Native American Honors Students: Distinction of Honor or Simply Distinctiveness?

Native American students are among the least represented in the college population, with some of the lowest graduation and persistence rates. Native American students entering college face challenges such as lack of role models, academic unpreparedness, and cultural incongruities. This study examines whether such challenges are heightened or lessened among Native American students in Barrett, the Honors College in light of their particularly small representation in the honors college (0.6%) compared to the state (5.3%) and ASU as a whole (1.3%). Results of a survey conducted with Native American, Asian American, and Hispanic students suggest that students' perceptions of Barrett's inclusivity may mitigate the impact of underrepresentation.