Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will have free opportunities to attend UNC Asheville as part of an instructional credit agreement that was signed by the university and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

The agreement, signed in English and Cherokee, will reserve up to 10 admissions slots for new, incoming, academically qualified EBCI members each semester. The EBCI will cover the students’ cost of attendance and UNC Asheville will grant in-state residence status to all students receiving full EBCI scholarships.

UNCA will assist students in forming an American Indian Science and Engineering Society Chapter and faculty will begin collaboration on curricular programming opportunities such as Cherokee language instruction and courses in Native American Studies.