Resources for Native American students

Cassandra Griffin (Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe) is the Native American recruiter in the Office of Admissions and Recruitment. Contact Cassandra with any admissions questions at cwgriffin@wisc.edu.

The Badger Promise is a commitment to first-generation college students residing in Wisconsin.

The program guarantees a period of free tuition and segregated fees to those who have successfully transferred from any of the two-year UW Colleges or from liberal arts associate degree programs at Madison College (Madison Area Technical College), Milwaukee Area Technical College, Western Technical College, Nicolet College, College of Menominee Nation, and Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College.

Bucky’s Tuition Promise is a commitment to Wisconsin resident students. The program guarantees scholarships and grants to pay for tuition and segregated fees for students whose household adjusted gross income (AGI) is $60,000 or less. Incoming freshmen will receive eight consecutive semesters (four years) of free tuition and segregated fees and transfer students will receive four semesters (two years).

The Humanities Education for Anti-Racism Literacy in the Sciences and Medicine (HEAL) project, a 3-year project funded by the Mellon Foundation’s Just Futures Initiative, is a large, cross-racial and interdisciplinary team that seeks to improve equitable access to higher education by drawing on humanities research to advance anti-racist practices and pedagogy in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM). HEAL’s aim is to center the educational experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students to build more accurate narratives about histories of racism in the sciences and medicine to better understand persistent underrepresentation and to develop educational tools for building a more equitable university and society. Read more about HEAL.

Information Technology Academy (ITA) is a pre-college initiative with the goal of increasing enrollment rates of Native American students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. ITA programs serve students in the communities of Madison, Lac du Flambeau and Oneida.

Through ITA, high school students build knowledge and skills with hands-on training, academic support, mentoring, leadership development, community service and internship opportunities. for Lac du Flambeau, Madison-area, and Oneida ITA students.

Contact ITA staff Chris Kilgour.

The Native American Center for Health Professions (NACHP) works with prospective students, current students and health professionals to serve as a central location for opportunities of growth, professional development, mentorship, research and support. Their main goals are to:

1. Enhance recruitment of Native American students to UW health professional schools and programs
2. Improve the Native American health professional student experience
3. Establish and enhance Native American health education opportunities
4. Recruit, retain and develop Native American faculty
5. Grow Native American health academic programs, in both research and education, with tribal communities

NACHP staff advisors Melissa Metoxen (Oneida), Lauren Cornelius (Oneida), and Lina Martin (Ho-Chunk and Stockbridge-Munsee) support pre-med and medical students.

The Success Through Recruitment/Retention, Engagement, and Mentorship (STREAM) program was launched in 2017 to increase the number of Native American nurses in the workforce. Eligible undergraduates interested in participating in STREAM can complete a STREAM interest form here.

Kim Cornelius (Oneida) and Haley Burkhardt (St. Croix Ojibwe) support Native American nursing students and can be reached at STREAM@son.wisc.edu or 608-262-2334.

The Precollege Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence (PEOPLE) recruits students in 8th grade and partners with students to help them reach their goals of college attainment and degree completion.  PEOPLE consists of two programs:  one specific to precollege students and one specific to college scholars at UW–Madison.

Lina Martin (Ho-Chunk and Stockbridge-Munsee) supports Native American students on PEOPLE scholarships.

First-year interest groups, or FIGs, are academic learning communities designed specifically for first-year students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Each FIG is a unique cluster of UW classes, linked together to explore a common theme or topic. Find out about upcoming FIGs.

“Listening to Land: Indigenous Education, Language and Foodways,” a FIG offered in Fall 2021 and 2022, is centered around the question “What if our best teacher is all around us, even under our feet?”

The main seminar, Educational Policy Studies 150: “Land Education,” focuses on “land as first teacher” by considering Indigenous approaches to learning, Indigenous languages in relation to land, and the current environmental health of land. Course participants seek to live the principles of Indigenous learning through Indigenous foodways and experiential, place-based learning activities, including:

• Harvest activities with traditional corn, wild rice, and other Indigenous foods;
• Cooking workshops demonstrating traditional methods;
• UW–Madison First Nations cultural landscape tour;
• Field trips and other opportunities to engage with Native American community members.

First-year interest groups, or FIGs, are academic learning communities designed specifically for first-year students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Each FIG is a unique cluster of UW classes, linked together to explore a common theme or topic. Find out about upcoming FIGs.

“Earth Partnership, Indigenous Arts & Sciences: Restoration Education and Stewardship,” is a FIG that was offered in Fall 2021 and 2022.

The main seminar, Inter L&S 106: “Earth Partnership: Indigenous Arts & Sciences,” explores the intersection of indigenous knowledge and Western science as students experience the culture and ecology of place. The FIG seeks to foster an appreciation for the fundamental importance of diverse cultural perspectives and knowledge systems, as students examine our relationship with the environment. This experiential course incorporates respect and reciprocity for the land and our community through the process of ecological restoration and stewardship. The other courses in this FIG are meant to deepen understanding of these issues.

