History

NAARP…NASS…OISS

In July of 1994 under the leadership of NAU President, Dr. Clara Lovett, a new student affairs department was created to increase retention and graduation rates of Native American college students and this department was called Native American Academic Retention Program (NAARP) and began with a team of three staff members.

Three NAU staff members—Tessie Moate, Catherine Talakte, and Dennison Young—were initially recruited to begin developing a program tailored to support the needs of Native American students. Over time, the program expanded to include a Director, Secretary, Graduate Student, and student employees. Originally named NAARP, the program was later renamed Native American Student Services (NASS). It was first housed under the Academic Affairs Division, then transitioned to the Student Affairs Division in 1998, and eventually became part of the Enrollment Management and Student Affairs (EMSA) unit.

The NASS office was initially located in the University Union, building 30, from 1994 to 2011, and in October 2011, NASS moved into the newly opened Center for Native American and Indigenous Futures (CNAIF), building 14.

As our NAU students have become more diverse from various Native Indigenous backgrounds (Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, First Nation, Aboriginal) and with input from students, NASS changed their name to Office of Indigenous Student Success (OISS) in November 2018.

The Office of Indigenous Student Success provides holistic guidance to Indigenous students through collaborative partnerships with other Student Affairs departments and campus colleagues.