May 30–31, 2013 otenai Ko Co h ll is e l g a e S E d m u o c a d is ti on W ip Leadersh Missoula and Pablo, Mont. A Letter from the President Dear Colleagues, Welcome to Montana and the annual Native American Student Advocacy Institute. We are proud to host this year’s event with our partners at the Montana University System, the University of Montana and Salish Kootenai College. NASAI is designed to engage leaders in the Native American community — including educators, counselors, policymakers, and advocates — who can work together to create lasting, effective change for Native American students. This year’s lineup and sessions speak to our shared hopes for the next generation and to our collective memory of the difficult road traveled by many of our predecessors. The progress of Native American students must remain among our chief priorities as we develop new initiatives and programs that we hope will increase access, equity and the highest levels of achievement for all students in our care. As we strive to build a healthier, more vibrant education system, we will depend on strong leaders with bold vision to guide our way. Every year, we are lucky to attract many fascinating speakers to the conference, but this year, we are excited to have five tribal college presidents in attendance for a panel discussion. In addition to these tribal leaders, the College Board is honored to include the following individuals among our conference speakers. They are leaders in their fields and promise to offer us all some valuable insight: • Pam Agoyo, Cochiti, Kewa, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblos, Special Assistant to the President on American Indian Affairs and Director of American Indian Student Services, The University of New Mexico • Karen Francis-Begay, Navajo, Assistant Vice President for Tribal Relations, The University of Arizona, and Trustee, The College Board • Heather Shotton, Wichita/Kiowa/Cheyenne, Assistant Professor, Native American Studies, The University of Oklahoma, and President, National Indian Education Association • Joyce Silverthorne, Salish, Director, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education-Office of Indian Education, U.S. Department of Education, District of Columbia • Stephanie Waterman, Onondaga, Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership, Higher Education Program, University of Rochester As always, a tremendous amount of time and effort went into this conference. For their incredible work, I would like to express my gratitude to our host schools, the Local Arrangements Committee, the Diversity Initiatives team, the National Advisory Committee and the NASAI planning committee chairs: René Dubay, Brandi Foster and Fredricka Hunter. And of course, I must recognize the incomparable duo of Jim Montoya and Peter Negroni. To everyone who worked so hard to make this conference real, and to everyone who traveled from far and wide to make it important, thank you for your efforts. And thank you for showing our students — not just today, but every day — that you truly care. Sincerely, David Coleman President, The College Board Welcome to NASAI 2013 Welcome to Montana. We thank our partners, the Montana University System, the University of Montana and Salish Kootenai College, for bringing us to Big Sky country. “Big Sky” conveys images of unlimited opportunity and boundless optimism — a sense we want our Native American students to have as they imagine their educational journeys and future careers. We can’t underestimate the importance of letting our students know that we believe in them and support their aspirations. We, as educators, policymakers and community leaders, must think BIG as we continue our work to create greater educational opportunity for Native American students to improve their educational attainment. Given the College Board’s mission to connect students to college success and opportunity, it is appropriate that over the next two days together, we focus on how we can graduate more “college-ready” students from our high schools. Being college ready means having a good understanding of admission and financial aid opportunities. BigFuture™, the College Board’s new online college planning tool, will be featured at this year’s NASAI. We encourage you to become familiar with this “student-center” resource that is free to students, families and schools. We thank the Program Planning Committee for the timely sessions and outstanding speakers, and for bringing all of us together. They have set the stage and provided us with the Big Sky. Now it’s up to us! Most sincerely, Peter Negroni James Montoya Senior Vice President Vice President Relationship Development Relationship Development The College Board The College Board 1 Office of the President The University of Montana Missoula, MT 59812-3324 Office: (406) 243-2311 Fax: (406) 243-2797 Dear NASAI Conference Participants, Welcome to the University of Montana! We are pleased to co-host, along with the Montana University System and Salish Kootenai College, the Sixth Annual Native American Student Advocacy Institute (NASAI). Montana is a particularly appropriate setting for the conference, as our state is home to one of the larger and more diverse Native American populations in the United States, and the University of Montana has long been recognized for paving the way in Native American Studies. The recently built Payne Family Native American Center is the first platinum LEED-certified building in the nation dedicated solely to Native American Studies and services. American Indian Student Services is a department within the Division of Student Affairs whose mission is dedicated to Native American enrollment, achievement and success at the University. From our smudging policy to our Native American scholarships, we have proudly created an accommodating learning environment for American Indians. With its seven tribal colleges, four governor-appointed Native American officials, and the highest per capita Native American representation in state legislature, Montana is a national leader in Native involvement and collaboration. Just a few miles from the Flathead Reservation, Missoula has a deep connection to Native culture and history. The American Indian enrollment at UM continues to be among the most robust of the public institutions in Montana, as well as in the region. Our Kyi-Yo Native American Student Association serves as a vehicle for facilitating communication among our Native students and creating engaging opportunities on campus and in the community for them. This conference is an important component in continuing a dialogue of improvement for our own Native American students and for those across the country. NASAI provides a forum for progress and a voice for the concerns of one of our country’s oldest communities. On behalf of UM, we would like to thank the College Board and the advisory committees for their noble work in advancing equity and educational access for all students. Most of all, we appreciate your continued dedication to NASAI and your proactive efforts to create equal opportunities for members of the Native American community. We look forward to seeing many of you during the conference and hope you find your time at the University of Montana enjoyable and educational. Sincerely, Royce C. Engstrom Teresa S. Branch President Vice President for Student Affairs otenai Ko Co h ll is e l g a e S E d m u Dear NASAI Conference Participants, o c a d is ti It is a pleasure to welcome you to Salish Kootenai College (SKC) located in the heart of the on W Le hip Flathead Nation. We are one of the first tribal colleges in the nation, established in 1977. aders We are honored to have the opportunity to cohost NASAI with our good partner and neighbor, the University of Montana. NASAI demonstrates the commitment of the College Board to diversity and the special needs and contributions of the underserved populations. NASAI was born of a vision of the College Board and the first American Indian member of its Board of Trustees, who himself was a tribal college president. We are pleased to have NASAI return to a tribal college in its sixth year. Despite many efforts and strides over the years, access and achievement of American Indian students and communities remain far below where they should be. NASAI, and your involvement and commitment, are a major part of continuing to work to achieve equity. There are only a few venues where people from across the nation — Native and non-Native — have an opportunity to come together and meet for a common cause. NASAI has grown into a significant, much-anticipated annual gathering for those interested in this work. We are glad to be able to share our tribal college campus, students, faculty and experience with you through NASAI. Salish Kootenai College is dedicated to meeting the education needs of American Indians and perpetuating the culture and histories of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. While firmly grounded in the context of its location on the Flathead Indian Reservation, SKC embraces changing technologies, modern facilities and new educational programs that will lead students and the community into the future. The campus maintains state- of-the-art laboratories in the sciences and health fields, Web-based course delivery, and a campus technology infrastructure, all of which ensure students, faculty and staff have adequate resources. Thus the college reflects its motto, “Grounded in Tradition. Charging into the Future.” Please feel free to explore our beautiful campus beneath the Mission Mountains. We hope you have a great conference and visit to the state of Montana and Salish Kootenai College. Sincerely, Elaine Frank Interim President Salish Kootenai College 3 A Letter from the Chairs Dear NASAI Attendees: As the co-chairs of the 2013 NASAI conference planning committee, we are proud to welcome you to our great state and to the wonderful days ahead spent learning from one another.