Native American Center

Mission Statement

The Native American Center is dedicated to servicng the educational needs of Native American students by providing programs and services that support their persistence in higher education as they aspire toward their higher educational goals.

Helping Students Enroll at SJC

• Admission Assistance – Those who plan to attend San Juan College are assisted in completing their application for admission and informed about the documents required for a complete admission package and their admission status. Students are also signed up for Admissions new student orientation and are informed about the Native American student orientation.
   
• Academic Advisement – Students are informed about the contents of the catalog and particulary advised about their Accuplacer scores, major, curriculum, transcripts, credit hours, GPA, and satisfactory academic progress. Students are also assisted with their class schedule.
   
• Scholarship Advisement – A variety of scholarships are available in the program office. In addition to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students are advised on scholarships that will suit them best and are encouraged to apply for as many scholarships as are applicable to them, including their Tribal scholarship.
   
• Information and Services – Students are informed about services available to them to make their college experience a positive one such as Counseling, Students with Disabilities on Campus (SDOC), Student Success Center/Tutoring, Bookstore, Financial Aid, Business Office, Career Services, Library, Security, Fitness Center, Student Activities, Family and Childcare, East and West campuses, bulletin boards, housing, public transit system, and computer labs located around campus.

Supporting the Educational Needs of Students

The Native American Center supports the educational endeavor of Native American students by providing conveniences and opportunities that support their educational needs.

• Equipment Availability – A computer, printer and scanner, copy and fax machine, telephone for local calls and phone calls to funding source are available to students with the assistance of the program staff.

Planning Ahead to Attend SJC

Planning ahead to attend San Juan College makes admission, financial aid, advisement, class enrollment, textbook purchases, and getting to classes on the first day of instruction go smoother than if doing these things when the semester is soon to begin. Those who plan to attend San Juan College should complete the following activities at least six months in advance.

• File income tax soon after the W-2 is received. Parents who have dependent students should file their income tax early in the calendar year.
   
• Complete the FAFSA as soon as the current year income tax is filed. (Completing the FAFSA is absolutely necessary if students wish to apply for scholarships, particularly a Tribal scolarship.)
   
• Apply for admission to San Juan College, submit official transcripts from high school or previous college attended to the Admissions Office.
   
• Apply for scholarships. Information on a variety of scholarships from Native American funding sources are available in the Native American Center and Financial Aid Office.
   
• Ensure that your Student Aid Report (SAR) is on file with the Financial Aid Office. (The SAR is the result of a processed FAFSA.)
   
• Submit all documents required by the Financial Aid Office, such as parent or student federal tax returns, W-2s, family verification, etc.
   
• Maintain a 2.0 GPA or better to be eligible to receive federal, state, tribal, and other scholarships.

Helping Students Remain in College

Native American Students are encouraged to remain in college until they graduate with a certificate or a degree. The Native American Center provides services to help students remain at San Juan College until they graduate.

• Continuous Academic or Personal Advisement – Students who need help in building their class schedule for the semester or who need to talk about personal issues or matters are welcome to visit the coordinator or the advisor of the Native American Center. Referrals to college departments or helping agencies will be made, if necessary.
   
• Continuous Scholarship Advisement – Students who receive scholarships from Native American funding sources, including Tribal scholarships, are monitored in their academic progress and performance.

Program Efforts

• Recruitment of Native American students in coordination with Admissions
   
• Cooperation with Tribal Higher Education Offices and Native American educational funding sources
   
• Network with Native American Programs of other New Mexico colleges and universities
   
• Association with organizations providing for the educational needs of Native American students

Extracurricular Experiences

The Native American Center promotes extracurricular learning that is purposeful and holistic. Extracurricular activities to hone the awareness and learning of students include:

• Cultural Presentations – Training, workshops, and presentations from the perspective of the Native American culture on topics that pertain to motivation, behavior, and culture shock are held for students to help them adjust and cope in the college culture. The interested public is welcome to attend these cultural presentations.
   
• Native Guest Lecturers – Native speakers are invited to the college to present on information and educational topics that will enhance the awareness and learning of students. The interested public is welcome to attend these lectures.
   
• Educational Trips – Visits are planned and made to universities in the region to prepare students who wish to eventually transfer to continue their studies at a university.
   
• Cultural Trips – Visits are planned and made to cultural sites to enhance the learning of students about their ethnic identity and history.
   
• Native Student Club – The United Tribes Club, chartered by the Associated Students of San Juan College (AS/SJC) under the auspices of the Office of Student Activities, is sponsored by the Native American Center. Student members learn and share cultural values and knowledge, learn the value of community service that fosters a caring attitude toward the Native people and other ethnicities, and learn various leadership skills. This learning is culminated into practice during activities and events, the largest being the annual Apple Blossom Pow Wow.

Native American Tribes at San Juan College

For more information about the Native American Center, including Tribal scholarships, please speak with one of the following Native American staff members: