1. Many Voices: One Goal Recruiting & Retaining Native American Students at Southeastern Oklahoma State University Chris Wesberry, Native American Academic Advisor & NAEIE Grant Director Kyle Stafford, Director of Admissions and Recruitment Services

2. Tribal Boundaries/SOSU Service Area

3. SOSU Today Enrollment 3,872 for Fall 2006 –Undergraduate 3,533 –Graduate339 Ethnic Makeup – –Caucasian/White – 2,358 60.9% – –African American/Black 216 5.6% – –American/Alaskan Native 1,134 29.3% – –Asian 19 0.5% – –Hispanic/Latino 100 2.6% – –Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 4 0.1% – –International 41 1.1%

4. Where Do We Rank? According to Diverse: Issues In Higher Education (June 2006) –Rank 3 rd in the Nation producing Education degrees –Rank 5 th in the Nation producing Biological and Biomedical Sciences degrees –Rank 6 th in the Nation in all disciplines combined –Over the past 5 years, 1,042 Native American students have graduated

5. What Are We Doing? Academic Advisor- FT SOSU employee –Choctaw Nation Higher Education Rep. –Chickasaw Nation Higher Education Rep. Native American Student Visitation Day Student Organizations College Success for Native Americans Native American Excellence in Education Grant (NAEIE)

6. Role of the Native American Advisor Recruitment efforts Provide academic advising Serve as Native American Council advisor Director of Native American Excellence in Education Grant

7. Academic Advisor: Advising Advises Native American students who are in their Freshmen or Sophomore year –185 FTF Native American students (fall 2006) Teaches freshman orientation course for Native American –28 students enrolled in ORIE 1002 (fall 2006) Assists students with tribal grants and scholarship applications

8. Native American Recruiting Efforts Attend high school college fairs Attend events sponsored by both tribes Build relationships with Johnson O’Malley (JOM) Coordinators Attend Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival Attend Chickasaw Nation Annual Day Sneak Preview Native American Visitation Day

9. Tribal Partners (Choctaw and Chickasaw) Tribal Education Specialists –Housed on campus at SOSU –Resource person for tribal members –One function each semester Review tribal resources New and existing Higher Education programs Application for funding

10. Recruitment: Native American Visitation Day NAVD was created to provide an organized opportunity for Native American students to talk with our current Native American students and staff, gather information from the university community, observe our facilities, and to realize the difference a college education can make.

11. NAVD Response YearAttendees 200320 200440 2005 Cancelled due to weather 2006125 2007 250 registered Prior to 2006, NAVD was held on a Saturday First Native American in Space, John Herrington

12. NAVD Program Provide Motivational Speaker John Herrington, Kimberly Norris, DJ Vanas, Mike Bailey Campus Tours Native American Council serve as tour guides Mini Fair Free Lunch T-Shirts and Door Prizes Award Scholarships Tribal Representatives Present information about grants and scholarships Available to answer questions

13. Student Organizations Native American Council (NAC) –In 2003, only four members –Today, over 30 members Native American Student Association (NASA) American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)

14. College Success (ORIE 1002) Orientation class for beginning freshmen. 81% of students enroll in second semester. Enrollment has increased. –1 st year= 12 –2 nd year= 20 –Fall 06= 28 Importance of the course: –Communications w/students –Understanding cultural and family values –Friendly face

15. NAEIE Grant ($1,000,000.00) One FT University staff and one FT Grant staff. 12 Education Majors attending SOSU –11/12 have taken and passed the OGET –10/12 are scheduled to take the OSAT –1 has taken and passed the OPTE Pays: full tuition, fees, books, monthly living stipend, test fees, training. Grant expires 06-30-09 Re-write is being done now.

16. Native American Courses Orientation- College Success for NA Freshmen CHOC- Choctaw I, II, III, IV ART- Survey of Native N. American Art SOC- Native American Cultures HIST- NA History BUS- Major/Minor in Business Admin. w/NA emphasis

17. The University has provided $289,000.00 in funding from the following areas: Athletic ScholarshipsTuition Waivers Foundation ScholarshipsWork Study Fee WaiversNative American Excellence in Education Grant SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY University Funding for- Choctaw Students ( Spring 2006—Fall 2006) $289,000.00

18. Future Native American Programs NA Resource Center Honor Society Alumni Assoc. Schol. Fund Educ. Org. JOM Mtg.

19. Keys to Success From recruiting Native American students to retaining them, providing quality-student services to targeted population requires a significant commitment from the University.

20. What are you doing to recruit minority students? Questions?