Program Overview

The availability of technically skilled, professional health care personnel is dangerously low in the United States. A recent phone survey of health care providers in the Four Corners revealed that Native American health care professionals comprise less than four percent of the staff at San Juan Regional Medical Center (Farmington, New Mexico) and one percent of professional staff at Mercy Medical Center (Durango, Colorado). Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez, Colorado, reports no Native American professional health care workers on staff.

SJC is committed to multi-ethnic participation, quality instruction, the integration of didactic and clinical experiences, and the enhancement of an interdisciplinary approach to health care. The School of Health Sciences currently includes programs which allow students to earn degrees in Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Health Information Technology (HIT), Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA), Surgical Technology, and Medical or Clinical Laboratory Technology.

Data show that over 40 percent of Native students who fail pathway courses (math, science, developmental and learning skills prerequisites to health care programs) do not return to SJC the next semester. Native students at San Juan College succeed in pathways courses at rates up to 36% less than non-native students in the same courses.

This program, entitled PATHWAYS: Promoting Native American Achievement through SJC College Health Care Programs, will allow SJC to focus on three primary types of student assistance: (1) Resources, encouragement and role models that encourage Native American students to explore and plan for health care programs, starting with health care pathway courses, (2) Workshops, courses and curriculum that help Native American students succeed in health care pathway courses and prepare for health care programs, and (3) Academic and student support services that assist students in health care pathway courses.

Component 1: Resources, encouragement and role models that encourage Native American students to explore and plan for health care programs, starting with health care pathway courses

This initiative will be developed using three primary strategies: (1) academic advising for Native students, focused primarily on health care pathway courses and health care programs, (2) professional mentorship opportunities for Native students exploring health care occupations, and (3) coordination of services and facilities between the Native Student Learning Center and the Student Success Center.

Component 2: Workshops, courses and curriculum that help Native American students succeed in health care pathway courses and prepare for health care programs

This initiative will be developed using three primary strategies: (1) New courses, curriculum and workshops, (2) Equipping of West Campus Science Lab to offer more health care pathway courses, and (3) Cultural Connection programs designed to ease the transition of Native students into health care programs.

Component 3: Academic and student support services that assist students in health care pathway courses

This initiative will be developed using two primary strategies: (1) Supplemental instruction and tutoring for health care pathways courses, and (2) Redesign and equipment of Student Success Center and Computer Assisted Learning Lab to offer learning support in health care pathways courses.