UW Tacoma holds conference on Native peoples in higher education

University of Washington Tacoma will hold its first conference on higher education and Native Americans, Tuesday, Oct. 7 at Carwein Auditorium. The all-day conference features presentations that highlight contemporary issues facing Native people in higher education, such as the absence of Native heritage and history in academic courses and literature.

Native American students, many of whom have grown up in tribal communities, often experience a clash of cultures upon entering college, said Sharon Parker, UW Tacoma assistant chancellor for the Office for Equity and Diversity, which organized the conference. "Part of our job as administrators and faculty," she said, "is to create an environment where Native communities can see themselves reflected."

Native students and community members are invited to visit the campus, and tours will be given from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

At 12:30 p.m. Cheryl Crazy Bull, president of Northwest Indian College and chair of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, will give the keynote address on the conference theme. The keynote address will be followed by two sets of concurrently run workshops geared to two audiences: students and families from area tribes, and UW Tacoma faculty and staff.

In the first set of workshops, "Reaching and Retaining Native Students," participants will consider the kinds of outreach activities that will enable university staff and faculty to build successful relationships with tribal communities and students. "Getting in and Staying in the University: What Native Students Need to Know," also in the first workshop set, will explore the processes surrounding admission, enrollment and application for financial aid.

The second set of workshops includes a panel discussion on various careers, the reasons behind choosing a particular career, and key lessons from the work place.

In another workshop, "The University Experience: Observations Of UW Tacoma Native Alumni," a panel of graduates will offer their insights about university life at UW Tacoma.

Parker said that both audience groups would benefit from the final panel discussion about how education can prepare students for careers in, or working with, tribal government. This workshop has implications for curriculum and students who seek careers working with tribal communities.