Source: ILISAGVIK COLLEG submitted to NRP
NAULLAGNAQ: GROWING CAPACITY FOR TEACHING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND LANGUAGE PRESERVATION AT ILISAGVIK COLLEGE
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1031253
Grant No.
2023-38470-40824
Cumulative Award Amt.
$475,000.00
Proposal No.
2023-04167
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2023
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2027
Grant Year
2023
Program Code
[RD]- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions
Recipient Organization
ILISAGVIK COLLEG
PO BOX 749
BARROW,AK 99723
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Ilisagvik College's Education/Teaching project is focused on increasing capacity in two key areas: Within the Iñupiaq Studies Program, which is Ilisagvik's flagship program, and, in the last five years, it has experienced significant growth, both in the number of classes we offer and enrollment. The goal is to hire an additional full-time faculty position in the Iñupiaq Studies, increasing capacity by 100% (we currently have one full-time faculty member), in order to serve students more effectively. Ilisagvik is also seeking funding to expand its Iñupiaq Studies supplies, so that the new courses we implement as a result of augmented capacity will be appropriately outfitted. Ilisagvik's Inupiaq Studies Program is focused on preserving and perpetuating the Inupiaq language, as well as Traditional Knowledge, including FANH-related knowledge in ecology.The second focus for this project is on building capacity in Cross-Disciplinary Institutional Administrative Capacity in order to improve our ability to both deliver instruction in FANH disciplines and streamline some administrative functions that will support student recruitment, retention, and educational equity. Ilisagvik College seeks to provide more accessibility measures (ADA) in distance education through a digital service (Level Access), and transition to a completely digitized and interactive academic catalog system, moving away from paper and static PDF copies that do not serve current students well and confuse potential new students.Ilisagvik College will serve several thousand students will these goals and endeavors and contribute to the retention and advancement of Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students in FANH disciplines through this project.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
8066099302050%
9036099302050%
Knowledge Area
806 - Youth Development; 903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery;

Subject Of Investigation
6099 - People and communities, general/other;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
We have two main goals when it comes to this project:Focus One - Iñupiaq Studies Program - This is Ilisagvik's flagship program and in the last five years, it has experienced significant growth, both in the number of classes we offer and enrollment. The goal is to hire an additional full-time faculty position in the Iñupiaq Studies, increasing capacity by 100% (we currently have one full-time faculty member), in order to serve students more effectively. Ilisagvik is also seeking funding to expand its Iñupiaq Studies supplies, so that the new courses we implement as a result of augmented capacity will be appropriately outfitted.Focus Two - Cross-Disciplinary Institutional Administrative Capacity - To improve our ability to both deliver instruction in FANH disciplines and streamline some administrative functions that will support student recruitment, retention, and educational equity, I?isa?vik College seeks to provide more accessibility measures (ADA) in distance education through a digital service (Level Access), and transition to a completely digitized and interactive academic catalog system, moving away from paper and static PDF copies that do not serve current students well and confuse potential new students.
Project Methods
To accomplish this project, we will focus on four key areas under the two foci:Focus One - Iñupiaq Studies Program GrowthFocus Two - Cross-Disciplinary Institutional Administrative CapacityObjective: Build capacity in the Iñupiaq Studies Program with a new full-time faculty member to better serve students and accommodate program growth.Results/Outputs:Increase the number of Iñupiaq Studies classes over four years by 17%Increase the number of Iñupiaq students enrolled over four years by 16%Develop one new Iñupiaq traditional knowledge class.Objective: Build capacity and improve institutional functions to better serve FANH students, both prospective and current.Results/Outputs:Utilize Level Access accessibility software to improve accessibility measures within digital curriculum in I?isa?vik's LMS (Moodle) and on its website.Research and implement a new online academic catalog system for better student user experience and more up-to-date informationProject Director Walls will work closely with the Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr. Peter Snow, and Assistant Professor of Iñupiaq Studies, Jerica Leavitt, to identify and hire a suitable faculty candidate. These three individuals will work closely with the new faculty member to onboard successfully and look to thoughtfully expanding the number of classes offered under the program.Under Focus Two, Project Director Walls will work with the Dean of Administration, Nicole Evans, and the Director of Technology, Monica Lugo, to roll out the softwares that will focus on accessibility support and better user experiences for students. Once an online catalog system is selected, the Director of Technology will work closely with the Dean of Academic Affairs and I?isa?vik's Marketing Department to migrate the current catalog information (policies, classes, etc.) for beta testing. Ilisavik plans to test the system internally and with a focus group of students, then make improvements based on feedback (changing the design or organization as needed), and then rolling out the online academic catalog officially.For evaluation, I?isa?vik College will use both qualitative and quantitative methods of evaluation while executing this project, both of which adhere to the standards set forth by the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). Regarding qualitative assessment, an evaluation method called Mapkuqput Inuuniagnigmi will be used (developed locally on the North Slope). In regard to quantitative assessment, the project will rely on outcomes-based assessment methodologies that involve data, statistical analysis, and evaluation of enrollment metrics. We'll use beta-testing surveys and student focus groups to measure satisfaction and provide feedback on institutional process improvements before committing to systemic changes. We have an internal team for evaluation, and will likely contract with an external evaluator the last two years of the project.

