First Circle of Learning Scholars Earn Their Graduate Degrees and Impact Tribal Communities

Preserving endangered languages, addressing health literacy challenges, digitizing tribal records, and managing tribal collections―just a glimpse of where the first Circle of Learning scholars to earn their graduate degrees are heading with their new knowledge and leadership skills.

The Circle of Learning (COL) program was launched in 2010, with a goal to increase the number of American Indian and Alaska Native librarians and archivists who are prepared to serve tribal communities. It’s a noteworthy goal if you consider that less than 0.3% of our nation's librarians are American Indians and Alaska Natives.

In December 2013, the first five COL scholars completed the exclusively online Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program at the School of Library and Information Science at San Jose State University (SJSU). Another nine COL scholars are on track to earn their MLIS degrees in May 2014.

Although the 19 Circle of Learning scholars are just now completing their graduate degrees, they are already making a huge impact on their communities, from Alaska to New Mexico. Read full story:  http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/about-slis/news/detail/first-circle-learning-scholars-earn-their-graduate-degrees-and-impact-tribal

About Circle of Learning

The Circle of Learning program supports American Indian and Alaska Native individuals who want to earn their MLIS degrees and work as librarians or archivists, and who are committed to addressing the needs of Native individuals and tribal communities. The COL program is a partnership between the SJSU information school and the American Indian Library Association, and is funded by a multi-year grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

About SJSU SLIS

The San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science (SJSU SLIS) prepares individuals for professional careers in the information professions. SJSU SLIS offers the following online educational programs:

·         Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS)

·         Teacher Librarian Program

·         Master of Archives and Records Administration (MARA)

·         Post-Master's Certificate in Library and Information Science

·         San Jose Gateway PhD Program

A recognized leader in online learning, SJSU SLIS is a member of the Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C). In 2013, the SJSU information school received the Sloan-C Effective Practice Award in recognition of its effective use of the Sloan-C Quality Scorecard for the Administration of Online Education Programs. The school is also a member of Quality Matters (QM), a faculty driven, peer review process that is designed to certify the quality of online courses.