Book seeks to address lack of attention on Native student experience

The Harvard University Native American Program (HUNAP) in conjunction with the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Gutman Library and the Institute for New England Native American Studies at UMASS Boston will host a book talk on a newly published book addressing the regular practice of omitting Native American student data and statistics in national, regional, institutional and organizational education studies on higher education experiences. In Beyond the Asterisk: Understanding Native Students in Higher Education (Stylus 2013), editors Heather J. Shotton, Shelly C. Lowe, and Stephanie J. Waterman present 10 chapters by Native American authors who address the experiences of Native Americans in predominately non-Native colleges and universities in the U.S. Chapters cover topics ranging from student experience, faculty experience, and incorporating Native culture in university programming and administration.

“Even here at Harvard, where many  individuals look to understand the very first experience of Natives in higher education, there are very few faculty and administrators with knowledge of the experiences of Native students,” states editor Shelly C. Lowe, executive director of HUNAP. “All you have to do is look at the articles on Native culture that are being published today by college and university papers to see that some very negative stereotypes about Native cultures still exist. Our hope with this book is to present information to better inform universities and call attention to ways to promote success in our students.”

The Gutman Library Distinguished Author Book Talk will start at 6 p.m. on September 26 in the Gutman Library, 1st floor gallery.