Expanding Access2Excellence to Arizona’s federally recognized tribes
Dear Lumberjacks,
As our university community engages in celebrations around Native American Heritage Month throughout November, I am pleased to share today our redoubled commitment to Native American students. Beginning with all new and transfer students in Fall 2023, NAU will expand eligibility for the Access2Excellence full tuition coverage program to all members of Arizona’s 22 federally recognized tribes.
Ensuring access to an affordable, high-quality education is a key part of NAU’s vision to deliver equitable postsecondary value. The Access2Excellence (A2E) initiative, announced earlier this year, is a cornerstone of that work, providing full tuition coverage for students with a family income of $65,000/year or less. Now, as NAU advances efforts to be the nation’s leading university serving Native American students, this tuition coverage has been expanded to all members of Arizona’s 22 tribes, regardless of family income level or state residency. Additional aid like tribal scholarships will not be factored into the tuition costs and can be used for other costs of attending college, like housing, books, and other fees—ensuring Native American students eligible for this program have access to all opportunities to make their NAU education affordable.
I want to offer a special thanks to Ann Marie Chischilly (Vice President for Native American Initiatives) for her tireless work in supporting the students who will be served by this program and the Native American Advisory Board for their counsel and advocacy on behalf of our students that has helped inform this initiative.
I am excited for this work as we seek to plant the seeds for future generations of students to be successful at NAU and want to recognize Anika Olsen (Vice President for Enrollment Management) and her team in diligently working to make this program a reality. Now more than ever, NAU will be affordable and accessible and offer a robust and intentional community of support for Native American and Indigenous students who entrust their educational journey to the university.
In partnership,
José Luis Cruz Rivera
President