7th Generation Acacemic Excellence Center
History and Overview
Over a hundred years ago Black Elk had a vision of the time when the Indian people would heal from the devastating effects of European migration. In his vision the Sacred Hoop which had been broken, would be mended in seven generations. The children born into this decade will be the seventh generation.
Official start of project: October 1, 2007
Funding agencies: American Indian College Fund and Lilly Foundation
Budget (Funding award): $700,000
Period of Project: Five years (2007 to 2012)
Grant description: Sitting Bull College proposed establishment of 7th Generation Academic Excellence Center to
“Develop intellectual capital of individuals who will lead the Lakota/Dakota people in generations to come, specifically in the areas of writing, reading and speaking.”
Historical footnote:
Although the project was supposed to start October 2007, SBC could not hire a director until June 2, 2008 and a coordinator until April 28, 2008. The launching was delayed seven months, until June, 2008.
Activities in the First Seven Months
Under Objective No. 1 (To provide specialized academic and support program to develop and enhance the writing, reading and oral communication skills of Sitting Bull College students):
- Held a Colloquium of SBC faculty & staff & high school teachers from Standing Rock on “Communicating Indian Style,” Aug. 28, 2008, with Dr. Cheryl Long Feather as guest speaker. Dr. Long Feather is research director, United Tribes Technological College.
- Set up writing center with computer lab for SBC students temporarily housed in old campus.
- Contributed to intranet newsletter, Connection, with section on Academic Excellence Center, featuring news items about AEC activities.
Under Objective No. 2 (To offer professional development sessions <seminars and workshops> to faculty and staff utilizing Writing Across the Curriculum and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning):
- Conducted Writing Across the Curriculum Workshop (WAC), Aug. 7, 2008, with Dr. Joan Hawthorne as guest speaker. Dr. Hawthorne is assistant provost, University of North Dakota, and former director, University of North Dakota Writing Center and WAC Program
Under goal No. 3 (To build a strong system-wide coalition of key stakeholders <educators, employers, parents, tribal officials and concerned citizens> to impact the educational system and improve the academic success of students on Standing Rock Reservation):
- Collaborated and participated in the Community Based Learning Workshop sponsored by Standing Rock Tribal Council’s education committee Aug. 22, 2008 with about 300 high and middle school teachers participating. Center coordinator Sunshine Carlow worked with the planning committee & participated in one panel discussion
- Produced brochures on the 7th Generation Academic Excellence Center and on the Writing Center, established contacts with mass media in the area, particularly Mobridge, Bismarck, Aberdeen, and had press release about AEC published
Other Activities (to be featured in e-Newsletter)
- Research on Native American history, tradition & culture, and particularly Lakota/Dakota culture to know the community where the 7th Generation Academic Excellence Center will operate.
- Visits to writing centers, reading centers, learning centers
- Participation in conferences to learn from experience of others doing the same thing
- Focus group discussions and surveys of SBC faculty & staff, & teachers on Standing Rock), to know target clienteles and get feedback from them
