The American Indian Affairs program is a component of the Office of Multicultural Affairs under Institutional Diversity. The mission of the program is to provide all students, with an emphasis on American Indian students, with support services during their college careers and to provide opportunities for students and work towards the recruitment and retention of American Indian students. It is the hope of the program to in some way act as a "home away from home".
Objectives of the American Indian Affairs program are to recruit American Indian students and assist them in the admission process; retention of American Indian students, faculty and staff; provide financial aid, scholarship and grant information; assist students with the registration process; provide academic, financial, personal counseling/advise; assist students in obtaining tutors if needed; and mainly provide a climate so that American Indian students will be comfortable in the environment.
Some of the activities sponsored by the American Indian Affairs program are a Native Nations Conference, Powwow, speakers throughout the year, attending conferences such as the National Indian Education Association Conference and AISES Conference, trips and historical tours, and different cultural events. There is also an American Indian Student Association active on campus for students to get involved in and do a variety of different things.
The American Indian Affairs Program works with African American Affairs, Chicano-Latino Affairs and Asian American Affairs to accommodate the ethnic student population and provide support to help them have a successful academic career at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