Progress 09/01/24 to 08/31/25

Outputs
Target Audience:The Target Audience is our student body, which approximately 1,300 students per year, 63% of whom are Alaska Native or Native American, and about 4% are Native Hawaiian. The students are primarily in the age range of 25-35, with the second largest group being traditional college age (18-24). During this reporting period, we served approximately 175 students with Inupiaq Studies classes. Changes/Problems:As previously noted in this report, we have had trouble finding and hiring a full-time Inupiaq Studies faculty member. We have bridged that gap with more adjunct instructors and support. We have redone the job description and are posting it August 1 to begin the process to find someone for Spring 2026. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Each year Ilisagvik College produces an Annual Report, and there is a dedicated section for Inupiaq Studies. We published that Report in January 2024, reflecting the last year. The new Annual Report for this project period will be published in December or January of this year/next year and reflect on Inupiaq Studies' number of enrollements, classes, and more. Additionally, the online catalog implemented during this project has been shared with our communities and students, so that is now available at this website: https://catalog.ilisagvik.edu/ What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue our efforts to find a full-time Inupiaq Studies faculty member, especially with the revised job description and new program developments. We will also continue to purchase curriculum supplies needed for the growth in Inupiaq Studies, and support student experiential learning with the small pot of travel funds.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Focus One: Ilisagvik College has had many challenges in securing a full-time Inupiaq Studies faculty member. In the interim, we have secured a new adjunct to help with capacity-building (In Fall 2024 and Spring 2025), and as of this summer, we have retooled the job description for the full-time Inupiaq Studies role so that we can re-engage in a job hunt/campaign to find the right person. The role will be focused on Inupiaq history, Tribal governance, and Inupiaq language, and we are excited to hopefully secure someone for the Spring 2026 semester. In the interim, our Inupiaq Studies Chair has been hard at work on augmenting the program by adding six new classes (approved by Ilisagvik's curriculum council in Spring 2025, with most scheduled to run in Fall 2025 with adjunct support). The classes are listed below: New Course: UNA 121: Introduction to Unangam Tunuu Course description: This course is designed to introduce students to learning the eastern dialect of Unangam Tunuu. It focuses on developing elementary vocabulary and meaningful conversations about topics such as greetings, food, likes and dislikes, and hobbies. This course is designed to create the building blocks for students to participate in casual conversation. New Course: INU 113: Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Course Description: This course provides an overview of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANSCA) of 1971, including the history, implementation, and legacy. ANCSA corporations, land rights and management, and contemporary issues will be explored. New Course: INU 194: Cultural Knowledge of Native Elders and Community Members Course Description: This course will present students with aspects of traditional knowledge and values as shared by Native Elders and community members. The course will utilize oral presentations, books, articles, and audio recordings to explore past and current cultural traditions. New Course: INU 218: Topics in Inupiaq Studies Course Description: Exploration of various topics in Iñupiaq Studies, including topical and thematic explorations of Iñupiaq history, culture, self-determination, identity, folktales, language, and values. The course may involve multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary approaches with a grounding in Iñupiaq ways of knowing and/or through an Indigenous lens. Research, writing, and presentations may be required. (Prerequisite: ENGL 111 or concurrent enrollment in ENGL 111). New Course: INU 109: Qulliq (Seal Oil Lamp) Carving Students will learn how to hand carve and customize a qulliq (seal oil lamp) and learn to light it utilizing traditional and contemporary materials. This course also covers the history and traditional stories relating to the qulliq. New Course: INU 223: Tribal Governance Course Description: This course is an introduction to the study of tribal government and politics in Alaska, including tribal legislative, judicial, and administrative responsibilities. The course will review concepts of federal Indian law and land claims, including ANCSA. Self-determination and self-governance for building and enhancing tribal governments will also be discussed. Focus Two Ilisagvik has been reaping the benefits of implementing both Level Access (to assist us with accessibility and ADA compliance) and Clean Catalog, a very useful online catalog database that has greatly improved student access and academic advising. These two administrative improvements have inspired us to look at other technological and digital areas, and we are currently investigating a program mapping software to additionally help with academic advising.

