Connecting Native Students with Alumni Academic Coaches
Navigating graduate and professional school options can be overwhelming and Native Forward recognizes the process can be daunting.
Participants in Rising Native Graduates engage in meaningful mentorship, building relationships with mentors, alumni, and peers. Through these connections, they expand academic and professional networks while developing leadership, communication, critical thinking, and career-ready skills in a culturally responsive space.
Why Participate in Native Forward Graduates?
Scholars and Alumni Academic Coaches receive exclusive access to a platform designed to support connection, collaboration, and graduate school success.
Participants build strong professional networks with Native Forward scholars and alumni who have navigated graduate and professional programs, while Alumni Academic Coaches help empower the next generation of Native leaders.
For Students
Rising Native Graduates
Native students connect with an Alumni Academic Coach in a culturally grounded, supportive environment.
For Alumni
Alumni Academic Coach
Alumni Academic Coaches are graduate students and professionals with advanced degrees supporting Rising Native Graduates participants.
For Supporters
Become an Ambassador
Community member graduates can play a vital role in advancing our mission, vision, and values.
Learn More About These Opportunities
For Students
Rising Native Graduates
Native students connect with an Alumni Academic Coach in a culturally grounded, supportive environment.
How Rising Native Graduates Supports Your Journey
- Engage in mentorship: Connect with a mentor or mentee for guidance and shared experiences.
- Expand your network: Build relationships with alumni and peers to access new opportunities.
- Build key skills: Strengthen leadership, communication, and career readiness in a supportive, culturally responsive space.
Who Can Apply
- Eligible Scholars: Native undergraduates in their junior or senior year, students in a gap year, or those planning to apply for graduate or professional programs. Priority is given to Native Forward-funded scholars.
- Tribal Affiliation: Must be an enrolled member or descendant of a federally or state-recognized American Indian Tribe or Alaska Native group.
- Enrollment Status: Must be enrolled at an accredited college or university.
Frequent Questions
What is Academic Coaching?
A working partnership between an experienced individual (the coach) and student focusing on developing career and academic goals while promoting success. Native Forward aims to provide community perspectives and inclusion in the academic coaching process for a smooth transition from undergraduate to graduate school.
What are the benefits of becoming a Rising Native Scholar?
Opportunity to grow your professional network by giving you the opportunity to meet other Native Forward scholars and alumni.
Completing the application process for Native Forward Scholarships will receive additional points for participating in Rising Native Graduates. Points will be given in the overall point system during the scholarship review process.
By participating in the program do I receive funding?
Rising Native Graduates does not include any additional funding. However, being a Rising Native Graduate participant increases the prospect of receiving a Native Forward Scholarship. We encourage all participants to complete the application process.
Native Forward offers funding opportunities each academic year for undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. Applications open January 1 and we invite you to visit our website to review the scholarship opportunities.
If you have any questions regarding scholarships, please contact our Scholarship Operations Team at [email protected].
For Alumni
Alumni Academic Coach
Alumni Academic Coaches are graduate students and professionals with advanced degrees supporting Rising Native Graduates participants.
Support Rising Native Graduates
Current graduate or professional students and new professionals who have recently attained graduate or professional degrees can serve as Alumni Academic Coaches.
Native Forward Alumni will be given priority to serve as Alumni Academic Coaches.
Who Can Apply
- Current graduate or professional students and new professionals who have recently attained a graduate or professional degree can serve as Alumni Academic Coaches. Native Forward Alumni will be given priority.
- Must be able to successfully pass a background check.
Frequent Questions
What is Academic Coaching?
A working partnership between an experienced individual (the coach) and student focusing on developing career and academic goals while promoting success. Native Forward aims to provide community perspectives and inclusion in the academic coaching process for a smooth transition from undergraduate to graduate school.
Why do Academic Coaches need to do a background check?
We are committed to keeping Native Forward scholars and alumni safe by ensuring all our participants’ wellbeing. We require all Academic Coaches to complete a background check.
Native Forward covers costs associated with the background checks.
What are qualifications to become an Academic Coach?
Academic coaches are experienced in the graduate school application process and provide mentorship through guidance. Additionally, we are searching for candidates who are passionate about empowering Native scholars.
What resources are available to support me as an Academic Coach?
There are a variety of resources to guide and support your academic coaching partnership. Additionally, the staff at Native Forward is available should you have any questions, concerns, or ideas that you would like to discuss.
Are there partnerships with universities that offer support for the unique needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students?
Yes, Native Forward partners with Tribes, corporations, foundations, government agencies, non-profits, and academic institutions to fulfill the needs of students.
