Services

ITEPP, established in 1969, offers academic and culturally responsive support for Native American students attending Cal Poly Humboldt.  Taking into consideration political status tribal affiliation, family and tribal traditions, staff provide a comprehensive approach to educational planning.  Staff assist students by reinforcing their cultural identity, building strong support networks, providing academic advising, connecting with tribal representatives, engaging with faculty, and setting educational & career goals.

Culturally Responsive Academic Advising

Academic Advisors embrace students' lived experience and cultural backgrounds to assist them in developing academic plans that support Native cultural values. Intentional advising sessions are designed to develop trust and strengthen relationships between students, staff and faculty. They nurture rapport with academic departments and build a “sense of belonging” for students. Students are encouraged to reach out to ITEPP staff  prior to stepping on campus, this assists them in navigating Cal Poly Humboldt through graduation and expands across their academic, personal, cultural and professional lives.

Services Include:

  • Educational Planning
  • Space for Studying, Socializing, and Rejuvenating
  • Native Living Suite in Housing
  • Internships and Partnerships with Tribes and Agencies
  • Student Leadership Opportunities
  • Culturally Pertinent Programming 
  • Tribal Language, Culture, and Knowledge
  • Cultural Resource Center/Library
  • Scholarship Application Assistance
  • Advocating for Student Academic, Basic, and Mental Health Needs 
  • Intentional Opportunities to Incorporate Traditional Values and Knowledge 
  • Interactions with Native Alumni and other Professionals 
  • Monitoring of Academic Progress and Strategies for Success
  • Referrals & Letters of Recommendation

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Home Away from Home Atmosphere

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The ITEPP House offers:  

  • Student club initiated activities
  • Tutoring, mentoring, advising
  • Computer access, office equipment, supplies, kitchen, comfortable sofas, and study areas
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Cultural Resource Center

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ITEPP’s CRC current and past coordinators: Buffy McQuillen, Zo Devine and Marlette Grant-Jackson

 

The Cultural Resource Center or CRC, formally established in 1994, Housed in ITEPP, is a public lending library devoted to expanding awareness of relevant issues facing Indian Country, tribal communities, and Native American tribes.  

In the early years, the ITEPP staff, students, and friends began placing donated books, journal articles, and reports on the shelves in the ITEPP office.  Over the last 40+ years ITEPP  has acquired over a 6,500 piece collection of resource materials on, about, and by Native Americans.  We have classroom ready curriculum, books, dvd’s and videos that range from art, boarding schools, sovereignty, children’s and adult literature, education, history,  natural resources, botany, and stereotypes. We offer personalized assistance in locating materials because there just isn’t one book that will provide  the information you need to understand a topic.  You can search our books on Libraryworld.com

Give Back

ITEPP  needs your support. Our programs help meet critical student needs at Humboldt and we want to continue to grow and expand the services the Center can provide. Your contribution to this effort can make a significant difference. To make a financial donation to ITEPP, please click here.