Haskell Mentor Program

What is the Haskell Mentor Program?
The Haskell Mentor Program is designed to ease the transition process for Haskell students who transfer to KU.

What does the program offer?
The program offers early enrollment in classes at KU, a special orientation program featuring Native American faculty, staff and students and a one-time $150 book grant. In addition, each Haskell transfer student will be matched with a student mentor, faculty mentor and a staff guide who will assist with adjusting to life at KU.

How do I apply for the program?
At Haskell call Manny King at 749-8454. At KU contact Patti Wakolee at pwakolee@ku.edu.

Are Haskell students required to apply to the program?
The program is voluntary. However, you are strongly encouraged to be involved and get the most out of your educational experience at KU.

If I apply, am I obligated to be a part of the program if I feel I no longer need the services?
Again, the program is voluntary. However, you may provide valuable insight to other students transferring to KU.

Are there other services, like tutoring or daycare offered through the program?
The goal of the Haskell Mentor Program is to assist students in any area of campus life. Throughout the course of a college career, students will experience many challenges. Mentors are here to help you find the right support you need.

Is there a Native American student organization?
Yes! Visit the First Nations Student Association at www.ku.edu/~nimma/ and visit the Office of Multicultural Affairs at www.oma.ku.edu to get more information on other programs for minority students.

• Fall 2007 Haskell Visit Schedule (20 KB)

Kelli Chewey and Granthum Stevens enjoying the welcome luncheon held August 9, 2005.
Baby Jay at Haskell, Fall 2005.
Baby Jay at Haskell, Fall 2005.
Student Mentor Myron, Fall 2005.
Linford at FNSA meeting, Fall 2005.
KU visit day at Haskell, Fall 2005.
KU visit day at Haskell, Fall 2005.
KU visit day at Haskell, Fall 2005.

Fall 2007-Spring 2008 Participants
Tennille Begay, Navajo
Anthony Falcon, Ho Chunk
Carla Nez, Navajo
Camie Quilt, Lower Brule Sioux

The best advice I would have for transferring students is that you (or at least I) had to work about half again as hard as at Haskell. Haskell was a cake-walk, compared to KU. Granted, that's because I was able to get by with putting things off til the last minute and rushing through the assignment the night before it was due. Yeah, that doesn't work so well here.

I enjoyed getting together at the beginning of the semester to have lunch and discuss improvements for the program. So I think that we should get together maybe 3 times during the semester, have lunch, and talk about school. One thing that was hard for me as a student was not interacting with other Natives. So maybe you could arrange meetings for the students to get together to interact and get to know each other a couple of times in the semester.

Good advice, Cynthia and Amanda! Thanks for your feedback and input. For more information about study skills workshops and interacting with other Native students, please see Activities and Events link on this webpage.

Staff Mentors

The purpose of the Haskell/KU Exchange Program is to give students at the University of Kansas an opportunity to take a class at Haskell Indian Nations University. KU students will enroll at KU but take the class on the Haskell campus. KU students will pay KU tuition and fees, must be in good academic standing, provide own transportation, abide by the Haskell academic calendar and purchase textbooks and other materials from the Haskell campus shop.

If students are interested in learning about Native American issues or taking a class from a non-western perspective, then they should participate in the Haskell/KU Exchange Program. Students from both campuses participated in a focus group on January 10, 2007, to give feedback about their experiences in the program. Pat, a senior in American Studies felt that the cultural exchange was the most important part of the program for her. In addition to attending class, she went to art shows, concerts and co-organized the Indigenous Professors Conference. Justin, a sophomore, Pre-business and a former Haskell student who transferred to KU said that participating in the Exchange helped prepare him for the transfer to KU. Jenn, a recent transfer student to KU from Haskell said that more awareness needs to be made to let students know about the resources available to them. For more information please contact Patti Wakolee, UAC, Senior Academic Advisor at pwakolee@ku.edu.

Exchange Petition (27 KB)
Students and Staff gather for the Spril 2007 Focus Group
Students and Staff gather for the Spril 2007 Focus Group

I have a great interest in Native American language, culture and heritage...

I would recommend this program to any student that is willing to approach the situation with a "failure is not an option" attitude. The program was a benefit to me and I think it is a great opportunity for Haskell students to gauge how well they can compete at a major educational institution.