ABSTRACT
Living on campus can be a challenging adjustment for first-generation college-students. The creation of Native American residential units or living learning centers on college campuses appears to have led to success in addressing the unique needs of Native American college students. According to the Higher Education Research Institute, first- generation college students tend to be more reliant on their families. First-year programs are typically built with the assumption that families are knowledgeable about college life and the families have the ability to connect with their child’s college through multiple outlets. Learning in Native American communities was accomplished through community educational systems involving elders, kinfolk, and clans. Student affairs units should strive to offer year-round activities, not just be limited to pow-wows and Native American Heritage Month.