Publications


    Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

    Outputs
    Target Audience:The Target Audience is our student body, which approximately 1,300 students per year, 64% of whom are Alaska Native or Native American, and about 4% are Native Hawaiian. The students are primarily in the age range of 25-35, with the second largest group being traditional college age (18-24). During this reporting period, we served approximately 220 students with Inupiaq Studies classes. Changes/Problems:As previously noted in this report, we have had trouble finding and hiring a full-time Inupiaq Studies faculty member. We have bridged that gap with more adjunct instructors and support. We are still communicating with potential candidates in the community who have the requisite skill sets (cultural arts and language background; teaching background) and will hopefully work towards securing someone full-time by AY 25-26. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Each year Ilisagvik College produces an Annual Report, and there is a dedicated section for Inupiaq Studies. We published that Report in January 2024, reflecting the last year. The new Annual Report for this project period will be published in December or January of this year/next year and reflect on Inupiaq Studies' number of enrollements, classes, and more. Additionally, the new online catalog has been shared with our communities and students, so that is now available at this website: https://catalog.ilisagvik.edu/ What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue our efforts to find a full-time Inupiaq Studies faculty member, and, if it does not seem like it will be successful, we will continue to bridge the growth divide with adjunct instructors as we accommodate more enrollments and add classes. We will also continue to purchase curriculum supplies needed for the growth in Inupiaq Studies, and support student experiential learning with the small pot of travel funds. This year we took students to the AIHEC gathering in March, and we will do that again next year (or another appropriate gathering or conference).

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? 1. Focus One: Under Focus One, we have had to pivot slightly from the original goal, as we have not yet found someone to become a full-time Inupiaq Studies faculty member. However, we have hired additional adjunct instructors in art, crafting, and language to make up the gap at this time. Utilizing NIFA ANNH resources, we were able to continue to support to the growth of Inupiaq Studies program in AY 23-24. We continue to look for a full-time Inupiaq Studies faculty member and hope that the few individuals who would be appropriate on the North Slope may become interested. We also purchased supplies for sewing and art-based Inupiaq Studies classes. 2. Focus Two: We have contracted with Level Access and will pay the invoice in July 2024. Level Access helps us provide more accessibility measures and remain compliant with our digital resources (website, MyCampus, etc.). We also just launched our online catalog as of June 2024. We contracted with Clean Catalog. You can see our new beautiful and dynamic catalog here: https://catalog.ilisagvik.edu/

    Publications