Building Community: University of Montana’s First-Year Indigenous Program Finds Success

In just two short years, the University of Montana’s Indigenous First-Year Experience program has helped increase retention among Native students by nearly 20%.

Initially developed to address the challenges faced by Indigenous students, many of whom experience culture shock and homesickness when transitioning to college, the IFYE program has made impressive strides. Retention jumped from 11 out of 17 students in the first cohort returning for a second year to 17 out of 22 in the second cohort.

By Phil Stempin, UM News Service