How do I become an Academic Coach?
Current graduate or professional students and new professionals who have recently attained a graduate or professional degrees can serve as Academic Coaches. Native Forward Alumni will be given priority to serve as Academic Coaches.
For Supporters
Become an Ambassador
Community member graduates can play a vital role in advancing our mission, vision, and values.
How Rising Native Graduates Supports Your Journey
Alumni and ambassadors make a difference in students’ lives.
You can play a critical role in sharing our mission, vision, and core values through opportunities like scholarship application reviewers, mentors or coaches, panelists, or event facilitators to secure financial resources for Native scholars.
By joining Native Forward as a n alumnus or ambassador, you can take part in our journey as we work toward meeting the unmet need of every Native student.
Learn More About These Opportunities
How Rising Native Graduates Supports Your Journey
- Engage in mentorship: Connect with a mentor or mentee for guidance and shared experiences.
- Expand your network: Build relationships with alumni and peers to access new opportunities.
- Build key skills: Strengthen leadership, communication, and career readiness in a supportive, culturally responsive space.
Who Can Apply
- Eligible Scholars: Native undergraduates in their junior or senior year, students in a gap year, or those planning to apply for graduate or professional programs. Priority is given to Native Forward-funded scholars.
- Tribal Affiliation: Must be an enrolled member or descendant of a federally or state-recognized American Indian Tribe or Alaska Native group.
- Enrollment Status: Must be enrolled at an accredited college or university.
Questions? Contact [email protected]
Frequent Questions
What is Academic Coaching?
A working partnership between an experienced individual (the coach) and student focusing on developing career and academic goals while promoting success. Native Forward aims to provide community perspectives and inclusion in the academic coaching process for a smooth transition from undergraduate to graduate school.
What are the benefits of becoming a Rising Native Scholar?
Opportunity to grow your professional network by giving you the opportunity to meet other Native Forward scholars and alumni.
Completing the application process for Native Forward Scholarships will receive additional points for participating in Rising Native Graduates. Points will be given in the overall point system during the scholarship review process.
By participating in the program do I receive funding?
Rising Native Graduates does not include any additional funding. However, being a Rising Native Graduate participant increases the prospect of receiving a Native Forward Scholarship. We encourage all participants to complete the application process.
Native Forward offers funding opportunities each academic year for undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. Applications open January 1 and we invite you to visit our website to review the scholarship opportunities.
If you have any questions regarding scholarships, please contact our Scholarship Operations Team at [email protected].
Support Rising Native Graduates
Current graduate or professional students and new professionals who have recently attained graduate or professional degrees can serve as Alumni Academic Coaches.
Native Forward Alumni will be given priority to serve as Alumni Academic Coaches.
Who Can Apply
- Current graduate or professional students and new professionals who have recently attained a graduate or professional degree can serve as Alumni Academic Coaches. Native Forward Alumni will be given priority.
- Must be able to successfully pass a background check.
Frequent Questions
What is Academic Coaching?
A working partnership between an experienced individual (the coach) and student focusing on developing career and academic goals while promoting success. Native Forward aims to provide community perspectives and inclusion in the academic coaching process for a smooth transition from undergraduate to graduate school.
Why do Academic Coaches need to do a background check?
We are committed to keeping Native Forward scholars and alumni safe by ensuring all our participants’ wellbeing. We require all Academic Coaches to complete a background check.
Native Forward covers costs associated with the background checks.
What are qualifications to become an Academic Coach?
Academic coaches are experienced in the graduate school application process and provide mentorship through guidance. Additionally, we are searching for candidates who are passionate about empowering Native scholars.
What resources are available to support me as an Academic Coach?
There are a variety of resources to guide and support your academic coaching partnership. Additionally, the staff at Native Forward is available should you have any questions, concerns, or ideas that you would like to discuss.
Are there partnerships with universities that offer support for the unique needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students?
Yes, Native Forward partners with Tribes, corporations, foundations, government agencies, non-profits, and academic institutions to fulfill the needs of students.
How do I become an Academic Coach?
Current graduate or professional students and new professionals who have recently attained a graduate or professional degrees can serve as Academic Coaches. Native Forward Alumni will be given priority to serve as Academic Coaches.
Support Rising Native Graduates
Alumni and ambassadors make a difference in students’ lives.
You can play a critical role in sharing our mission, vision, and core values through opportunities like scholarship application reviewers, mentors or coaches, panelists, or event facilitators to secure financial resources for Native scholars.
By joining Native Forward as a n alumnus or ambassador, you can take part in our journey as we work toward meeting the unmet need of every Native student.
