College Going Rate among Burmese-Americans Increased to 91% while Maintaining 96.9% College Persistence Rate |
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179,894 Burmese refugees have been admitted to the United States since 2000. While over 32,000 Burmese individuals are residing in Indiana, nearly 23,000 of them are calling Indianapolis their new home. The overall Burmese population in the U.S. is estimated to be over 300,000. |
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INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 7, 2020—A study released by the Burmese American Community Institute (BACI) this week at its 9th Annual Research Presentation confirms the college going rate among Burmese-Americans has increased to 91.3 percent this year from 88 percent in 2019, while the population has maintained 97 percent college persistence in the past several years.
“We are delighted to see the continued success of Burmese-American students with their higher education in the United States,” said Lian Sang, Director of the Institute’s Upward College Programs which helps prepare high school students for their college readiness and success.
The researchers, who present their research findings and solution oriented policy recommendations as the culmination of an 8-week intensive scientific PAR research project, said that they hope this information will help policy and decision makers when formulating policies and allocating federal resources across the nation.
“Our team found that Burmese students continue to persist in college for reasons to pursue their academic goals and achieve better job opportunities; whereas financial issues remain one significant external barriers for Burmese students," said Dr. Xiang Zhou, Assistant Professor at Purdue University who advises college persistence research.
The study also shows that 179,894 Burmese refugees have been admitted to the United States since 2000. While over 32,000 Burmese individuals are residing in Indiana, nearly 23,000 of them are calling Indianapolis their new home. The overall Burmese population in the U.S. is estimated to be over 300,000.
The findings further indicated that the number of secondary migrants, who initially resettled in other cities and states across the US and later moved to Indianapolis, is also increasing, with just 10,415 being primary arrivals in the city since 2000.
In his remarks, BACI Executive Director Elaisa Vahnie thanked the researchers, research advisors, and all partners saying, “the young leaders and scholars have not just produced this amazing research and knowledge product within such a short period of time, but they have just led us to solving some of the most pressing problems of our community and our world”.
“We are grateful for the leadership of the city and the state for not only welcoming us but, creating a policy environment in which everyone is treated the same and equal. We remain committed to strengthening and expanding our services by collaboratively working with our partners to ensure newcomers are becoming economically self-sufficient, integrated, and productive citizens of the society.”
In addition to maintaining a 100% post-secondary education enrollment rate for those students who successfully completed the Upward College Programs, BACI has been working to empower new Americans through English and civic education, naturalization assistance, as well as assisting the community members with their gainful employment and microenterprise development service provisions as they are becoming fully engaged and contributing citizens.
This year’s research topics included College-Going Rate and Higher Education among Burmese-American students, College Persistence among Burmese-American students, COVID-19 Impact on the Burmese Community, with a focus on Young Adult Developmental Outcomes, Improving Child Healthcare for Burmese Families by Designing Simulations (Culturally and Linguistically), Maternal and Child Health, and U.S Refugee Resettlement Program and Secondary Migration and Asian American Population.
The BACI summer project also estimated 600+ Burmese-Americans graduated from American Colleges and Universities and 2,000 from High Schools respectively in 2020.
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36 young scholars —closely supervised and supported by 8 Group Research Leaders and 6 Research Advisors and Directors, including faculty members from various Universities — from the BACI Upward College Summer Scholars Program 2020 |
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BACI Kicks-Off Celebration of its 10 Years of Advocacy, Education, Service |
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The Burmese American Community Institute (BACI) this week during its 9th Annual Research Presentation Day formally announced the celebration of the Institute’s 10 years of Advocacy, Education and Service.
Dr. Ro Ding, Chairman of the BACI Board of Directors formally launched the celebration and extended the invitation to all partners to join. The following is an excerpt of the remarks of Dr. Ding:
Greetings to you all. We are very pleased that we are able to sustain most of our programs and vital services for our community despite the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Through this difficult time, our Executive Director, Mr. Elaisa Vahnie, has been able to lead us on the way forward so that we can still deliver such critical services to our youths and community. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to once again express my gratitude for his dedication and leadership.
