Haskell Indian Nations University: A Student Portal to Educational and Cultural Enrichment

Haskell Indian Nations University offers a unique educational experience deeply rooted in its history and commitment to serving students from federally recognized tribal nations. The university provides a range of academic programs and resources designed to prepare students for successful careers and lives, all while fostering a strong sense of community and cultural identity. This article explores the features of Haskell's student portal, highlighting the academic, cultural, and practical aspects that contribute to a well-rounded educational journey.

Academic Programs: A Foundation for Future Educators and Leaders

Haskell Indian Nations University offers a variety of programs designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in diverse fields. The curriculum emphasizes both theoretical understanding and practical application, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for the challenges of their chosen professions.

Elementary Education: Shaping Young Minds

The Elementary Education program at Haskell is designed to introduce students to education as a profession and potential career. Students explore the history of American education, principles of teaching and learning, characteristics of today’s students, legal rights of teachers and students, and current trends and issues in education. Authentic teaching stories and video cases contribute to student knowledge of different types of teacher/student interactions, instructional methods, and effective teaching. A key component of this program is the requirement of twenty observation hours in an educational setting, providing real-world experience and insight.

The program also includes specialized courses such as an introduction to math standards for elementary mathematics curriculums, focusing on the processes for learning mathematics and basic learning theories in mathematics. Furthermore, Haskell's School of Education participates in the Reading First Teacher Education Network (RFTEN), ensuring that the children’s literature course emphasizes Scientifically Based Reading Research (SBRR) strategies and activities. These strategies assist pre-service candidates with the selection, evaluation, and utilization of literary materials for children from kindergarten through 6th grade (ages 5 -12). The primary emphasis is on using research-based strategies to help young children develop critical reading and comprehension skills through phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and vocabulary development, integrating SBRR strategies with language arts activities.

Additionally, teacher candidates receive an overview of abnormal psychology, examining how atypical behaviors may impact the lives of elementary students and their family members. The program also focuses on establishing an effective elementary classroom, covering the use of physical space, office machines, computer software, and other related material and resources.

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Curriculum and Instruction: Comprehensive Preparation

The curriculum theory and development course provides teacher candidates with an introduction to curriculum theory and development at the elementary (K-6) level, utilizing National and Kansas State Department of Education standards. Teacher candidates use the Taskstream system to reference standards, rubrics, required lesson plan formats, submit lesson plans, and receive evaluations. The course covers various lesson planning models and strategies, including direct instruction, indirect instruction, cooperative learning, questioning strategies, and application of Bloom’s Taxonomy, in relationship to childhood development, use of assessment data, and alignment with state and local curriculum standards.

Methods for presenting mathematical concepts to students in grades kindergarten through sixth are also emphasized, focusing on concept introduction, concept expansion and reinforcement, and assessment practices. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) content and process standards provide the framework for course content, aligned with Kansas State Board of Education Professional Educator Standards and Kansas State Board of Education Content Standards - Mathematics, as well as relevant local district standards and grade level content.

Furthermore, teacher candidates are introduced to various K-3rd grade reading programs, Scientifically Based Reading Research (SBRR) strategies and activities (the “Big 5” - phonemic awareness, word study/phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension), reading assessments (DIBELS, running records, and fluency) and the connection of writing with reading. The primary emphasis is on the development of critical reading and comprehension skills in kindergarten through 3rd grade, with candidates preparing and teaching mini-lessons and administering reading assessments with peers. Field placement experience hours are embedded in this course, requiring candidates to observe the teaching of language arts content and write reflective journal entries connecting theory with practice, accumulating 90 hours of field experience in an assigned K-3 classroom to observe teaching and learning within a classroom setting and teaching methods studied in concurrent enrollment in EED 330 and EED 340.

Assessment and Diversity: Understanding Learners

The fundamental assessment course introduces teacher candidates to various types of assessment used in elementary education classrooms, examining formal and informal types of assessments, including criterion and norm-referenced assessments used at the national and state level. Candidates create various assessment instruments for diverse learners in diverse situations, such as exam items, rubrics, checklists, and portfolio projects, and manage an assessment project, gathering and encoding data, analyzing data, and reflecting and making instructional decisions based on the data.

The course on diversity introduces teacher candidates to the changing demographics of this country and their implications for education, addressing differences in class, ethnicity and race, religion, and language, with a focus on English Language Learners. Gender, sexual orientation, age, and physical and mental abilities are also explored to build understanding of the role they play in students’ lives.

Additionally, candidates receive an introduction to the field of special education, gaining an awareness and understanding of the various types of exceptional characteristics, needs, and strengths which influence the development and learning process in elementary children who have been diagnosed as an exceptional child or at-risk student.

