Office of Retention and Inclusive Student Success
February 2014
2013 BIG TIME ASSESSMENT
An overview of HSU’s 2013 Big Time: events, participation,
assessment, financial overview, and recommendations for 2014.
Special Thanks:
Without the commitment and participation of the staff and faculty, the Big Time would not happen. Thank you to the following
HSU staff and faculty who were involved in the planning, fundraising, coordinating volunteers, feeding dancers and
volunteers, clean up and so much more: Amanda Staack (MCC), Adrienne Colegrove-Raymond (SASOP), Lonyx Landry
(INRSEP), Zo Devine (CICD), Vincent Feliz (SASOP), Mona Mazzotti (MCC), Leo Canez (Upward Bound), Vynessa Ortiz
(Housing), Will Hostler (UPD), Chance Carpenter (UPD), and Marylyn Paik-Nicely (MCC).
Campus and off-campus volunteers ensure that things are running smoothly behind the scenes. We couldn’t have pulled it off
without the following volunteers: College of the Redwoods Nursing Students (First Aid), California Conservation Corp,
Hoopa TCC-AmeriCorp, MEChA, Beta Sigma Epsilon, WRAPP, Gamma Alpha Omega, and SDRC.
2013 Big Time Assessment
Performers and Participants are the heart of the Big Time. Special thanks to HSU Intertribal Student Drum, HSU Danza
Azteca (Aztec Dancers), Red Cedar Drum, Grand Ronde Canoe Family (Southern Oregon), Flower Dance Demonstration
(Native Women’s Collective), Tolowa Feather Dance Group, Karuk Brush Dance Demonstration, Table Bluff Youth Brush
Dancers, and the Indian Card Game Participants.
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The Big Time is a traditional California Native festival
or gathering where Tribal Nations come together to
share traditional dances and songs, have talking
circles, eat traditional foods, make important
decisions and pray together. It is a time when
different dance families come together for 2 – 10
days to make their regalia and to make significant
decisions about their families and the future. There
is no direct English translation of the Indian word for
these gatherings. Over time the term “Big Time” has
been adopted, but the term is also translated to
mean significant, decision-making, or major
importance. The Ohlone, Maidu, Miwok and other
Tribal Nations of central and northern California
have continued to have an annual Big Time.
For many years our local Native students talked
about having a “Big Time” at Humboldt State. The
HSU Pow Wow had been the main Native gathering
for about 15 years, but the Pow Wow is not part of
the traditions of our local tribes. Seven years ago
two HSU students, Priscella Camacho and Ruthie
Maloney, approached staff and faculty to see if a Big
Time would be possible. At that time, it had been
four years since HSU had hosted a Pow Wow. Native
faculty and staff along with the MultiCultural Center
(MCC) staff collaborated with students to plan the
first HSU California Big Time and Social Gathering
which was held in 2008. Chag Lowry from the Native
Cultures Fund (Humboldt Area Foundation) was also
instrumental in getting this project off the ground.
He provided advising, mentoring, and funding. The
first HSU Big Time was a huge success and has grown
every year since then in scope and attendance.
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The 6 annual HSU California Big Time & Social
Gathering was held on April 5 – 6, 2013. Big Time is
particularly important at HSU as it honors sacred
land that the university was built on. It also serves as
a meeting ground and positive intentions of HSU
toward creating space to honor the local community
of which HSU’s roots are so tied. The 2013 Big Time
brought nearly 1,500 people together to share and
learn about ceremonial dances, regalia, songs and
traditions of our California and visiting tribal nations.
On opening night, a dinner to honor a local elder is
held at the Goodwin Forum. This is a tradition
initiated by our student organizers that has
continued every year and includes all of the Big Time
volunteers, dancers and singers. Humboldt State
students organize Big Time to give the tribal
community and Native Students opportunities for
cultural sharing and education. The HSU California
Big Time continues to strengthen and reinforce
indigenous tribal identity among our students, our
youth, and our communities.
Attendance at the 2013 Big Time
HSU students made up one-third (n=502) of the
participants at the 2013 Big Time (Table 1). A small
group of students participated in traditional
ceremonial dances or volunteered to help facilitate
the event, but primarily students attended as
participants in the festivities. Multiple pronged
participation opportunities allowed students to
participate in ways that spoke to them, allowing for
cultural expression or to help facilitate cultural
expression that held meaning for them. This allowed
some students to have a voice in a culturally relevant
event on campus and allowed other students to
experience the richness of Native American culture
that is not often seen outside of private ceremonies.
