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OPINION: Walmart Grant and Tribal College Partnership support student retention at Ilisagvik College

June 29th 7:51 pm | Elise Patkotak Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

Ilisagvik College was one of four tribal colleges selected by the Walmart Foundation to receive a two-year grant aimed at improving retention and graduation rates in minority students. Now past the middle mark of the grant, Ilisagvik is instituting a series of actions to improve its graduation rates and student support programs.

The grant is a collaborative effort with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), the Walmart Foundation, and a variety of minority-serving institutions. It recognizes the unique needs of minority students and aims to help institutions serving them to come up with creative and proven solutions to retention challenges. The grant partners Iḷisaġvik with the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The institute serves as mentor for collaboration and knowledge sharing around retention and student success.

"The mentor/mentee relationship between Iḷisaġvik and the institute has been an excellent catalyst for the college to look deeply at the support services we provide to students and identify areas where we are strong, and areas where we have room for improvement," commented Ilisagvik's Walmart Grant Project Director, Persistence and Retention Facilitator Jeminie Shell. "Our goal is to integrate our student support efforts across all areas of campus; in essence, to build a boat that will help buoy students through the challenges of college, and carry them on their journey through college and life."

Grant activities have included workshops on a variety of student support programs, including discussions on first generation college students, support of academically under prepared students, and approaches around skills building for new college students. Additionally, staff from both the institute and Ilisagvik have met together on-site at both of their locations. According to Sarah Martinsen, Iḷisaġvik College Student Life Manager and Walmart Grant team member, "It was incredibly beneficial to visit the Student Success Center at the institute and get an overview of their service delivery."

In reviewing the progress being made by Ilisagvik, Diane Reyna, the institute Project Director for the Walmart Grant stated, "The mentor relationship with Ilisagvik has been rewarding and very productive. During our work together, we have formed an excellent foundation for collaboration between each of our project staff. This foundation is significant in future collaborations after the grant expires."

Ilisagvik created a comprehensive retention plan and has started implementing changes that will better support students for whom higher education is a new experience. One change already underway is the improvement of the Learning Resource Center space and the academic support it provides. This spring the center moved to a temporary location while a permanent, more functional and inviting space is acquired. Ilisagvik has begun recruiting for a pool of professional tutors. In the fall, the college plans to schedule group study sessions while incorporating instructor driven supplemental material for some core classes. The college is also planning a more vigorous outreach to students encouraging them to use the center to help them succeed.

In the fall of 2012 the college will also offer a student success seminar aimed primarily at first semester students, though the class will be open to all students. The class will focus on developing skills needed to succeed in college such as time management, study skills, healthy habits, and use of tutoring and other support resources. According to Facilitator Shell, "Each class session will incorporate themes of cultural relevance throughout the five-week course, and one class will be dedicated to discussion of the cultural importance of education and leadership."

Talk Circles have also been started in an effort to give students a place to safely express their concerns, challenges and frustrations. The goal is to use peer support and the reassurance that comes with the knowledge that others also have similar challenges. In the fall the weekly Talk Circles will be meeting over homemade meals prepared in the new student lounge kitchen.

Diane Reyna sums up the effort by saying, "In thinking about my experience at Ilisagvik and Barrow, I see that the goal of [the Walmart Foundation grant] reflects, in spirit, the community support that is part and parcel of living in tribal communities like Barrow. It is about being available to others in need of assistance, much like the assistance people offer each other during whaling season and other subsistence activities."

Through sharing, collaboration, and support, Ilisagvik hopes to help students succeed at higher rates in the coming years.

"We want to ensure that the diverse needs of our students are met, while also empowering them to learn and grow in an environment that is both safe and familiar, yet also expands their experience," concluded Facilitator Shell.

If you'd like more information about these programs, or want to see if you'd qualify as a tutor to help students succeed, contact Jeminie Shell at 907-852-1754.

 


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