1. Nadine L. Bill, Upper Skagit Director of Institutional Research
Wal-Mart Foundation, AIHEC, HACU and NAFEO Student Success Collaborative
Nadine L. Bill, Upper Skagit
Director of Institutional Research
Northwest Indian College

2. Tribal Colleges and Universities
36 Tribal Colleges in the U.S. and Canada
Fall 09 enrollment of Degree Seeking Student 17,400 FTE

3. “Pathways for Native Students: A Report on Washington State Colleges and Universities”

4. Partnership for Native American College Access and Success Project
Northwest Indian College
The Evergreen State College
Grays Harbor College
Antioch University-Seattle
Muckleshoot Tribal College

5. Who Wrote and Why Who – Why –
An inter-agency group that represented 4 years, 2 years, regional Indian college, tribes, state government and researchers
Why –
Grant-based project
Need for comprehensive look
Need for combining of data
Need for combining of Best Practices
Writing Team that Created Leveraging Opportunities

6. Reason for report: 29 Federally recognized Tribes in Washington
26% of the U.S. population is under age 18, while the Native American population under that age is 33%. The percentage is even higher on many reservations in Washington
Cultural revitalization and nation-building are at the forefront for Washington tribes
Growing need for Native Americans with higher education and training
Data and trends on Native students and institutions’ services required to improve access and attainment levels
Reason for report:

7. Major Research Questions:
How many AI/AN Students attend Washington State Colleges and Universities
What is the AI/AN student experience at WA State colleges and universities
What types of academic programs and student services targeted at AI/AI students currently exist
What do “Institutions” consider as their “Best Practice” regarding AI/AI students

8. How the Research Conducted
Template Out to all Colleges and Universities
Multiple Levels of Contact
Persistence - took real effort to gather the information (them and us)
Had to get to the right person
presidential support critical
Probed existing data bases
Disaggregated data, took existing data sets and reports, and reorganized

9. How was the Research Conducted? A Strength-Based Approach
National Center for Educational Management Systems
IPEDS
WA State Higher Education Coordinating Board
State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
Tribal Statistics
44 of Washington’s Colleges and Universities
Institutional Profiles
Best Practices
Lessons Learned

10. Decisions about how to tell the research-based story
Stories – that make it come alive
Pictures
Data
Lively Narrative
Historical Context
Stress Best Practices
Stress Needed Arenas of Work
Focus on Exceptional Schools

11. Why is this Report and Strategy Different ?
Produced by the schools themselves as a collaborative effort
Cross-sector – K-20, private and public, 2 year - 4year
A whole institution view (Student Affairs and Academics)
Tied to a dissemination strategy

12. Native Participation in Postsecondary Education in Washington State
Approximately 7500 Native American Students are enrolled in Washington Colleges and Universities
Type of Institution
# AI/AN Students (FTE)
% AI/AN Faculty/Staff
Two-year public colleges
4632
1.6% Faculty
Four-year public colleges & universities
1800
0.8% Faculty
Four-year private colleges & universities
500
0.7% Faculty
Tribal College (Northwest Indian College)
690
57% Faculty + Staff

13. What do we know about Access & Focus Areas
Retention & completion rates low
K-20 pipeline issue
Stopping out common
Gatekeeper classes should be a key focus
Basic studies/Dev Ed

14. Institutional Profiles
Statistical profile of Native American/ Alaska Native faculty, staff, and students
Academic courses & programs focusing on Native Americans
Public service programs and initiatives focusing on Native Americans
Student support services and student organizations focusing on Native Americans
Best practices and lessons

15. 12 Recommendations 1. Create/support vehicles to foster collaboration
Support mechanisms for tribes to share
Washington leaders must make greater investment
Tackle financial barriers to college that remain significant
Institutions must pay attention to the needs
Build the pipeline - bridging the gaps between the sectors (K-12 and two-year and four year colleges)
Find effective approaches in gateway courses/key transition points
Find successful approaches in underrepresented fields
Diversifying the faculty and staff is a key element in student success
Make linkages between needs of Native students and other underserved populations to more efficiently address service and awareness gaps
Maintain a long term focus on Native student success
More research and data is needed to fully understand challenges and effectiveness of institutions and programs. Involve Native stakeholders in holistic evaluation strategies, continuous improvement and dissemination.
Cull and make shorten – Talk about making the HS problem better and as the pathway that doesn’t work.

16. What Works in Native American Student Success
Strong family support
Positive interactions with mentors (e.g.., faculty, advisor, department staff members)
Clear educational goals and personal motivation
Institutional support
Academic preparation
Academic and social integration
The ability to function bi-culturally
(Ortiz and HeavyRunner, 2003; Inglebret and Pavel, 2007)

17. Student Success Strategies in Tribal Colleges
First Year Experience
Service Learning/Experiential Learning
Course Design and Co-Curricular Activities
Family Education Model (FEM)
Emphasis on STEM and Student-Based Research in 1st and 2nd year
Education Based Programs and Research that benefits tribal communities

18. Share the information learned with presentations that inspire dialogue and networking between communities
Examine and implement examples of Performance Indicators and ways to measure Native American Student Success in higher education
Apply applicable examples of how Institutions of higher learning and Native American communities work together
Continue to build educational program that embraces assessment and a model of continuous improvement
Build seamless pathways between higher education and K-12 systems
Where do we go from here?