Supporting Teacher Candidates: Well-being and Professionalism

Haskell provides support for teacher candidates as they prepare to become educators, emphasizing the importance of self-care as it relates to physical and emotional well-being. A healthy diet, exercise, managing and expressing feelings, maintaining optimism, adjusting to change, and coping with stress in a healthy way are addressed. Candidates reflect on and assess their physical and emotional well-being, identify contributing factors, describe a short-term goal, take action, and track personal progress.

The development of professional writing skills is also a focus, with candidates engaging in various writing activities - various writing forms, 6 + 1 Writing Traits, writing process and review grammar skills and rules.

Broader Educational Foundations

Students also explore the governance and organization of various schools operated in America, focusing on public, private, and BIA-funded/Tribally-controlled elementary schools, along with legislation and law issues affecting these schools. The relationship between psychological principles and their application to teaching and learning is studied, including learning theory, learning styles, multiple intelligences, behavioral analysis, and differentiated learning. Teacher candidates are introduced to diverse school settings, including tribal schools, Montessori schools, schools with ESL or Bilingual programs, special needs resource rooms, and schools for the deaf, with school sites including both public and private schools located in rural, suburban, and urban areas, accompanied by the instructor.

Business Administration, Environmental Science, and Indigenous and American Indian Studies

Beyond Elementary Education, Haskell offers baccalaureate degrees in Business Administration, Environmental Science, and Indigenous and American Indian Studies. These programs provide students with a comprehensive education in their respective fields, preparing them for a wide range of career opportunities.

Cultural and Community Engagement: A Unique Learning Environment

Haskell Indian Nations University is more than just an academic institution; it is a vibrant cultural center that celebrates and preserves the heritage of Native American tribes. The campus itself is a historical landmark, with 12 buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Landmarks. These buildings, along with numerous sculptures and murals, serve as a constant reminder of the university's rich history and cultural significance.

Cultural Events and Activities

Haskell hosts several annual cultural and academic events that provide students with opportunities to engage with their heritage and share their traditions with others. These events include powwows, traditional ceremonies, and academic conferences that focus on Native American issues. The Haskell Cultural Center serves as a hub for these activities, providing a space for students to connect with their culture and learn from one another.

Sites of Interest

The campus features several sites of interest that highlight its unique history and cultural significance. The American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame celebrates the achievements of Native American athletes, while the Haskell Memorial Stadium/Arch stands as a symbol of the university's commitment to athletics and community. The Medicine Wheel Earth Work and the Haskell Cultural Center are also important landmarks that reflect the university's dedication to preserving and promoting Native American culture.

Practical Resources and Support: Ensuring Student Success

Haskell Indian Nations University is committed to providing students with the resources and support they need to succeed academically and personally. The university offers a range of services designed to help students navigate the challenges of college life and achieve their goals.

Library and Online Resources

The university library provides students with access to a vast collection of books, journals, and other resources. In addition, students have access to online databases, companions, and encyclopedias, including those widely used by music scholars, facilitating conversations with sister disciplines like historical musicology and music theory. These resources are accessible through the university's library or via a partnership with the University of Kansas.

Campus Life and Environment

Haskell Indian Nations University offers a small, suburban campus environment that fosters a strong sense of community. The university is primarily a residential campus, providing students with opportunities to live and learn together. The average per year after aid is $4K, making it an accessible option for many students.

Media and Technology: Preparing for the Digital Age

Haskell offers courses in video production and digital imaging, preparing students for careers in the media and technology industries. The video production course covers basic operating procedures of video production equipment, including sound recording and mixing, studio and location lighting, and video editing techniques. Students produce industrial videos and the Haskell News, setting up for location shooting and operating cameras and other equipment for sound recordings. Video footage is edited into a final product with titles and graphics developed on a non-linear system.

The digital imaging course acquaints students with the advantages and disadvantages of using digitally mastered images, from capturing the image to the printing stage, with a minimal number of digital cameras available for hourly checkout through the library.

Journalism and News Production: Telling the Story

The university also offers courses in news reporting techniques and news production. The news reporting course emphasizes basic journalistic writing principles, examining various news writing styles and learning the journalism ethics, interviewing, and research techniques necessary for writing feature and human interest news articles. The news production class teaches students to write, edit, report, and broadcast a student-run TV news show, “Haskell News,” with students responsible for all reporting, producing, studio management, editing, and broadcasting of the student-produced show in a professional broadcast environment, working with a wide variety of video production tools.

A historical and descriptive survey of mass media for communicating public information is also offered, with students analyzing newspapers, magazines, radio, television, motion pictures, and audio recordings through various projects to see how these forms of media define our values, thoughts, and actions.

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