SANTA FE, N.M. -- Native American educators say tribal representation at the highest levels of government will likely encourage more civic engagement and trust in the government.

If Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M., is approved for the position of Interior Secretary, she would become the nation's first Native American Cabinet secretary and oversee the Bureau of Indian Education.

Cheryl Crazy Bull, president of the Denver-based American Indian College Fund, said only about 20% of 18- to 24-year-old Native American students are enrolled in college compared with 41% of the overall U.S. population.

She argued it's time they see themselves more broadly represented.

"So I view having a Native person in that Secretary of Interior role as just vital to being able to develop better education," Crazy Bull contended.

On Tuesday, Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., put holds on Haaland's nomination for the job, saying they want more debate on her positions on oil and gas development.

Despite the holds, Haaland is expected to be confirmed.

The latest data show only 16% of Native Americans attain a bachelor's degree or higher and only 9% attain associate degrees.

Crazy Bull pointed out the case can be made for a system that is more responsive to the specific needs of Native students.

"Education in tribal communities is really about upholding identity," Crazy Bull explained. "So, her policies and practices around land and resource use, sacred sites; all those things will impact the education environment for our communities."

In addition to the Bureau of Indian Education, Indian Affairs and the Trust Funds Administration, the Department of Interior under Haaland would oversee about 500 million acres of public land and federal policies affecting the 574 federally recognized tribal governments.


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This fall, additional free classes will be offered in Minnesota for people thinking about a career as a certified nursing assistant. It follows an initial wave earlier this year to help address health-care worker shortages around the state.

The Next Generation Nursing Assistant initiative will start classes in September and October at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Keith Hovis, director of communications for the Office of Higher Education, said it isn't statewide like the program kickoff in January, but it's still important to help more people get their foot in the door.

"Over the course of the pandemic, there have been thousands and thousands of vacancies that haven't been able to be filled," he said. "So, this initiative, it's intended to help start filling those vacancies and make sure that we are supporting health of Minnesotans all around the state."

The program uses American Rescue Plan funding to cover the cost of tuition, books, uniforms and certification exam fees. The first group of participants exceeded the state's goal of 1,000. Hovis said if the Legislature agrees to renewed funding, they could resume the no-cost courses at locations statewide.

Earlier this week, thousands of Minnesota nurses voted to authorize a strike if contract talks don't improve. Hovis said while the program might not touch on some of the broader issues facing those workers, it's important to step up at a time when solutions are needed.

"We see this initiative as a way to really get people into the health-care career in a way that won't cost them anything - it's completely free," he said, "and hopefully they start a career that will flourish and continue within the health-care field."

Earlier this year, the state issued a survey that offered a glimpse into industry shortages. Vacancy rates climbed for several professions, including licensed practical nurses. That rate climbed from 12% in 2019 to 17% in 2021.

Madera Community College outside Fresno is making big plans after being named winner of the Million Dollar Community College Challenge Wednesday.

Lumina Foundation sponsored the challenge for the first time this spring, to help colleges reach more potential adult students.

Angel Reyna, president of Madera Community College, said the funds will help the school attract more adult students who need to boost their skills and their job prospects.

"We will use the funds to redesign our website, to have activities on our campus to engage adult learners," Reyna outlined. "We're also looking at murals on our campus to create that sense of belonging."

Madera Community College serves about 8,000 students a year, and is still growing, despite the pandemic.

Mary Laphen Pope, strategy officer for participation at the Lumina Foundation, said the funds will help shape people's perceptions about community college and help the schools create a more student-centered experience.

"Now more than ever, community colleges need a new way to connect with the millions of Americans who need a short-term degree or credential," Laphen Pope emphasized. "We challenged colleges to tell us how they would transform their brand building and their marketing efforts to be more inclusive of today's students."

Nine other colleges nationwide were named as finalists, including Long Beach City College. They will receive a $100,000 grant, plus technical assistance to make the most of the opportunity.

Universities across the country lost enrollment to COVID-19. As students return, Texas A&M is making sure adequate mental-health services are in place to help them navigate the "new normal."

Mary Ann Covey, director of the student counseling center at Texas A&M University, said students quit or did not enroll because of illness and the ever-changing safety measures required at higher-ed institutions some found disruptive or even intolerable. Covey recounted as the pandemic raged on, some students created their own ways to cope while others felt lost.

"You know, 'Do I fit in, do I belong, what does that look like? Can I handle the coursework?' There's a real sense of self-doubt because they've been online," Covey pointed out.

When classes start next week, Texas A&M will recommend students wear masks when indoors, and offer both free vaccines and testing sites.

Rebecca Fischer, epidemiologist and assistant professor at Texas A&M, has reminded students monkeypox is not highly transmissible through casual contact, noting the risk of infection remains low, and classroom spread is not expected.

For two years, COVID hampered many traditional communication channels, according to Covey, which caused students to avoid interactions, resulting in developmental delays.

"You saw (high school) seniors didn't get to be a senior, juniors really didn't get to be a junior or a senior, and so starting college was incredibly overwhelming," Covey observed.

Covey added more students began seeking mental-health services and appointments there as early as 2018.

Texas A&M has since launched a mobile app called "My Student Support Program" or "My SSP," which allows students to access short-term virtual counseling.