MONTANA UNIVERSITY SYSTEM SEMI-ANNUAL

CAMPUS DIVERSITY REPORTS

 

MSU - NORTHERN

 

December, 2000

 

A.         Enrollment Management

 

1.         Narrative:

 

How MUS/each campus is meeting the requirements of Policy 1902 and major initiatives implemented

 

·                     To enroll American Indians and other minorities who are MT residents in proportion to their representation in the state population at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.  (1902.P-I)

 

            MSU-Northern seeks to recruit and retain American Indian students in proportion to the states population.  MSU-Northern has actively increased recruitment efforts and has visited all seven of Montana's Tribal Colleges, and various reservation high schools in Montana.  Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to recruit by bringing recruitment materials on home visits, and to conventions and meetings.  Montana State University-Northern has increased recruitment efforts by setting up recruitment booths at Tribal College Career Fairs, Pow Wows and Indian conferences.  Northern has participated in Montana Indian Education Association conferences and will assist with the 2001 National Indian Education Association Conference.  Next, MSU-Northern has collaborated with Tribal colleges in supporting a professional development grant to increase the number of American Indian teachers and currently has a Preparing Teacher for Tomorrows Technology.

 

B.         Completions

 

1.          Narrative:

 

How MUS/each campus is meeting the requirements of Policy 1902 and major initiatives implemented

 

·                      To graduate American Indians and other minorities who are MT residents in proportion to their representation in the state population at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

 

            In regards to retention and completion, Northern offers a number of support services for American Indian students.  Student Support Services offers tutoring, career counseling, and social activities for all students attending Northern.  In 1999, Northern established the Student Success Center which houses the Peer Mentoring Program, Academic Advising, and computer lab to assist Carl Perkins eligible students.  Northern offers the Indian Fee waiver for American Indians, which helps with the financial burden of attending college.  Next,  Northern has assisted students with Indian Health Service Scholarship, Gates Scholarship for minorities, MSU-Northern Foundation Scholarships and other minority scholarships.  In 1999, MSU-Northern completed Articulation agreements with Blackfeet Community College, Fort Peck Community College and Fort Belknap College.  The Community Service degree program has added curriculum that reflects service learning in regards to tribal issues and reservation policy.

 

            The Multicultural Coordinator has assisted American Indian students with campus and community services, and provides a transition workshop to address college adjustment problems.

 

            Sweetgrass Society Indian Club and American Indian Business Leaders (AIBL) assists students by providing a comfortable social environment on campus.  These student organizations have actively encouraged professional and personal growth by encouraging students to participate in activities.  Annually, MSU-Northern has donated discretionary funds to assist the Sweetgrass Society pow-wow.  Northern has been listed in the Winds of Change Magazine(college guide for American Indians) as having one of the highest percentages of American Indian Graduates in the nation (8%).