaction has the school had with
Tribes, the Indian Community and the Bureau of Indian
Affairs?
The above items are not an indictment against all
private or proprietary schools. The Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde has had positive support and interac
tion with a number of the institutions. But we have also
had circumstances where the schools and the Tribe have
lost students due to lack of communications regarding
attendance and academic progress.
If you are set and determined to pursue a training
program at a private school, the Adult Vocational
Training Program will work hard toward making sure
you are provided every opportunity. However we want
to be certain you are sure about your decision. The
costs for tuition at many of the private schools run from,
$4,500 to $5,500 per year on the average. The average
costs for tuition at a community college for one year is
$1,150 for tuition and books per year.
No school offers you a real short cut. All programs
require time, money and your quality participation. Be
aware many schools will promise you many things, but
some times they don't always deliver.
To learn which schools are approved and which schools
fall in unfavorable light by the Tribal Education Pro
gram, contact Dean at (503) 879-5211.
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New J.O.M. Coordinator
Takes Over
By Brent Merrill
New JOM Coordinator Barbara Steere might be
lacking in experience, but she makes up for it with
intense motivation and a positive attitude.
Despite the fact that this is her first job in an educa
tional program, Steere has already earned the praise of
her supervisor. "While she doesn't have alot of experi
ence in the field of education she is very enthusiastic
about her new position and she has shown a willingness
to learn," said Dean Azule. Azule, who is the Tribes
Education Coordinator, said her presence has been
refreshing.
Steere explained that her job consists of finding ways to
help students in a wide variety of areas. "We do every
thing here from providing grade school children with
school supplies to coordinating self-esteem classes for
older students." Azule said that innovation is one of
Steere's strong points. "She has stated that she would
like to increase youth activities throughout the school
year," said Azule. "She is also very conscientious about
cooperating with the youth activities that have been
scheduled through the Tribes' Drug and Alcohol
Program."
Barbara grew up in the Grand Ronde area and went to
school in Willamina. Her parents are Orville and
RamonaLeno. She is married to Mark Steere.
She looks at her new position as a chance to prove
herself. "I look at this job as a challenge and I have
always believed that you can do anything if you just set
your mind to it."
Native Americans
in Marine Science
Starting in the Fall of 1990, the College of Oceanogra
phy at Oregon State University (OSU) will begin a
research participation program for American Indian and
Alaskan Native undergraduates interested in exploring
science as a career.
Funded by a National Science Foundation grant., the
objective is to increase the number of Native Americans
in the scientific professions. Students will work as
research assistants with faculty involved in marine
related scientific research projects, in the College of
Oceanography and in other Departments at OSU. The
program will provide part-time employment during the
academic year and up to full-time in the summer for ten
Indian students.
Initially, student research assistant appointments will
be for not less than two academic auarters nun th
academic year, assistants will work about 10 hours per
week on a flexible schedule, adapted to fit their class
schedules. Appointments will be renewable for longer
periods if performance is satisfactory. Opportunities
will be available in the summer to work up to full-time.
The pay rate will be $7.00 per hour. Student research
assistants are expected to maintain a GPA of at least 2.5
for the academic year to continue in the program. Ap
plicants must be regularly enrolled Native American
undergraduates in good academic standing at OSU and
meet the National Science Foundation definition of an
American Indian or Alaskan Native.
For more information, contact OSU professor,
Jefferson J. Goner, (503) 737-3504.
A New Series of Booklets to
Help Students
Minority students are eligible for hundreds of special
financial aid programs at both the undergraduate and
graduate levels. These are sponsored by a wide variety
of professional associations, federal and state agencies,
foundations, and other sources.
The variety and volume of these programs makes it
difficult for students and their counselors to learn about
more than a fraction of them. For this reason, these
booklets have been developed to assemble in a readily
available form information on a number of current
programs. The booklets are designed for use by
individual students, by counselors working with graduat
ing classes, and by resource libraries and others working
with minority group members.
Each booklet is from 60 to 70 pages and includes the
following information:
Summary and description of the field including employ
ment outlook and the numbers of minority group
members now employed in it. Directory of financial aid
programs which have been developed to assist minority
group students seeking scholarships, fellowships, loans,
or other help. List of associations or organizations in the
field which offer additional assistance to students.
Resources for supplementary information including
books on the career field and other references which
may provide financial aid information.
TO: Garrett Park Press
P.O. Box 190F
Garrett Park, MD 20896