Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
The Psychology Department at Oklahoma State University (OSU) proposes an American Indians Into Psychology (AIIP) project to increase the number of American Indian students entering the field of professional psychology. Oklahoma is home to 39 Sovereign Tribal Nations, and our American Indian population is the second largest in the United States (over 500,000). OSU hosts students from 40+ tribes (nearly 10% of total enrollment) and has demonstrated a long history of success in educating Indian citizens. In both 2009 and 2010, OSU ranked #1 nationally in the number of American Indian students earning bachelor’s degrees (Diverse Issues in Higher Education), and OSU is the leading land-grant institution in awarding bachelor’s degrees to American Indian students in the nation. More recently, the National Science Foundation Survey of Earned Doctorates (2018) ranked OSU first nationally among 190 universities as the source institution for Indian doctorates between 2013 and 2017. As part of the proposed AIIP program, during the academic year, scholarship support will be provided for two doctoral level American Indian students in the Clinical Psychology training program and one undergraduate level psychology student. A summer enrichment program will be conducted each year in which six American Indian undergraduate students from across the nation will be brought to the Oklahoma State University campus for a 4-week mentoring experience. Goals of the summer enrichment program include: didactic learning modules designed to assist students in preparing a competitive application for graduate admission; providing mentored research and professional development experiences; visits to tribal and urban mental health facilities; and activities to build students’ awareness of and appreciation for the richness and diversity of Native American cultures. Outreach and service with school-aged American Indian youth will also be conducted. Since the inception of the OSU AIIP program in 1997, American Indian students have comprised 20-25% of every incoming class admitted into the Clinical Psychology doctoral program. During that time, 30 American Indian students have graduated from OSU with Ph.D.’s in psychology. For fall of 2019, three American Indians students have been admitted into the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program, comprising 25% of the incoming class. Of the former AIIP undergraduate summer enrichment participants, 102 have been admitted to graduate programs nationwide. Approximately 38% (N = 39) of these students have received or are currently completing their Ph.D.’s in doctoral programs at universities across the country. Another 63 (62%) have received their Master’s degrees. In addition, past summer institute participants have continued to pursue their undergraduate education and/or have pursued careers serving their tribes. These American Indian psychology students and graduates will provide a great service to the mental health needs of Indian people.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
