Source: KEWEENAW BAY OJIBWA COMMUNITY COLLEGE submitted to
THE BAMI’AAGANAG PROJECT: NEW BEGINNINGS FOR TRIBAL STUDENTS AT KEWEENAW BAY OJIBWA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1031358
Grant No.
2023-70411-40931
Cumulative Award Amt.
$250,000.00
Proposal No.
2023-05955
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2023
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2027
Grant Year
2023
Program Code
[NBTS]- New Beginning for Tribal Students
Project Director
Nordstrom, A.
Recipient Organization
KEWEENAW BAY OJIBWA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
111 BEAR TOWN RD
BARAGA,MI 49908
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The Bami'aaganag Project (Supported Ones Project) aims to support our Tribal students by increasing culturally relevant holistic supports to both recruit and retain Native American students and keep those students on track for graduation. This project is a high priority for our college. We feel that the increased support we are proposing will increase the connectedness those students will feel with our organization, and that in turn will help enable them to stay on the course and graduate. The project will measure the graduation rate for Tribal students at the beginning and the end of the performance period.This project has several aims including providing support services that are holistic, tailored, culturally based, family-centered, and community-focused. Support for Tribal students will occur through a variety of avenues, including institutional financial commitments to reduce disparity for low-income, Tribal enrolled students. These steps would be integral to this project and would enhance the experience that Tribal students encounter at our college, increasing their success overall. Our project has four main goals: hire an Anishinaabe Cultural Advisor, hire a Student Support Coordinator/Advisor, promote student mental health through the use of UWill Mental Health Services, and encourage Tribal students to attend and graduate through removal of financial barriers by way of our KBOCC Scholarship.
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
90360993020100%
Knowledge Area
903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery;

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

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
The Bami'aaganag Project (Supported Ones Project) aims to support our Tribal students by increasing culturally relevant holistic supports to both recruit and retain Native American students and keep those students on track for graduation. This project is a high priority for our college. We feel that the increased support we are proposing will increase the connectedness those students will feel with our organization, and that in turn will help enable them to stay on the course and graduate. The project will measure the graduation rate for Tribal students at the beginning and the end of the performance period.This project has several aims including providing support services that are holistic, tailored, culturally based, family-centered, and community-focused. Support for Tribal students will occur through a variety of avenues, including institutional financial commitments to reduce disparity for low-income, Tribal enrolled students. These steps would be integral to this project and would enhance the experience that Tribal students encounter at our college, increasing their success overall.Our project has four main goals:1. Hire an Anishinaabe Cultural Advisor,2. Hire a Student Support Coordinator/Advisor3. Promote student mental health through the use of UWill Mental Health Services, and encourage Tribal students to attend.4. Removal of financial barriers by way of our KBOCC Scholarship.
Project Methods
The Bami'aaganag (Supported Ones) Project aims to help boost the retention and graduation rates of our Tribal students. KBOCC currently has a graduation rate of 21% overall, with a specific graduation rate of 25% for our Native students. While our student body has increased in the last few years, our graduation rate is based on the number of students who enter and graduate within their three-year cohort (as a two-year institution, that is 150% of normal time). We expect that burgeoning student enrollment may help to increase these numbers as we reach those three-year benchmarks. Through this project we aim to keep those students enrolled and on-track to graduate in their respective cohort timeframes.The Cultural Advisor will develop and facilitate student cultural, social and academic supportive activities as part of an overall and forthcoming Anishinaabe student success and retention strategy. The Advisor will work collaboratively across departments to engage students with culturally appropriate academic and support initiatives to help with the transition to KBOCC. The Advisor will develop, deliver, and assess a wide range of social and cultural programming and family-oriented events and activities for Anishinaabe students at KBOCC.The Student Support Coordinator is responsible for managing the enrollment process for students and providing added assistance to the financial aid, enrollment, and admissions offices. This position will communicate with department chairs and faculty regarding advising and curricular issues, and coordinate and oversee the academic alert process. This person will also oversee mentoring for our Tribal students who receive the KBOCC Scholarship.KBOCC students' growth is measured by academic success and, in equal part, their social, physical, spiritual and emotional well-being. Research shows that historical traumas of colonization and forced assimilation, particularly through education, exist within tribal communities and are passed on from generation to generation resulting in lower health outcomes and disparities among tribal populations. The UWill program offers an immediate appointment with a licensed therapist based on student preferences and a direct crisis connection. UWill has modernized and enhanced the current mental health campus offerings by creating a two-sided technology-based platform connecting students with experienced mental health professionals for when the need arises 24/7.The KBOCC Scholarship will be implemented to eliminate financial barriers for our Tribal students. This scholarship will cover all tuition, textbooks, and fees incurred for federally enrolled Tribal Members that are not able to receive other sources of financial aid or have exhausted Federal Student Aid.

