Wisdom Sharing: Student Success Strategies at Tribal Colleges

1. Wisdom Sharing: Student Success Strategies at Tribal Colleges Presenters: Diane Reyna Koreen Ressler, Ph.D.Taos/Oke Owingeh Wachinkiya Yuha Win Student Success Ctr. Program Vice President of AcademicsCoordinator Sitting Bull CollegeSanta Fe, New Mexico Fort Yates, North Dakota

2. Tribal Colleges • Established by tribes to educate Native people and preserve Native ways. There are 34 fully accredited tribal colleges in the USA serving more than 30,000 students who represent more than 250 tribes from across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. http://www.collegefund.org/content/tribal_colleges • Operate on or near Indian reservations, providing access to higher education for people in remote areas who otherwise could not afford to leave home to attend college • Native culture is infused throughout the tribal college curriculum; • Promote academic achievement, self-esteem, and cultural identity;

3. Tribal Colleges • 1972 the first six Tribal Colleges organized the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC). Role research, advocacy and lobbying. • 1975 the Tribally Controlled Community College Act was introduced as Senate Bill 1017. Signed into law in 1978 by President Jimmy Cater. • 1994 Tribal Colleges were designated as Land Grant Institutions from US Congress. http://www.aihec.org/about/index.cfm

4. Walmart Minority Student Success Grant Program • Help first-generation students achieve their higher education goals • MSIs — including historically and predominantly black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and tribal colleges and universities • Grants of $100,000 to improve classroom practices and expand the role of faculty • Support existing efforts by MSIs to close retention and persistence gaps and improve graduation rates • Train the trainer model – Mentor/Mentee Institutions.

5. Mentor/ Mentee Model to Foster Student Success Mentor – Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Mentee – Sitting Bull College (SBC) • Located on Standing Rock Sioux Reservation • Reservation is 2.3 million acres • Commuter College • Accredited through North Central Association of Colleges and Schools • Located south of Santa Fe, New Mexico • 152 acres • Residential and Commuter College • Accredited through North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

6. History of Mentor/Mentee Institutions IAIA • Established 1962 • Congressionally Chartered 1986 • Accredited through the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Associations of Colleges and Schools SBC • Began as Standing Rock Community College (SRCC) on September 21, 1973 • Chartered by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe • One of the original five tribal colleges established • Accredited through the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Associations of Colleges and Schools • On March 6, 1996, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council voted to officially amend the charter, changing the college's name to Sitting Bull College (SBC)

7. Vision and Mission of Mentor/Mentee Institutions IAIA VISION To be the premier educational institution for Native peoples and Native Arts and Culture Mission To empower creativity and leadership in Native Arts and Cultures through higher education, live long learning and outreach. SBC VISION Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children. Wakháŋyežakiŋlenáépičhatákuwaštéšteiwíčhuŋkičiyukčaŋpikte.  MISSION Guided by Lakota/Dakota culture, values, and language, Sitting Bull College is committed to building intellectual capital through academic, career and technical education, and promoting economic and social development. 

8. Program of Study Mentor/Mentee Institutions IAIA • Bachelor’s of Fine Arts • Bachelor’s of Arts • Associate of Fine Arts • Associate of Arts • Certificates SBC • Bachelor’s of Science • Associate of Arts • Associate of Science • Associate of Applied Science • Certificates

9. Staff and Faculty Demographics of Mentor/Mentee Institutions IAIA • Board of Trustees • Twelve members – appointed by the President of the United States • Personnel • 10 Administrators • 21 Full-time Faculty • 72 Full-time Staff SBC • Board of Trustees • Eight members – one elected from each district on reservation • Personnel • 3 Administrators • 2 - Ph.D. 2 Native American • 1 - Master 1 Caucasian • 22 Full-time Faculty • 23% - Ph.D. 32% Native American • 64% - Masters 55% Caucasian • 2 PhD Candidates • Average Length of Service – 8.62 years • 58 Full-time Staff

10. Student Demographics of Mentor/Mentee Institutions IAIA • 402 Enrollment Spring 2013 • Largest program of study – Studio Arts • 63% Female/ 37% Male • 78% Native American • 31 Average Age • (Percentile for Student Persistence from Fall to Spring Semesters • Percentile for Student Retention from Fall to Fall Semesters • % Graduation rate for an Associate Degree – within three years • Graduation rate for a Bachelor’s degree) SBC • 300 Students Average Enrollment per Semester • Largest Programs of Study – Business Administration, Environmental Science and Practical Nursing • 62% Female/38% Male • 91% Native American • 82% Single • 30 Average Age • 60 Percentile for Student Persistence from Fall to Spring Semesters • 40 Percentile for Student Retention from Fall to Fall Semesters • 10-14% Graduation rate for an Associate Degree – within three years • 60% Graduation rate for a Bachelor’s degree

11. Timeline of Activities • 9/8-10/2011 Grant kickoff meeting at SBC • 10/26-29/2011-SBC to IAIA • 11/29/2011—IAIA to SBC • 2/17-20/2012—1st year Experience Conference/ San Antonio, TX • 3/1-2/2012—Grant meeting---Durham, SC • 6/25-26/2012-Grant meeting (AIHEC)—IAIA • 9/13-14/2012-Grant Meeting—Denver, CO • 10/31/2012-SBC Counselor took 2 students to IAIA Student Summit • 12/13-14/2012-Grant Meeting- Santa Fe, NM • 1/24-25/2013 – Data Collection meeting (AIHEC) – Minneapolis, MN

12. New or Revised Activities and Program Implemented of Mentor/Mentee Institutions IAIA • Student Success Center established at IAIA. • Revised Orientation ensures a balance of academics and transition topics. • Student Success Center comprehensive assessment planning. • Group Mentoring model instituted S13 semester. • First Year Advising Learning Community. SBC 1. First-time Freshman Advising 2. Effective Orientation Program 3. At Risk Advising 4. Aggressive Counselor Interventions 5. Community wide discussion of student retention and engagement 6. Student Summit 7. Workshops/Activities 8. Talking Circles

13. Results New or Revised Activities and Program Implemented IAIA • Streamlined the assessment process of tutoring services. • Student Success Center institutes a Group Mentor Program as required by the campus 2013 plan. SBC 1. Establishment of baseline data. • Establishment of a Retention Committee. • Establishment of a Student Retention Plan. Objectives, Outcomes, Measurement Tools, Findings, and Recommended Action 4. Policy changes to advising, first year courses, counseling, and student activities.

14. Additional Benefits IAIA • Cross cultural awareness. • Formal and informal professional development opportunities throughout the grant period. • Closer collaboration between the Student Success Center and Student Life staff.\ • Former Ilisagvik grant project director hired as the Student Success Center’s Retention Director. SBC • Professional development opportunities for both first year faculty and student support services staff. • Most importantly the grant required SBC to stay on task. • Complied Retention Plan presented to SBC BOT.

15. Conclusion “Let us put our minds together to see what we can build for our children.” –Tataŋka Iyotaka (Sitting Bull)