Native American Student Success

Serving Native American students at Northland Pioneer College

CELEBRATE NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH WITH NPC!

This November, we honor the unique and diverse cultures of the Native American tribes in the communities that NPC serves, including the Hopi, Navajo, and White Mountain Apache Nations. Each tribe holds distinct traditions, languages, and histories that have shaped their communities and enriched our shared heritage.

The Hopi, Navajo, and White Mountain Apache people are deeply rooted in Arizona and are known for their resilience, artistry, and wisdom. From the spiritual practices of the Hopi to the Navajo’s WWII Code Talkers and the White Mountain Apache’s rich storytelling, these tribes each contribute uniquely to our region’s cultural legacy.

NPC proudly celebrates Native American Heritage Month, recognizing the invaluable contributions and enduring spirit of our Native communities.

JOIN US!

Monday, November 18 - Whiteriver Center
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 19 - Hopi Center
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 20 - Kayenta Center
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Enjoy a free traditional meal with your families!

We will have fun activities, and storytelling and will discuss upcoming events like the Winter Leadership Summit and Spring Student Success Workshops. These events recognize and honor native students, their communities, and the importance of education. Come connect and celebrate with us!

Learn about NPC's Commitment to Native American Success:

The Native American Student Success (NASS) Program is focused on serving Native American students at Northland Pioneer College. NASS works primarily with Native American students at the three tribal centers: Kayenta, Hopi, and Whiteriver.

Throughout the academic year, each tribal center provides positive engagement events for their students, their families, and the community. The tribal centers are supported by the NASNTI (Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions) staff to carry out student success initiatives.

NPC tribal centers:

Provide academic and transitional support for Native American students
Provide an informative student orientation each semester to new students
Offer academic and career advising
Offer Lunch and Learn workshops focusing on student success strategies
Provide workshops on how to apply for financial aid and personal financial wellness
Connect and refer students to other resources at NPC or in the community
Promote cultural awareness through inclusive student engagement events
Promote outreach with tribal communities and organizations

NPC's Tribal Locations

About NPC's Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions (NASNTI) Grant

Northland Pioneer College (NPC) was awarded a 5-year NASNTI grant in Fall, of 2022. The total amount of the grant is $1,604,595. NPC has named this grant award ‘A Relational Model for Student Success’ (ARMSS).

The ARMSS grant is utilizing the Culturally Engaging Campus Environments (CECE) theoretical model to frame the 5 grant strategies. Using information received from current Native American students at NPC, Native American staff/faculty at NPC, and tribal community members, the ARMSS grant has created a CECE model that is specific to NPC’s Native American student population.

The ARMSS grant has the following goals:

Increase student engagement to promote sense of belonging, purpose, and self-efficacy at NPC
Increase the retention and persistence rate of Native American students
Increase the number of students who complete a degree or certificate
Increase students’ sense of financial literacy
Strengthen Native American culture through positive student, family, and community engagement events

To promote student success at NPC, the ARMSS grant is using the relational advising framework to accomplish five goals:

Create and Implement an Online Information Center.
Establish One-Stop Centers at all NPC campuses and centers.
Practice proactive, personalized, relational advising and engagement at all NPC campuses and centers.
Establish a First-Year Learning Community at all NPC campuses and centers.
Create and implement the Native American Student Success Initiative at the three tribal centers located in Kayenta, Hopi, and Whiteriver. These NPC centers provide a college opportunity to the Navajo, Hopi, and Whiteriver Apache tribal communities.