January 8-9 CTL Workshop on Native Student Success Registration now open!

The Center for Teaching and Learning warmly invites you to a very special event January 8-9.  We are hosting a 2-day workshop on Native American Higher Education Student Success.  This workshop will take place in the Neuharth Media Center, and features Michael Fire, Ph.D, and a team of researchers:

Michael Fire, Ph.D., MPH, RN is an elder of the Cheyenne Arapaho Tribe of Oklahoma, a retired military officer, and former Chief of Staff of the Oklahoma Area Office for Indian Health Services.  He brings a lifetime of experience as a Native American educator, health administrator, and clinical practitioner.

Nancy Fire, Ed.D. is a Faculty Development Specialist at the University of North Texas, whose work is focused on integrating cultural and life experiences into learning, and about virtual learning and Native American students.

Amy Fann, Ph.D. has focused her research on college access within American Indian communities.  Her postdoctoral research has been funded through the University of California and looks at the role of higher education in advancing tribal economic development and self-determination, and tribally designed higher education initiatives.

Registration details are below.  The schedule is as follows:

Workshop on Native American Higher Education Student Success
Context:  This workshop is framed by two streams of action.  The first is the continuing conversation that the University of South Dakota has been having for many years on how to best serve Native students.  The second is the CTL's commitment to Inclusive Excellence, which is our determination to (among other things) establish inclusive habits of teaching and learning.  Undergirding all of this is my belief that as we improve our ability to understand and teach Native students, we improve our ability to serve all of our students.

January 8 (Day 1)
 4:00-4:15:  Consecration/blessing of learning space (Gene Thin Elk)
 4:15-5:00pm Keynote:  Native American Higher Education Student Success:  Presentation and Q and A (Amy Fann)

January 9 (Day 2):
9:00-10:30  Talking with your Native American Students:  Panel and discussion (Michael Fire)

10:30-10:40 Break

10:40-12:00: What Research Tells Us about Native American Student Learning using Native Ways of Knowing (NWOK):  Presentation/Activities and Q & A (Nancy Fire)

12:00-1:15:  Lunch and discussion:  Our Ways of Knowing:  Reflecting on Our Own Ways of Learning and Understanding (facilitated by Nancy Fire).  Lunch provided for all who pre-register.

1:15-2:30:  Experiential Learning and Incorporating NWOK in assignments (Nancy Fire)

2:30-2:40:  Break

2:40-3:45:  Purposeful Student-faculty Interactions: Becoming an Integral Part of your Students’ Learning (Michael Fire)

3:45-4:00 Closing: Blessing (Gene Thin Elk)

We strongly encourage you to attend as much of this as possible.  Drop ins are welcome!

You may register for this event by emailing us at (ctl@usd.edu) or calling us at 605-677-5411.  Only those who are pre-registered may participate in the lunch session on Friday.  If you need accommodations to participate in any of these events, contact disability services at 605 677-6389 at least 48 hours in advance.  Due to the highly interactive nature of this workshop, it will not be offered through Collaborate.  The CTL is also using a new card-swipe system to track attendance, please bring your faculty ID card!