Any California residents who are members of the federally recognized Native American, American Indian and Alaska Native tribes will now be able to attend the state’s sprawling public university system for free, according to an announcement by University of California President Michael Drake last week.
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The new initiative, the UC Native American Opportunity Plan, will start this fall, and "will advance critical efforts to expand student diversity and make the University of California more affordable and accessible for California's Native American undergraduate and graduate students," said Drake in a letter to chancellors last week.
Funds will be taken from "a combination of existing State and University financial aid programs as well as other resources," he said.
According to the University of California website, the average cost of attending one year at a UC school is a little over $13,000, with additional campus fees of $1,400, book and supply costs of $1,300, health insurance at $2,700, and housing and meals up to $17,800.
It's not clear yet if the program will cover other fees, or if it will only cover tuition. Members of other, non-federally recognized tribes are not eligible.
According to Drake, there are scholarships available for these groups from other organizations.
One such group, the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria has stepped up to fill that void, by partnering with the UC system to cover tuition and fees for students from non-federally recognized tribes, according to spokesperson Brianne Miller.
Graton Rancheria is a federally recognized Sonoma County Indian tribe offering a fund of $2.5 million for the coming academic year to cover the costs for eligible students.
"California Native American students now have a clear path to the nation’s top public education system with no financial roadblocks," said Greg Sarris, the group's Tribal Chairman, in a press release Wednesday. "In the spirit of our ancestors we are driven to take care of our environment and our people. Inclusivity is our responsibility and we're pleased to extend scholarships to California Native Americans from non-federally recognized tribes."
Details on how to apply will be made available at a later date, according to the release.
"The University of California is committed to recognizing and acknowledging historical wrongs endured by Native Americans," Drake wrote "I am hopeful that this new program will benefit our students and continue to position the University of California as the institution of choice for Native American students."
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