Achieving Success and
Overcoming Barriers while
Achieving Your Goal for Higher
Education
2016 NCAI Tribal Leader/Scholar Forum
IIMOU Panel
• Barbara Aston (Wyandotte) MPS, Tribal Liaison, Washington State University
• Yolanda Bisbee (Nez Perce), PhD, Executive Director Tribal Relations, University of
Idaho
• Bob Sobotta (Nez Perce), Director of Native American/Minority Student Services,
Lewis & Clark State College
• Evanlene Melting Tallow( Blackfeet/Blood), American Indian and International
student advisor
• Angela Picard (Nez Perce), Northwest Indian College Nez Perce Site Manager
• Robbie Paul, (Nez Perce), PhD, Director Native American Health Sciences,
Washington State University
Inter-Institutional Memorandum of
Understanding
• Five Institutions signed the MOU: Washington State University,
University of Idaho, Lewis and Clark State College, North Idaho
College and Northwest Indian College, branch campus Nez Perce
Tribe.
• Signed March 24, 2008 at Spalding Park, on the Nez Perce Reservation
with the five college presidents in attendance.
IIMOU Presidents
L-R
Bill Picard; NWIC Nez Perce Branch Campus
Director
Sam Penney; Nez Perce Tribal Chair
Cheryl Crazy Bull: NWIC President
Priscilla Bell: President North Idaho College
Dene Kay Thomas: President Lewis & Clark
State College
Dr. Timothy White: President of University of
Idaho
Dr. Elson S. Floyd: President of Washington
State University
Nez Perce Color Guard
Purpose
• The parties agree to establish a committee, known as the Native
American Collaborations Committee, that will report to the Provosts
of the five institutions
• Three work groups:
• Student services
• Native American Studies
• Other programs or services related to Native American education and
outreach
Mission
• Shall be to strengthen the instruction and scholarship about, and
services to Native Americans offered by each institution.
Five points of discussion
• 1. Priority Directions
• 2. What have our successes been?
• 3. What have the challenges been?
• 4. What has been the greatest value?
• 5. Recommendations we have to others?
Priority Directions
• Sharing information
• Referral of students for transfer and making connections
• Creating joint Native Studies degree and sharing courses across
institutions
• Other
What have our success been?
• Early connections and support for student transfers
• Successful IIMOU Student Panel presentation at 2015 NIEA
Conference
• Barriers and successes to achieving academic success
• Hosting IIMOU Student Stick game tournament
• Early on shared Nez Perce Language courses between three of the
institutions
• Support one another's programs and events
What have the challenges been?
• Sharing courses: semester vs. quarter systems, different technology
• Writing for grants: who would be the led institution for housing the
fiscal management
• Debunk the myth to our respective institutions that tribes have
scholarships to cover all of their students college expenses
• Not have enough scholarship support
What has been the greatest value?
• Collegial support for faculty and staff and sharing of ideas for
addressing challenges within the institutions and advancing policies
and best practices
• Often time the faculty, staff are the one and only’ s at their institutions, helps
the faculty and staff to be able to network and support each other
• Benefit to students: staff and faculty can support the students across
institutions
• The IIMOU meets twice a year
Recommendations we have to others?
• Set realistic goals that are specific and achievable
• Developing a strategic plan for the IIMOU
• Branding the IIMOU so students and others will know who we are
talking about
• Create a handbook for cross listing of classes
• Look at developing a student council from the IIMOU and perhaps a
Leadership Student Retreat
• Other