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Wokini Initiative Five-Year Plan

Goals and Projects

The Wokini Five-year Plan Fiscal Year 2018-2022 consists of three goals. Each is designed to provide a holistic approach to advancing American Indian student success as well as building effective partnerships with tribal communities of South Dakota.

Goal 1:

Transform SDSU to create a welcoming environment for American Indians by increasing SDSU’s staff/faculty capacity, knowledge and understanding of Oceti Sakowin history and culture through training, professional development and other learning and networking opportunities.

  • Examine SDSU policies and practices and, if necessary, make recommendations for changes based on adherence to principles of diversity, access, inclusion and equity.

    • Summer 2018: Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL) Director and Wokini Program Director
    • Summer/Fall 2018: Provost, Vice President of Research and Economic Development and Wokini Program Director
  • Develop and implement an annual training calendar on priority topics for staff and faculty using CETL; Office of Diversity Inclusion, Equity and Access; American Indian Student Center and American Indian Studies input and collaboration.

    • Fiscal Year 2021-22: CETL Director, American Indian Student Center (AISC) Director and Wokini Program Director

  • Collaborate with existing grant opportunities to develop and deliver professional development focused on cultural competency for researchers on a consistent and annual basis.

    • Fiscal Year 2018-19: CETL Director, AISC Director, American Indian Studies Coordinator and Wokini Program Director

  • Create subsequent professional development programming including, but not limited to, myths versus facts and perpetuating the stereotypical “Indian,” first-generation college students, poverty, historical trauma and adverse childhood experiences, and current issues facing tribal communities and American Indians.
    • Fiscal Year 2018-19: President’s Council, Wokini Leadership Council and Office of Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Access
  • Provide professional development opportunities for faculty and staff with a focus of Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings which include:
    • Lands and environment
    • Identity and resiliency
    • Culture and language
    • Kinship and harmony
    • Oral tradition and story
    • Sovereignty and treaties
    • Way of life and development

Goal 2:

Improve American Indian student enrollment and success by providing effective support in all aspects of the university experience to increase the number of American Indian graduates.

Steadily increase American Indian student enrollment and Wokini scholarships awarded:

  • Summer/Fall 2018: President, Marshall Matz and S.D. Congressional Delegation
  • Begin Summer 2018: President, SDSU Foundation Vice President for Development and Wokini Program Director

Year

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

Scholarships

$115,000

$305,000

$570,000

$870,000

$1,170,000

Programming

$50,000

$50,000

$50,000

$50,000

$50,000

  • Introduce and promote 2019 USDA Farm Bill funding for "New Beginnings," which provides $5 million annually to land-grant universities and TCUs ($500K/institution) who engage in Wokini-like programs.
    • Begin construction Fall 2018, Occupancy January 2020: Associate Vice President for Facilities and Services and AISC Director
  • Collaborate with fundraising campaigns to ensure required resources are available for scholarships and programming: 
    • Fiscal Year 2019-20: Provost, Vice President of Research and Economic Development, Director of Extension, AISC Director and Wokini Program Director
  • Design and build a stand-alone American Indian Student Center to enhance student connections with one another and the university. 
    • Begin Summer 2018: AISC Director and Director of Admissions
  • Create opportunities for American Indian students to become involved in research endeavors both on campus and within tribal communities.
    • Begin Summer 2018: AISC Director and Director of First-Year Advising
  • Enhance student recruitment initiatives for American Indian Students to include effective prospective student outreach and recruitment and pre-college programs.
    • Begin Fall 2018: Provost, Vice President Student Affairs, AISC Director and Director of Admissions
  • Provide effective and targeted academic advising, counseling, mentoring and supplemental instruction in key life skills. 
    • Begin Fall 2018: Provost, Vice President Student Affairs, AISC Director and Director of Admissions
  • Continue providing Wokini scholarships for TCU faculty to support the TCUs goal of strengthening faculty credentials.
    • Begin Fall 2018: Provost, Vice President Student Affairs, AISC Director and Director of Admissions

Year

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

Enrollment

275

325

375

425

500

Scholarships Awarded

15

45

90

150

210

  • Provide Wokini scholarships for TCU students who have:
    • completed an Associate’s degree and are planning to pursue a four-year degree at SDSU or
    • completed an undergraduate degree and are pursing a master’s degree at SDSU.

Goal 3:

Strengthen university partnerships with tribal communities in South Dakota through trusting relationships, outreach, strategic networks and ongoing effective communication.

  • Establish a President’s Advisory Board consisting of tribal presidents/chairmen or designee from each of the nine Tribal Nations in South Dakota to advise SDSU on current issues/needs.

    • Fiscal Year 2021-22: Vice President of Research and Economic Development, Director of Extension and Wokini Program Director

    • Fiscal Year 2021-22: Vice President of Research and Economic Development, Director of Extension and Wokini Program Director

  • Develop and implement an annual tribal/TCU research partners’ communication plan to include communications from both SDSU and tribal researchers and other key stakeholders. Utilize a variety of methods including meetings, summit, phone conference, Skype and social media.

    • Fiscal Year 2018-19: Vice President of Research and Economic Development, Director of Extension and Wokini Program Director

  • Establish research-area-specific cohorts that include both SDSU and TCU/tribal community members to establish effective lines of communication and collaboration.

    • Fiscal Year 2018-19: Director of Institutional Research, Director of Extension and Wokini Program Director

  • Develop a long-term research/development strategy with interested TCUs.

    • Fiscal Year 2018: Office of Academic Affairs

  • Create an online accessible database with a complete inventory of SDSU Extension and research programs including AIs and tribal communities.

    • Summer 2018: President and Wokini Program Director

  • Develop and maintain a memorandum of understanding and articulation agreements with TCUs.

    • Fall 2018: President and Wokini Program Director

  • Establish relationships with key stakeholders in tribal communities to build collaborative working relationships focused on the achievement of mutual goals.