University Of California To Waive Tuition Fees For Native American Students

The University of California has announced that it will waive tuition fees for Native American students belonging to federally recognised tribes and residing in the state. The waiver will be implemented in 2022.

The initiative is an attempt to increase student diversity by making higher education more accessible and it's part of the UC Native American Opportunity Plan.

The plan will cover tuition and student service fees for both undergraduates and postgraduates who are members of one among the 109 federally recognised Native American tribes in California.

In a letter to UC chancellors, president of the system, Dr. Michael V. Drake, wrote that the funds for the program will come from "existing State and University financial aid programs as well as other resources."

He said:

"The University of California is committed to recognizing and acknowledging historical wrongs endured by Native Americans. I am proud of the efforts the University has made to support the Native American community, including the creation of the UC Native American Opportunity Plan, and appreciate our conversations to date on all the ways in which we can better support Native American students."

According to reports by LAist, about 500 undergraduate and 160 postgraduate students will benefit from the programme.

[Based on reporting by: npr]