The majority of attendees at the 2013 Big Time were
community members (Table 1). A few community
members participated as dancers or volunteers, but
primarily community members came from
surrounding areas to attend Big Time festivities.
While there was interest from the community at
large, there was much interest from the surrounding
tribal communities and many of the attendees had
tribal affiliations. The Big Time is the only event of its
kind in the surrounding area that provides an
opportunity for the tribes to gather in one place.
Gathering at HSU is particularly meaningful for the
local Native American Community since HSU is built
on Wiyot land.
Table 1: 2013 Attendance
Students
326
Community
868
Student Volunteers
152
Community Volunteers
27
Student Dancers
24
Community Dancers
58
Card Tournament
20
Total
1,475
2013 Big Time Assessment
What is the HSU California Big Time
and Social Gathering?
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Methodology
In order to differentiate students from community
members, there were two separate check-in sites.
Students with ID cards were able to use a computer
swiper for check-in, which allowed their student ID
numbers to be recorded. Students who did not have
their ID cards signed-in using a sign-in sheet which
documented their names and email addresses.
Community members were accounted for using a
sign-in sheet which asked for their names. Student
volunteers, dancers and card players were
accounted for at a separate sign-in table.
The goal of a separate student check-in was to track
student ID’s so a student learning outcome survey
could be conducted with student attendees. This
also provided an opportunity to look at the
demographics of students who attended the Big
Time. Of the 326 students who attended the Big
Time, 273 students had student ID’s. However, due
to a technological glitch, only 120 of the 273
students were uploaded into PeopleSoft for tracking.
The 206 students who didn’t upload correctly into
PeopleSoft could not be sent a survey. The 120
students who did upload to PeopleSoft were able to
be identified demographically: 13% freshman, 19%
sophomore, 26% juniors, and 37% seniors; 3%
American Indian, 8% African American, 35% Latino,
and 34% white; 57% underrepresented and 63% first
generation.
The Office of Institutional Research sent out a
student learning outcomes survey in the beginning
of May 2013 to the 120 student attendees that could
be identified. 120 HSU students were sent an email
asking them to take an online survey. About 22% of
the sample responded (n= 26); however, 8% (n= 9)
completed the consent form and after seeing the
questions on the survey, chose not to participate.
The final response rate was 14%. Due to the partial
sample and low response rate, the student learning
outcome results are not generalizable.
Student Learning Outcomes
The MultiCultural Center (MCC) was asked to craft
student learning outcomes for the 2013 Big Time.
MCC worked closely with the Center for Indian
Community Development (CICD) to create the
Knowledge Sharing Project, which consisted of large
posters with information about California Tribal
Nations, Wiyot land, and the Big Time. These posters
were displayed in the Hall of Fame, located in the
hallway next to the Lumberjack Arena. In addition to
the posters, a one-page information sheet was given
to attendees. Three student learning outcomes were
developed by the Big Time planners. They are as
follows: HSU students who attend the 2013 Big time
will be able to:
1) Identify whose ancestral land HSU sits on.
2) Name at least three California Tribal
nations.
3) Describe what a California Big Time is.
While the survey response was low and not
generalizable, the results showed that for those who
participated in the survey approximately 88% were
able to recall that HSU sits on Wiyot ancestral land.
Approximately 82% were able to name at least three
California Tribal Nations, and approximately 82%
were able to recall what a Big Time is.
Going Forward: Why is Big Time
Relevant?
According to data published by the CSU Chancellor’s
1
Office , HSU has the highest enrollment of Native
American students across the 23 CSU campuses.
1.4% of our total student population identify solely
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as Native American. Furthermore, internal data
show that an additional 4.9% identify, in part, as
Native American. This means that 6.3% of our total
student population identify, solely or partially, as
Native American.
It Provides a Forum for Community Gathering
The Big Time provides an opportunity for the Native
American community to gather and to share and
celebrate culture through dance, song, and sacred
traditions. For many Non-Native people, the event
will likely be a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see
various types of traditional dances, hear the songs,
and view regalia.
It Creates a Learning Opportunity
Humboldt State students organize Big Time to give
the tribal community and Native students
opportunities for cultural sharing and education.
1
“Fall 2012 Profile CSU Enrollment by Ethnic Group and Student
Level, Number and Ration to Totals, Systemwide.” Retrieved
February 12, 2014.
http://www.calstate.edu/as/stat_reports/2012-2013/feth03.htm
2
HSU Office of Institutional Research and Planning. Fall 2012
Census data.
2013 Big Time Assessment
Data Collection, Assessment, and
Student Learning Outcomes
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culture can coexist with academic culture and the
two can, in fact, complement one another. Healing
takes place when we acknowledge pain and make
room for other truths at the table over an extended
period of time. HSU can partner with the Native
community to shift this paradigm of historical
mistrust to one of partnership and respect so future
generations can find their way.
