Progress 09/15/23 to 09/14/24
Outputs
Target Audience:We've completed our 2nd year of the grant cycle with our students and staff. One of our goals the students decided was to create a medicine garden for students to have access to traditional medicines. The traditional medicines involve cedar, tobacco, sweetgrass and sage. We worked on a partnership with Nokomis Cultural Heritage Center to house the traditional medicine garden, where students and community will be welcomed to take care of the garden once grown. Nokomis Cultural Heritage Center is a non-profit facility which provides a community center for for surrounding Indigenous peoples to gather including have cultural events for the general public. Our student group this year was comprised of 3 graduate students attaining their doctorate degrees and 1 undergraduate student. All will be returning next year to facilitate programming. We had 2 meetings per month for the spring semester term and completed several events. One event was with the planetarium where Anishinaabe stories were told through the constilations of the stars. We had 20 people for the planetariam showing. Another event we had was making pottery and painting event for the members, we had 6 people attend the event. I applied to the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity and my presentation was accepted for the 2024 conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. I shared about the grant and our learnings from our experiences and students. For the summer, we have begun recruiting for the incoming classes of 2024. We've attended Green and White days which is a week long program for incoming freshman students. We recieved interest from 3 students. We plan to attend 3 more recruitment events in August and September to gain more members. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We had conversations on internships and interviewing skills with the students. The students attended a career fair where companies from around the world were in attendance including many university representatives. The students were able to make connections with prospective job opportunities and consider graduate study. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The progress of the grant was expressed in the presentation at the national conference on race and ethnicity, including in our September newsletter for the college of agriculture and natural resources. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Our goal is to get new students involved through recruitment to help grow the membership. We'll have two of our student members graduating in the spring of 2025. We plan to take interested students to the national AISES conference in San Antonio to have the opportunity to network and get job prospects.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The program has 5 students in our program and hold officer positions in AISES. The students are being mentored by two MSU staff members throughout the year. They are also employed in science based internships working with faculty at our university. The students decided to have events centering around culture and building relationship through community. The students and staff had 2 programs, one with the planetarium that had stories from Anishinaabe culture and a pottery class. Mentorship was present through conversations on school, career, summer plans and family. The students and staff communicate regularly 1:1 and in a group style in a phone app that is connected to everyone. The phone app helps with getting in touch with staff outside of email. In June 2024, we have begun recruiting efforts for for new students to be part of the program.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Sorroche, E (2024). Rethinking Approaches with Native American and Indigenous Students in Universities: National Conference on Race and Ethnicity 2024.
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Progress 09/15/22 to 09/14/23
Outputs
Target Audience:Our effort requires recruitment of students, several of our members graduated in May 2023. We attended 4 major events with attnedance of over 400 students at each event, and were able to recruit a few interested members. We continued to plan bi-weekly meetings each month, with 2 events for the public to enjoy. Our target is to recruit American Indian, Alaskan Native, Indigenous students with an interest in STEM fields, the organization is open to all. We have identified ourselves under the organization called American Indian Science and Engineering Society and are a registered student organization. Changes/Problems:One problem is recruitment of members, has remained relatively small. We hope to gain new members and have been working on creative ways to accomodate. One effort is allowing hybrid options, for those to connect with the advisors through this mechanism. It's boosted our attendance with the flexibility of hybrid options. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The students met with both myself and my collegue, who serves as an academic advisor and we engage on topics of professionalism, career related advice, job outlook, job application process, interview questions and support/encouragement. When the students attended the AISES National Conference, the students were exposed to representatives from college to national STEM organizations to discuss either graduate school or job opportunities wiht the companies. There were over 500 representatives at the career networking portion of the conference. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?When the students graduated in May of 2023, there was a graduation booklet published which discussed the accomplishments of the students and future goals of whats next. There were 3 students whom graduated with honors that were a member of the grant/organization. Recently, there was a student spotlight feature on one of the members, who is serving in the president role of the organization. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue to provide career related mentoring initatives, bringing in guest speakers and create additional networking opportunities to the students. There will be more conferences for the students to attend as well.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The organziation has provided a system of support, sense of belonging, retention initiatives, connection to community and to their Indigenous roots and career advice/options. The students have been exposed to a number of career professionals in STEM because of the grant/organization initiatives. The students were able to attend the American Indian Science and Engineering Society National Conference because of the grant, including one of our students was is now a regional representative which provides addtional leadership education. The students networked with STEM and Agricultural companies from around the country, and now have identified pathways of success through the mentoring initaitve. Another goal was to connect career activities through culture whereas there is a project initative of a traditional medicine garden. The garden has been approved by the Department of Horticulture and is being planned to be placed in the gardens on campus. The students and I are continuing to work on this with the Department Chair on implementation including materials needed.
Publications
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
https://sle.msu.edu/news/msu-chapter-aises
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Progress 09/15/21 to 09/14/22
Outputs
Target Audience:I've been working on getting the budget finalized, there were a few gaps in how the grant was originally written. Dr. Rivera was able to get the budget to work over the duration of the grant. We learned that our names were not reflected on the grant therefore we weren't able to make the nessesary changes in the USDA system. Dr. Sorroche is currently recruiting students to be in the program, there is a breif survey students will complete in order to know their goals a mentor. With the information gained from the students, Dr. Sorroche and team will begin matching the students with faculty members. Changes/Problems:We had a major change of leadership within the grant. There were two members of the original team that are no longer working at the university. I was asked to become PI of the grant project then proceeded to learn what the grant was all about. I had to find another co-PI as well since there was one more position to fill. We also found a accountant to help faciitate the monetary end of the grant and someone who has experience facilitating grants like this one. This took several months to achieve and get the proper names on the account, because of the length of time the program was not able to start as quickly as we would've liked. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results were disseminated to the communities by attendingannual meetings and circulated through email. I attended and facilitated the welcome event for the Indigenous community, where the program was introduced to students, faculty and staff. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Next, will be recruiting the students and determining which faculty member will be a good fit. I plan to host a orientation to help facilitate the beginning of the mentor relationship. We also plan to host a mentor traning for faculty if they find it helpful to the match.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The project was advertised through the Michigan Consortium Tribal Education Directors and with Michigan Indian Education Council. The program was also advertised to the students who identify as American Indian.
Publications
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Progress 09/15/20 to 09/14/21
Outputs
Target Audience:
Nothing Reported
Changes/Problems:The pandemic stifled much of the work--resulting in a one-year extension request. The restructuring of the Native American Institute out of the College of Agriculture into the Provost Office has impacted the timeline of the work (see above). What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
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?In July 2021, the project team was granted a one-year extension. The one-year extension request came as a result of the pandemic. COVID-19 has directly and indirectly impacted the progress of this project in the following ways: (1) illness, deaths, and hospitalizations among the project leadership team's families, (2) university-wide transition to remote learning, and (3) staffing changes coupled with a university hiring freeze. In August of 2021, the Native American Institute was notified of restructuring. The unit has been moved out of the College of Agriculture into the Provost Office. With this shift, the PI team has decided the work will remain within the College of Agriculture and a new PI will be replaced. Currently, the project is in a positive place to move forward under new leadership with an extension on the work. ?
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Although the pandemic impacted much of the progress of the work, the PI team utilized the time to develop alternative plans to move forward (see below).
Publications
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