Wisdom Sharing: Student
Success Strategies at
Tribal Colleges
Presenters
:
Diane Reyna
Taos/Oke Owingeh
Win
Student Success Ctr. Program
Academics
Coordinator
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Dakota
Koreen Ressler, Ph.D.
Wachinkiya Yuha
Vice President of
Sitting Bull College
Fort Yates, North
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;
http://www.collegefund.org/content/tribal_colleges
• Promote academic
achievement, self-esteem,
and cultural identity;
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
History
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)
Vision and Mission
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.
Wakháŋyeža kiŋ lená épi čha táku
waštéšte iwíčhuŋkičiyukčaŋpi kte. 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
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
Staff and Faculty
Demographics
IAIA
SBC
•Board of Trustees
• Twelve members – appointed
by the President of the United
States
•Personnel
• 8 Administrators
• 4 Native American
• 2 Ph.D.
1 J.D.
• 3 Masters
2 Bachelors
• Faculty:
• 21 full time
• 67% Native American
• 19% Ph.D.
62% Masters
• 3 Ph.D. candidates
•Average length of service: 8.3 years
•72 Full-time staff
•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
IAIA
•402 Enrollment Spring 2013
•Largest program of study – Studio
Arts
•63% Female/ 37% Male
•78% Native American
•31 Average Age
•68 Percentile for Student
Persistence from Fall to Spring
Semesters
•54 Percentile for Student
Retention from Fall to Fall
Semesters
•34% Graduation rate for an
Bachelor Degree – within six years
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
•24% Graduation rate for an
Associate Degree – within three years
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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 two students to IAIA Student
Summit
• 12/13-14/2012-Grant Meeting- Santa Fe, NM
• 1/24-25/2013 – Data Collection meeting (AIHEC) – Minneapolis,
MN
Timeline of Activities
New or Revised Activities
and Program
SBC
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
First-time Freshman Advising
Effective Orientation Program
At Risk Advising
Aggressive Counselor Interventions
Community wide discussion of student retention
and engagement
6. Student Summit
7. Workshops/Activities
8. Talking Circles
SBC Student
Summit
New or Revised Activities
and Program
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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
IAIA Orientation
Leaders
AIHEC Bundles
of Strength
Activities and Program
Implemented
SBC
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
Results New or Revised
Activities and Program
Implemented IAIA
1.Streamlined the assessment process of
tutoring services
2.Student Success Center institutes a Group
Mentor Program as required by the campus 2013
plan
Additional Benefits
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.
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.
Conclusion
“Let us put our minds together
to see what we can build for our
children.”
–Tataŋka Iyotaka (Sitting Bull)