As we move forward, I would like to announce that today we begin the celebration of the 10 years anniversary of BACI -- under the name of "Celebrating 10 Years of Advocacy, Education, and Service". This celebration officially kick-starts today and will run through May or summer 2021. We will be organizing various events and implementing various additional projects through this period -- such as Partner Appreciation Day, Fundraisers in various forms, publishing a Magazine, Photo Book, and more. Let me also give you an exciting update -a little secret here- that we will also be working on the possibility of having a new facility in the near future that will help us effectively meet the growing needs of the growing community..
On behalf of the entire BACI community, I would like to invite all our friends, neighbors and supporters to join us as we reflect and celebrate 10 years. Your support has been what makes it possible to do what we do, and thank you once again and we hope that you will continue to stand alongside us. We look to the future together with you for the betterment of our shared community. Thank you.
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Dr. Ro Ding and BACI Board of Directors facilitated the kick-starting of the
BACI 10 Years Anniversary
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BACI Launched Center for Research, Policy and Innovation (CRPI) |
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The Burmese American Community Institute (BACI) just launched its new center Center for Research, Policy and Innovation (CRPI) on August 5.
"We are excited to be able to expand our research program by establishing a new center at the Burmese American Community Institute: Center for Research, Policy and Innovation (CRPI),” said Dr. Bruce Ray, member of the Board of Directors of the BACI.
CRPI has been designed to enable continuation of collaborative research and action projects with various researchers in Indiana, as well as with Burmese scholars, other international scholars, and scholars across the US whose research and projects might be applicable to the Burmese American community, to Myanmar, and to Southeast Asia. Building from a highly successful BACI Upward College Summer Scholars program over the past 9 years, BACI hopes this expansion will provide another level for research activities, policy, and innovative service and development projects locally and internationally, including reform efforts inside Myanmar.
“On behalf of the Burmese American Community Institute Board, may I take this opportunity to announce that today we are officially launching the Center for Research, Policy, and Innovation (CRPI). The BACI board is grateful for the leadership of our Executive Director, Mr. Elaisa Vahnie, and we are certain that the CRPI will be an important component furthering the BACI’s mission and vision in coming years. Thank you Mr. Vahnie for your exceptional leadership, dedication and service to our shared community" said Dr. Ray.
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Lian Sang, MPH, CRPI Research Support & Programs Director of BACI, Mary Encobo, M.S.Ed, CRPI Affiliate, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Ei Ei Hlaing, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, the University of Lynchburg, Maureen Hoffmann, Ph.D. CRPI Affiliate, Thomas P. Miller & Associates, Jessica Euna Lee, Ph.D., LSW, CRPI Affiliate, Assistant Professor at IUPUI, Dr. Megan S. McHenry, MD, MS, FAAP, CRPI Affiliate, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Mengxi Zhang, Ph.D., CRPI Affiliate, Assistant Professor of Health Science, Ball State University, and Xiang Zhou, Ph.D. CRPI Affiliate, Assistant Professor in Counseling Psychology, Purdue University will all be collaboratively working through the CRPI.
“Moving forward, we will be strengthening and enhancing our existing programs and services as well as creating new opportunities by the creation of new innovative programs in response to emerging needs in the community, while putting all the effort toward sustaining these programs in comprehensive, creative, and impactful ways through big ideas”, said Elaisa Vahnie who will be directing the center.
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About Burmese American Community Institute |
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The Burmese American Community Institute (BACI) is a non-profit organization founded in 2011 that provides educational and vocational support to the Burmese community in greater Indianapolis. The BACI also supports community members regionally, nationally, and globally through new initiatives, collaborative and strategic partnerships, and advocacy. |
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Burmese American Community Institute
4925 Shelby Street, SUITE 200, Indianapolis, IN 46227
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