UCLA Recognizes Pacific Islander Underrepresentation

This year we highlighted two universities (Sacramento State and the University of Southern California) that recognize Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders as an underrepresented group, and are focusing resources towards America's growing Pacific Islander community. Those universities are far from alone, and over time we hope to give credit to all of the higher education institutions that are leading the way for their peers.  Next month we'll be writing posts related to Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, but before that we'll point out one more school: UCLA

Here are three examples of how the University of California, Los Angeles serves and advocates for Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders:

• They have a long history of recognizing Pacific Islander underrepresentation in higher education.  In 2006, UCLA's Asian American Studies Center published a white paper (which is still available here) on Pacific Islander higher education issues. 
• The University's Pacific Islander Student Association (PISA) exists to advocate for the needs of UCLA's Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander student body, and to educate the greater university community about the cultures of those students. 
• UCLA's student-founded, student-run Pacific Islander Education and Retention (PIER) program provides tutoring, academic advising, and other services to help Pacific Islander high school students in their local community. 

Kawika