The Tree of Peace on Observatory Hill at UW–Madison was planted in 1988 by Mohawk Elder Tekaronianeken (Jake Swamp, or Where Two Skies Meet Together), Wolf Clan and former sub-chief of the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation. The tree is here to encourage unity and environmental stewardship. It provides us comfort, so please visit the tree if you need support. Read more about the Tree of Peace.

The Indigenous Student Center (formerly known as the American Indian Student and Cultural Center) is a place where Indigenous students and Indigenous student organizations can meet, study, and relax. Find it at 215 N. Brooks Street in Madison.

The Culture Keepers/Elders-in-Residence Program seeks to improve the experience of American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian students by hosting Native American elders on campus for extended visits and educational exchanges. The inaugural participant was Ada Deer in November 2018.

For more information, contact the American Indian Studies Department at 608-263-5501 or ais@letsci.wisc.edu.

Serena Cisneros (Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe), Counselor, University Health Services – Mental Health Services.  Serena is from Odaawaa-Zaaga’iganiing, the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Reservation. Prior to joining UHS in 2021, Serena was living and working in NYC for 12 years.

Laura Hiebing (Métis) is the Indigenous Student Services Coordinator with DDEEA Academic Coaching and Tutoring Services.

Under the direction of the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion & Chief Diversity Officer, the Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement (DDEEA) supports the mission of the University of Wisconsin–Madison as it works to create a diverse, inclusive and excellent learning and work environment for all students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners at the university.

DDEEA accomplishes this work centered in the core values of community, inclusion, organizational excellence, transparency, accountability and social justice. DDEEA uses collaboration, leadership and seeding of new initiatives, consultative advice and the coordination of numerous institutional initiatives to support campus, Wisconsin and the world.

Bobbi Skenandore (Oneida Nation of WI), Program Coordinator for Native/Indigenous Students at the Multicultural Student Center, oversees programmatic initiatives that support Native/Indigenous students, including daily operations of the Indigenous Student Center (formerly the AISCC) and the M.E.Ch.A. House. As of September 1, 2021, these cultural centers joined the MSC’s family of identity centers that includes the Black Cultural Center, Latinx Cultural Center and APIDA Student Center.

The Program Coordinator or Native/Indigenous Students develops culturally relevant programs, serves as an advocate and resource for Native/Indigenous students, and maintains supportive and collaborative relationships with students, student organizations, faculty, staff, and community members. The Program Coordinator supports events held by Native American student organizations, such as Native November and the On Wisconsin (Wunk Sheek) Powwow.

Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Inc., is the country’s oldest Native American Greek letter organization. Founded at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill on Sept. 1, 1994, the sorority has more than 400 sisters representing more than 70 tribes nationwide and 13 chartered chapters. For more info, contact advisor Lauren Cornelius (Oneida), Native American Center for Health Professions, lauren.cornelius@wisc.edu

The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) is a national organization that was founded in 1977 by American Indian scientists, engineers and educators. In view of the high dropout rates and low college enrollment and graduation rates of American Indians and the severe under-representation of American Indians in the science and engineering fields, these Native American professionals resolved to create an organization that would identify and remove barriers for the academic success of Native American students. For more info, contact advisor Prof. Brett Benally Thompson (White Earth Ojibwe), MD, bbthomps@medicine.wisc.edu

The Indigenous Law Students Association (ILSA) exists to provide an organization and forum for University of Wisconsin law students while contributing to the advancement of Indigenous peoples. ILSA fosters communication between all Law students, the UW Law faculty and staff, and the community at large. Additionally, ILSA provides support to its members by maintaining study groups, assisting with job searches, and hosting monthly social activities. For more info, contact advisor Prof. Richard Monette (Turtle Mountain Chippewa), richard.monette@wisc.edu

The Society for Advancement of Native Americans and Chican@s in the Sciences (SACNAS) is an inclusive organization dedicated to fostering the success of Chicanx and Native American scientists, from college students to professionals, in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in STEM. For more info, contact advisor Prof. Ahna Skop (Eastern Band Cherokee), skop@wisc.edu

Wunk Sheek works to expose, edu­cate, and enlighten the cam­pus com­mu­nity about the unique cul­tural iden­ti­ties of its Indige­nous stu­dents. The orga­ni­za­tion is open to all stu­dents, Native American and non-Native American, grad­u­ate and under­grad­u­ate, fac­ulty, staff, and community. Wunk Sheek typically orga­nizes annual powwows as well as many events in celebra­tion of Novem­ber, National Native Amer­i­can Her­itage Month. These pro­grams include speak­ers, work­shops, films, and an annual meal.

For more info, visit their Facebook page or contact advisor Lina Martin (Ho-Chunk/Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Nation), Native American Center for Health Professions (NACHP), linamartin@wisc.edu.