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

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of our efforts for this project are our Tribal students. Students served for this reporting period were: 120 unduplicated Native students/109 unduplicated Non-Native students Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?? Cultural Competency Training: Description: Workshops and training sessions aimed at educating faculty and staff on Anishinaabe culture and other Native American cultures. Training on culturally sensitive teaching methods and communication strategies. Outcomes: Improved cultural awareness and sensitivity among college staff. Enhanced ability to provide culturally relevant support and education to Tribal students. ? Professional Development for Staff: Description: Opportunities for faculty and staff to attend conferences, seminars, and workshops focused on best practices in supporting Indigenous students. Training on holistic and tailored support services, including mental health, academic advising, and community engagement. Outcomes: Staff equipped with the latest knowledge and skills to support Tribal students effectively. Increased competency in addressing the unique challenges faced by Native American students. ? Student Support Coordinator/Advisor Training: Description: Specialized training for newly hired Student Support Coordinators/Advisors on providing holistic, culturally based, and family-centered support. Training on the use of specific tools and resources available for student support, such as the UWill Mental Health Services. Outcomes: Coordinators/Advisors are better prepared to address the specific needs of Tribal students. Enhanced ability to guide students through academic and personal challenges. ? Community and Family Engagement Workshops: Description: Workshops focused on engaging with the families and communities of Tribal students to create a supportive network. Training on strategies to involve family and community members in the students' educational journey. Outcomes: Strengthened support system for Tribal students through active family and community involvement. Increased student motivation and retention due to strong community ties. ? Financial Aid and Scholarship Training: Description: Training for staff on managing and promoting financial aid programs, including the KBOCC Scholarship. Workshops for students on navigating financial aid applications and managing finances. Outcomes: Reduced financial barriers for Tribal students through better-informed staff and students. Increased accessibility to financial resources, improving student retention and graduation rates. ? Mental Health and Well-being Training: Description: Training sessions on promoting and supporting student mental health, including the use of UWill Mental Health Services. Workshops on identifying and addressing mental health issues within the context of Native American cultural values. Outcomes: Improved mental health support for Tribal students. Enhanced overall well-being and academic performance of students. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to improve on and enhance the work we have accomplished to further our goals.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Hire an Anishinaabe Cultural Advisor: Actions: Successfully recruited and hired an individual with a deep understanding of Anishinaabe culture. Integrated the Cultural Advisor into the institutional structure and established a dedicated space. Conducted orientation sessions or training programs for staff and students to introduce the Cultural Advisor and their role. Constructed a "teaching lodge" for students and staff to utilize Outcomes: Increased awareness and appreciation of Anishinaabe culture among students and staff. Development of cultural programs, workshops, and events led by the Cultural Advisor. Enhanced support for Anishinaabe students through culturally relevant guidance and resources. Hire a Student Support Coordinator/Advisor: Actions: Identified and employed a qualified professional to fill the role. Set up a support framework including office hours, counseling sessions, and academic advising. Established communication channels to ensure students are aware of the available support services. Outcomes: Improved academic performance and retention rates among students. Increased student engagement and satisfaction with the support services provided. More personalized and proactive support for students facing academic or personal challenges. Promote student mental health through the use of UWill Mental Health Services, and encourage Tribal students to attend: Actions: Partnered with UWill Mental Health Services to offer accessible mental health resources. Launched awareness campaigns to inform students about the mental health services available. Outcomes: Greater utilization of mental health services by the student body. Reduction in mental health issues reported by students, as measured through surveys or counseling records. Enhanced overall well-being and academic performance among Tribal students. Removal of financial barriers by way of our KBOCC Scholarship: Actions: Established or expanded the KBOCC Scholarship fund to provide financial aid to eligible students. Developed a clear application process and criteria for awarding the scholarships. Actively promoted the scholarship program to ensure students are aware of the opportunity. Outcomes: Increased number of students receiving financial aid, reducing their financial burden. Higher enrollment and retention rates, particularly among students who might otherwise be unable to afford tuition. Positive impact on the academic performance and graduation rates of scholarship recipients.

Publications