Source: UNIV OF IDAHO submitted to
UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO PATH TO WISDOM: CULTIVATING INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE THROUGH FAMILY AND COMMUNITY
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1031513
Grant No.
2023-70411-41166
Cumulative Award Amt.
$276,767.00
Proposal No.
2023-05949
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 18, 2023
Project End Date
Sep 17, 2026
Grant Year
2023
Program Code
[NBTS]- New Beginning for Tribal Students
Project Director
Bisbee, Y. J.
Recipient Organization
UNIV OF IDAHO
875 PERIMETER DRIVE
MOSCOW,ID 83844-9803
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The University of Idaho NBTS Path of Wisdom:Cultivating Indigenous Knowledge through Family and Community will explore the integration of Indigenous Research intor course curriculum to increase enrollment and rentention of Tribal NBTS scholars in Agricultural , Natural Resources, Food, Human and Health Science (ANFHS) Fields. The project objectives are 1) Provide effective culturally relevant services to NBTS NBTS students to support recruitment and retention, 2) UI NBTS students will participate in courses focused on Indigenous Research and Colleges Success with and emphasis on cultural identity, 3) 25 Tribal students will be recruited to be enroll by the fall of Year 2. 4) 25 of the NBTS students will be provided Academic and Support Services for Year 2 & 3, 5) 25NBTS Students will be provided financial guidance; 6) 100% of the UI NBTS Students will receive experience and knowled of ANFHS degrees and career options during their first year at UI. By Providing culturally responsive recruitment and retention activities that are inclusive of their families it is hypothisized that the students involved in the NBTS will be reatined to degree compeltion.
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
00100010001100%
Knowledge Area
001 - Administration;

Subject Of Investigation
0001 - Administration;

Field Of Science
0001 - Administration;
Goals / Objectives
The goal of the project will be to increase family knowledge on college readiness, improve the "go-on rates" by addressing Tribal high school and college engagement, personal, institutional, and financial challenges that often lead to stopping out or drop out. During the project year, coordinated efforts with the Academic Support Programs, Career Services, and Tribal community members will provide critical support through academic coaching and career exploration, as well as other existing UI support services.Objective 1. Cultural Relevant services: UI NBTS will provide effective culturally relevant services to NBTS students to support recruitment and retention.Objective 2. Research: UI NBTS students will participate in courses focused on Indigenous Research and College Success with an emphasis on cultural identity.Objective 3. Recruitment: 25 Tribal students will be recruited to be enrolled by the fall of Year 2.Objective 4. Retention Services: 25 of the NBTS Students will be provided Academic and support services.?Year 2 & 3Objective 5: Financial assistance:25 NBTS Students will be provided financial guidance.Objective 6: 100% of the UI NTBS Students will receive experience and knowledge of ANFHS degrees and career options during their first year at UI.
Project Methods
The objectives of the project will be achieved by providing culturally responsive activities for freshman college Tribal students. Culturally responsive outreach, recruitment, academic activities, supporting services, and financial assistance will be provided for NBTS Scholars to support knowledge of ANFHS and continuation in post-secondary education. The identified methods of support are geared to serve limited-income, first-generation Tribal students from targeted MOU Tribal communities.

Progress 09/18/23 to 09/17/24

Outputs
Target Audience:UI NBTS Path to Wisdom conductedoutreach and recruitment efforts at high schools within the target areas of the 11 MOU Tribes. This outreach and recruitment was conducted in partnership with established relationships with the Tribe'sHigher Education Managers/Directors andliaisons. Public school within the target area we contacted and visits were set up to present to Tribal students. Changes/Problems:As stated previously, the NBTS: Path to Wisdom has encourted a year delay in starting up the project. This has significantly impacted the budget as there were no expenditures on the grant. Acheivement of the goals has been previously outlined and it is anticipated that draw down of funds will begin immediately with the hiring of the retention specialist as defined in the grant. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Information on the project has been disseminated every semester to the 11 MOU Tribes including information to the Tribal Council and Higher education programs through our President's Native American Advisory Board and Tribal recruitment evnets, NBTS Stakeholders/Advisory Board, and UI Administration via our Project Director. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Due to the vacancy of the director and vacant recruitment and retention specialist positions, Path to Wisdom is a year delayed in starting. With the appointment of the New Native American Student Center Director and the hiring of the Recruitment Specialist and Retention Specialist, the goal will be to achieve the following objectives by September 17, 2025: 25 Tribal students will be recruited 25 Tribal Students will be provided retention services 25 NBTS students will be provided financial guidance Spring Semester Indigenous Research Course will be developed and ready to implement Currently, the Recruitment Specialist has communicated andvisited with several tribal communities for outreach and engagment, and the New Director has a framework for the development the Indigenous Research class for the Spring. Although there has been turnover in administrative leadership, retention services and financial guidance has been sustained due to the efforts of the Native American Student Center Program Coordinator in preparation for future Tribal NBTS Scholars.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? NBTS Path to Wisdom will work to improve the go-on rates of Tribal high school students through culturally responsive outreach and engageement activiities. For year 1 of the Path to Wisdom project, there has been a challenge in recruitment due to the vacancy of the Native American Student Center Director in December of 2024. This greatly impacted hiring of vacant positions in the center and achievement of project objectives. In April of 2024, a new Native American Student Center Director was hired to begin to evaluate and implement strategies to continue to meet the project objectives. Upon the Director's arrival, arecruiting specialistwas immedialty hired with the support from previous NBTS grant funding. The new recruiting specialistbegan recruitment effortsto achieve the first year recruitment objectives of the Path to Wisdom project.Before the previous Director'sdeparture, recruitment was implemented to the 11 MOU Tribes but follow up was a challenge due to lack of staffing. With the support of previous NBTS grants, the Path to Wisdom has been able to sustain the student support services that have been developed and utilize for this project.

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