Ethnic minority-serving higher education institutions in the United States and China: a comparative case study of two institutions

Tribal Colleges and Universities in the United States and Ethnic Minority-Serving Institutions in China play a significant role in changing the underrepresented status of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIANs) and Chinese Ethnic Minorities (CEMs) in their respective higher education systems. This comparative study of two ethnic minority-serving institutions—Diné College in the US and Yanbian University in China—examines strategies and practices each institution uses to address challenges in serving Navajo and Korean Chinese students and communities. Through conducting semi-structured interviews with senior administrators from two institutions and AIAN and CEM content area experts, this study confirms that Diné College and Yanbian University play important roles in providing higher education opportunities and preserving indigenous and ethnic cultures and languages. From a comparative perspective, the efforts of Diné College and Yanbian University in addressing challenges differ because of their respective political and higher education contexts.