USU Eastern San Juan Campus Hosts First-Ever Freshmen Orientation Event

Getting a good start in school is essential to a successful college career and an important jump-start that Utah State University-College of Eastern Utah’s San Juan Campus is providing freshmen Native American students for the first time this year.

Some 60 students, from Blanding to Sanders, Ariz., gathered for a three-day orientation in late August for an introduction to the rigors of higher education. It’s a two-way commitment to success by both the students and the college made possible under a five-year grant provided through the Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI) program, said Guy Denton, campus director.

“The goal is to help these young students prepare for college-level work, track progress and provide effective instruction,” he said. “The hope is that increased access to education and better support services will enable Native American learners to create more opportunities for themselves, their families and their communities.”

Providing opportunities for Native Americans is the driving force behind nearly every program and activity at the USU San Juan campus. It is arguably the most diverse and unique campus in Utah with a strong community college zeal to serve students from such rural communities as Towaoc, Colo., Red Mesa, Ariz. and other communities on the Navajo Reservation bordering Utah and Arizona.

Denton said this solid community college commitment stretches back to 1977 when the campus began as an offshoot of the College of Eastern Utah. He said the recent merger with Utah State University only serves to strengthen this charge because of USU’s long-standing mission to provide statewide access to higher education. It also positions USU San Juan to become a premier inaugural college for Native Americans.

He said three factors significantly make USU San Juan an ideal institution to host a NASNTI program:

50 to 60 percent of the student population enrolled at USU San Juan is Native American – the third highest in the Four Corners region.
USU San Juan’s service area spans 40,000 square miles (including portions of the Navajo, Ute Mountain Ute, Southern Ute and Hopi nations) and encompasses the largest Native American population in the United States.
USU San Juan is part of an extensive interactive distance education network, provided by USU, that extends to many rural and isolated Native American communities.

The USU San Juan Bridge Orientation began by acquainting students with student living and housing options and student activity center services. Much time was devoted by all the students in taking multiple intelligence and computer skill surveys and learning college survival skills, with assistance from the NASNTI staff members Stephanie Atkinson, Ed Larson and Lewis Singer.

Students were assigned to stay in the school dorms and local motels while attending the orientation. Meals were provided each day for all students as well as for parents on the first day of the orientation.

The orientation included instruction in time management, problem solving and test taking. It also included presentations by faculty, staff and local experts providing support and encouragement for the first-time college students as well as a presentation cautioning against drugs and alcohol and texting while driving. Student mentors from the San Juan Student Council were assigned to help the freshmen adjust to college life.

“Many parents traveled long distances to bring their students,” Denton said. “Every parent was greeted and informed on what the orientation was about. Our staff assisted and answered questions on many topics including residence halls, financial aid, books, meals and scholarship money.”

He said a highlight of the program was a barbecue dinner with faculty and staff that included USU Eastern Chancellor Joe Peterson.

“The students were able to see and meet their instructors in a non-threatening, non-classroom setting,”Denton said. “It was a great start to an exciting new year and three days that we think will make a significant difference over the long haul in their studies here at USU San Juan. We look forward to making this a new tradition for our campus.”

Contact: Curtis Frazier, (435) 678-8129, curtis.frazier@usu.edu