NAU’s Sloan working overtime for students<br>

FLAGSTAFF — Northern Arizona University Alumni Association board member Harry W. Sloan Jr. is working overtime to increase Native American enrollment and graduation at the university.

Nearing four years of involvement with the NAU alumni association, Sloan said he is discovering that “even though more and more Native American students enter the university, it is equally important to provide students the support services they need to perform well academically.”

Four years ago, Harry W. Sloan, Jr. began his service on Northern Arizona University Alumni Association National Board of Directors. His said his interest in making sure native students get a fair start with their success in college prompted him to take the lead in organizing the University’s Native American Programs golf tournament, a fund-raising event to help students with their academic and campus life.

The NAU alumni association works to advance the interest of Northern Arizona University. It does this with alumni contribution to the welfare of the university in areas of advocacy, counsel, recruitment, fund-raising, building a spirit of commitment and loyalty between alumni and the university.

“At NAU, we have implemented innovative programs such as tutoring to improve testing skills and reading comprehension, mentoring by upperclassmen, design of a new academic program known as the Applied Indigenous Studies and the hiring of a native elder to provide traditional counseling services to students,” said Laurence Gishey, director, Institute for Native Americans. “These programs have given us insights which indicate that when “a student comes upon a ‘make or break’ decision, a small amount of support will mean all the difference for them to remain in school.”

Sloan stressed the necessity of having funds on hand.

“We need to make sure our students can access financial assistance when the needs arise,” noted Mr. Sloan. “That is the reason each year we ask our Native American alumni to join us in raising funds through our golf tournament.”

That opportunity will come with the third annual NAU Native American Programs golf tournament scheduled for Oct. 17. NAU Native American alumni are invited to participate in the tournament, which, this year, is part of the homecoming event.

“It is true that our students encounter financial shortfalls—not of their doing,” said Gishey.

He cited some examples where the funds they raise from the golf tournament will be used to help students.

“In the fall semester when the student’s scholarship arrives late and after pre-registration, the student is dis-enrolled automatically,” Gishey said. “When the scholarship finally arrives, the student must sign up for the courses again only to be told that the course may be full. This delay causes the Native American student to incur unnecessary expenses. “When students fall short of paying for books, lab fees, housing deposits, and other expenses their energy and focus divert away from their studies.”

NAU president John Haeger is taking concrete steps to increase Native American enrollment at NAU.

“It is becoming common knowledge that NAU graduates one of the largest numbers of Native students,” he said. “Our goal is to continually develop academic courses and prepare Native students to help their tribe improve upon their living standards.”

Last year, Haeger established the Native American Commission who will envision the future of Native American programs. Later this fall, he will invite tribal leaders from across the state and the region to NAU to talk about the future of Native American programs.

President Haeger said he believes that the NAU Native American alumni should also be involved in any discussion about the future of Native American programs.

“We can learn a great deal from the experiences of our alumni, and I welcome the opportunity to speak with them,” he said

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For more information on the third annual NAU Native American Programs Golf Tournament to be held at the Continental Golf Course in Flagstaff call 928-523-9557 or go to website: http://www4.nau.edu/ina.

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