Wisdom Sharing: Student
Success Strategies at Tribal
Colleges
Presenters:
Diane Reyna
Taos/Oke Owingeh
Student Success Ctr. Program
Coordinator
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Koreen Ressler, Ph.D.
Wachinkiya Yuha Win
Vice President of Academics
Sitting Bull College
Fort Yates, North Dakota
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.
• 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;
http://www.collegefund.org/content/tribal_colleges
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
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.
Mentor/ Mentee Model to
Foster Student Success
Mentor – Institute of American
Indian Arts (IAIA)
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Located south of Santa Fe, New Mexico
152 acres
Residential and Commuter College
Accredited through North Central
Association of Colleges and Schools
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
History of Mentor/Mentee
Institutions
IAIA
SBC
• Established 1962
• Congressionally Chartered 1986
• Accredited through the Higher
Learning Commission of the North
Central Associations of Colleges
and Schools
• 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)
Vision and Mission of
Mentor/Mentee Institutions
IAIA
SBC
VISION
To be the premier educational institution
for Native peoples and Native Arts and
Culture
VISION
Let us put our minds together and see what
life we can make for our children.
Mission
Wakháŋyeža kiŋ lená épi čha táku waštéšte
iwíčhuŋkičiyukčaŋpi kte.
To empower creativity and leadership in
Native Arts and Cultures through higher
education, live long learning and
outreach.
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.
Program of Study
Mentor/Mentee Institutions
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IAIA
Bachelor’s of Fine Arts
Bachelor’s of Arts
Associate of Fine Arts
Associate of Arts
Certificates
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SBC
Bachelor’s of Science
Associate of Arts
Associate of Science
Associate of Applied Science
Certificates
Staff and Faculty Demographics of
Mentor/Mentee Institutions
IAIA
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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
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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
Student Demographics of
Mentor/Mentee Institutions
SBC
IAIA
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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)
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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
Timeline of Activities
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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
New or Revised Activities and Program
Implemented of Mentor/Mentee Institutions
IAIA
1. Student Success Center
established at IAIA.
2. Revised Orientation
ensures a balance of
academics and transition
topics.
3. Student Success Center
comprehensive assessment
planning.
4. Group Mentoring model
instituted S13 semester.
5. 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
Results New or Revised Activities and
Program Implemented
IAIA
SBC
1. Streamlined the
assessment process of
tutoring services.
2. Student Success Center
institutes a Group Mentor
Program as required by the
campus 2013 plan.
1. Establishment of baseline
data.
2. Establishment of a Retention
Committee.
3. 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.
Additional Benefits
IAIA
1. Cross cultural awareness.
2. Formal and informal
professional development
opportunities throughout
the grant period.
3. Closer collaboration between
the Student Success Center
and Student Life staff.\
4. Former Ilisagvik grant project
director hired as the Student
Success Center’s Retention
Director.
SBC
1. Professional development
opportunities for both first
year faculty and student
support services staff.
2. Most importantly the grant
required SBC to stay on task.
3. Complied Retention Plan
presented to SBC BOT.
Conclusion
“Let us put our minds together to see
what we can build for our children.”
–Tataŋka Iyotaka (Sitting Bull)