Wokini Initiative Five-Year Plan

• 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

Steadily increase American Indian student enrollment and Wokini scholarships awarded:

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

• 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

• 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.

• 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.