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Fielding Graduate Institute Is the Nation's Leader in Awarding Doctorate Degrees to Native Americans

Fielding Graduate Institute Is the Nation's Leader in Awarding Doctorate Degrees to Native Americans

Published 08-13-03

Submitted by Fielding Graduate Institute

SANTA BARBARA, CA - Fielding Graduate Institute, renowned for its leadership in highly diverse adult distance learning programs, today announced its ranking as number one in the nation among graduate schools awarding doctorate degrees to Native Americans. The ranking is reported in the "Top 100" annual rankings published by Black Issues in Higher Education (www.blackissues.com/071703/).

"Fielding celebrates diversity and strives for inclusiveness and openness in all its endeavors," said Judith Kuipers, President. "This prestigious ranking in conferring doctorates on qualified Native Americans shows we are successfully making higher educational excellence accessible to minorities. We are training future leaders who reflect our entire nation -- and who are already adding immeasurably to all levels of teaching and research."

Fielding also ranked fourth and eighth in awarding doctorates to African Americans and Asian Americans, and 34th in offering doctorates to minorities overall. Other Top 100 schools ranked with Fielding in offering doctorates to minorities include Harvard, UCLA, the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and University of California, Berkeley.

The Top 100 Rankings are based on data from the U.S. Department of Education Statistics and survey degrees awarded to minority students across all academic disciplines by accredited American Institutions. This is the 12th year Black Issues has published its Top 100 Rankings.

Fielding conferred nine Native American doctorates in 2001-2002 to win the Number One Ranking. Judith Witt, Dean of its Educational Leadership & Change (ELC) School, expects six Native American doctorates in 2002-2003, and another six-to-eight in 2003-2004. Those enrolled in the program are from the Navajo, Southern Ute, Apache and Cherokee tribes.

Dean Witt pointed out that Fielding has increased its graduate numbers of all minority candidates from 24 to 45, an increase of 46 percent. Of the 118 students currently in the ELC graduate program, 74 percent are persons of color -- reflecting Fielding's proven commitment to increasing diversity in education and other professions.

"Fielding's programs exemplify authentic higher education," said Four Arrows (Don Trent Jacobs, Ph.D., Ed.D.) who is a member of the Fielding faculty. "Its Educational Leadership and Change curriculum enables American Indians to obtain skills and understanding with which to bring back to their nations in ways that can contribute to sovereignty and wellness for the people."

One important Fielding program is its scholarship program for qualified Navajo doctoral candidates. Participating students agree to go back to their community upon completion of their degree to support Navajo education efforts. This year, Freda B. Garnanez from New Mexico completed her doctorate from Fielding's ELC program and wrote her thesis on "The Impact of a College Preparatory Training Program and a Student Handbook as a Step Toward the Retention of Navajo Students in Higher Education." Ms. Garnanez is now teaching Navajo high school students in New Mexico.

World-renowned for its leadership in education for adult professionals, Fielding Graduate Institute is an accredited, nonprofit graduate institute with programs in three schools: Psychology, Human & Organization Development, and Educational Leadership & Change. The Fielding community is dedicated to lifelong learning, social justice and change, and innovation in organizations, communities and society. For more information, visit www.fielding.edu.

NOTE TO EDITORS:
To arrange a telephone interview with Dr. Four Arrows, Fielding President Judith Kuipers, ELC Dean Judith Witt, and/or with Native American doctoral students, please contact William Strawn or Kathryn Pellegrini at Tel. 415-433-8200, or via email at wstrawn@mackenziesf.com, kpellegrini@mackenziesf.com./

Fielding Graduate Institute

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