Project Grant 20217041135210

THIS PROJECT WILLADDRESS THE POST-SECONDARY NEEDS OF A GROWING POPULATION OF TRIBAL LEARNERS FROM BOTH RURAL AND URBAN SETTINGS. TO INCREASE THEIR ENROLLMENT, RETENTION, AND GRADUATION, WE WILL BUILD AND STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL TCUS AND RURAL TRIBAL COMMUNITIES AND ESTABLISH A FORMAL PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR LOCAL P-12 INDIAN EDUCATION PROGRAMS. TO IMPROVE RETENTION AND GRADUATION RATES OF TRIBAL STUDENTS, WE WILL ESTABLISH A PRESIDENT'S TRIBAL ADVISORY COUNCIL AND HIRE A TRIBAL INITIATIVES DIRECTOR TO OVERSEE THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNIT ASSESSMENT AND RETENTION PLANS AND A COMPREHENSIVE TRIBAL STUDENTS CARE TEAM ADVISING/COACHING MODEL. THE PARTICIPATION OF UNIT LIAISONS AND COHORT MENTORING PROGRAMS WILL ADDRESS STUDENT RETENTION, WHILE TRIBAL-FOCUSED TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED TO FACULTY, STAFF, AND ADMINISTRATORS WILL SUPPORT THE EVOLUTION OF A MORERESPONSIVE CAMPUS COMMUNITY. THE INDIAN EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND THE EXPLICIT FOCUS ON DEVELOPING INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES WILL IMMEDIATELY AND DIRECTLY ADDRESS TRIBAL STUDENTS' ACADEMIC AND DAILY LIFE NEEDS. CRITICAL PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO CAMPUS-WIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES NDSU'S UNIQUE HISTORY AND RELATIONSHIP WITH TRIBAL COMMUNITIES AS A LAND-GRANT INSTITUTION. NDSU WILL WIDEN RECRUITMENT PRACTICES TO INCLUDE URBAN TRIBAL STUDENTS, INSTITUTIONALIZE CAMPUS-BASED PROGRAMMING FOR TRIBAL STUDENTS, AND PROVIDE CAMPUS-WIDE EDUCATION REGARDING TRIBAL NATIONS. TRIBAL STUDENTS ENTERING THE WORKFORCE THROUGH POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION WILL EXPERIENCE A MORE SUPPORTIVE NDSU CAMPUS COMMUNITY, LEADING TO IMPROVED ACADEMIC SUCCESSES AND INCREASED COMMUNITY PROSPERITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.