Dartmouth’s 1796 charter describes the school’s mission as educating “Youth of the Indian Tribes in this Land ... and also of English Youth and any others.” But only 19 American Indians graduated from the college over the next 200 years.
In 1970, Dartmouth renewed that mission and began recruiting American Indian students. There now are about 150 American Indian students, making up 3 percent of the student body.
The school has an office dedicated to working with American Indian students, and offers an American Indian studies program. Wright says he is considering other ways to address the problems, such as speaking in greater depth at freshman orientation about the school’s history with American Indians.
— Associated Press
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