Eastern Illinois University and Native American Educational Services will enter into an historic partnership in January, 2006. The only private Native American college level program in the United States will offer the EIU Bachelor of Arts Degree in General Studies, both on-line and in the classroom beginning with the spring semester 2006, through a special memorandum of understanding signed on November 30, 2005, with EIU.
(PRWEB) December 28, 2005 -- Eastern Illinois University and Native American Educational Services will enter into an historic partnership in January 2006. NAES, the only private Native American college level program in the United States will offer the EIU Bachelor of Arts Degree in General Studies, both on-line and in the classroom beginning in the spring semester 2006, through a special memorandum of understanding signed on November 30, 2005, with EIU. This program will be offered through the newly established, Medicine Shield Institute.
The over four million American Indian people living in Chicago, other cities and reservation communities throughout the United States will be able to access this unique degree program offered through the Eastern Illinois, School of Continuing Education and Native American Educational Services. Dr. Dorene Wiese, President of NAES and Dr. L. Kay Woodward, Director, EIU Board of Trustees Degree program will be collaborating on this effort.
Dr. Woodward believes this partnership, “will be an excellent avenue to serve Native American students, who are an underserved population at Eastern, and it will offer ways to share Native culture, history and language with the general student body as well.” When asked why NAES chose EIU for this partnership Dr. Wiese stated, “ we chose EIU because of their interest in helping the Native community build a four-year college program for American Indian students that respects tribal cultures and prepares Native people for the world of tomorrow, wherever they live. While there are many two- year tribal college programs, there are very few four-year programs, and no tribal colleges exist in Illinois. The Internet technology will enable NAES to serve any student, any time and any place. This coupled with one of the lowest tuition rates in the state of Illinois, made EIU, the natural partner.” Interested students are encouraged to contact Dr. Lola Hill, Dean,NAES, at 773.761.5000, for registration and financial aid information.
NAES will work with EIU to develop the first on-line college credit Native American Public Policy courses in Illinois. NAES, founded in 1974, continues to serve as a leader in the development of four-year college degree programs for Native Americans. NAES offered the only Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy, grounded in American Indian studies, for over 30 years. While it no longer offers the Public Policy degree, over 1,000 American Indian students completed courses, certificate and degree programs through NAES.
For more information, contact Dr. Dorene Wiese, 773.761.5000, NAES, 2838 W. Peterson, Chicago, Illinois 60659.
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