It Creates an Opportunity for HSU to Honor Our
Location and Collaborate with the Community
Our region is home to one of the largest
concentrations of tribal nations in California and
North America. Furthermore, HSU is built on tribal
land once inhabited by the Wiyot Tribe. Big Time
provides an opportunity for HSU to honor its physical
and social location in relation to the tribal
community. It also provides an opportunity for
community outreach, partnership with tribal
nations, and embracing the diversity that tribal
people bring to the university. HSU stands out
among the CSU’s in being able to partner with the
community in this way. Welcoming the outside
community to collaborate with the university creates
bonds that will benefit students and the community
as HSU alumni go back out into the world and draw
upon their education to better their communities.
It Gives HSU an Opportunity to Welcome Our Next
Generation of Students
The largest group of attendees at the Big Time is the
community. For many, the Big Time is a family affair
or a school field trip. Many children who attend Big
Time have never been to a college campus. This is an
opportunity to introduce HSU and welcome them.
During the Big Time, an event called the “Amazing
Race” is hosted. The Amazing Race is a competitive
tour that introduces youngsters to the HSU campus.
Students ages 6-18 are encouraged to participate in
this campus tour and activity conducted by HSU
students. Students get to learn about the campus,
become familiar with the steps to prepare for
college and receive a certificate of completion from
President Richmond, a t-shirt, and a backpack.
Preregistration is required and students under age
10 need to be accompanied by an adult.
It Facilitates a Healing Process
A California Big Time could be held anywhere in our
community. The significance of having the Big Time
at HSU is that it begins the healing of historical
trauma for our Tribal Nations. During the Gold Rush,
indigenous people were massacred and children
stripped from their tribes and forced to attend
boarding schools. In the Boarding School system,
“education” was a tool for cultural genocide. The
Boarding School system was designed to do away
with language, traditions, gatherings like the Big
Time, family, and ceremonies of the Native people.
To this day many Native people have deep
reservations about educational institutions. HSU, in
partnership with Tribal Nations, has a unique
opportunity to change the course of history. The
HSU California Big Time and Social Gathering creates
a welcoming environment and a place for traditions
to thrive and be shared with others. It
communicates to the Native community that HSU
honors culture and tradition and that we value
learning and sharing of knowledge in all its forms.
Above all, it recognizes that the human experience is
not mutually exclusive. Ethnic and indigenous
It is important for students to choose a university
that values people and their ideas, and cares about
their culture and heritage. Having their introduction
to college be in the context of a culturally relevant
learning experience goes a long way for future
students, particularly Native American and other
URM students. It is imperative that HSU be
committed to the potential in all students,
particularly the rich opportunities that exist when
education can be fused with culture to propel
students forward in a meaningful way. Those are
precisely the students who will return to their
communities to become world changers.
Considering college as an option is a huge step,
especially for first generation students. We want
them to know that they are college worthy; and we
want them to know they are wanted at HSU.
Identifying HSU as a safe and inclusive campus
where they will be accepted and allowed to practice
their culture while pursuing educational goals, may
be the deciding factor for many students,
particularly Indian students and other URM
students.
2013 Big Time Assessment
This is a facet of education HSU can be honored to
facilitate as part of the university learning
experience outside of the classroom. Big Time falls in
line with HSU’s focus on creating inclusive student
learning environments. Additionally, it provides HSU
a unique opportunity among the CSU campuses to
embrace the richness of Native American culture
that surrounds us.
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Recommendations for 2014
Participant Tracking
•
The glitch in the swipe technology will be identified, so all students who use their ID card to sign-in can be
uploaded to PeopleSoft.
•
Students who sign-in using a paper sign-in sheet will include their HSU ID number so they can be included
on the PeopleSoft list for tracking.
2013 Big Time Assessment
Assessment
•
2013 was the first year that Student Learning Outcomes were implemented for the Big Time. That will be
continued.
•
Onsite assessments have higher return rates than surveys distributed afterward. Therefore, onsite
assessments will be conducted to include community and student attendees as well as volunteers and
dancers. This will provide more accurate demographics, and measure the learning that takes place for all
who take part in the Big Time, from observers to volunteers.
•
A different approach will be taken with assessment in 2014. We will be partnering with a graduate
research class from the Social Work department who is focusing on culturally competent research
methods. They will conduct a qualitative assessment to find out more about the experiences of those who
attend Big Time. This will be an augmented portion of the assessment in addition to learning outcomes.
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