LJWorld.com

Haskell Indian Nations University has a research center - the first one its 124-year history.

The Research Evaluation and Dissemination (RED) Center officially launched this week. The center - the brainchild of new President Linda Warner - serves as a clearinghouse for research and professional development.

Warner appointed Judith Gipp, a Haskell faculty member and volleyball coach, as director last summer. Gipp has a bachelor's degree from Kansas University and a master's degree from the University of New Mexico, where she is working on her dissertation.

"It's going to provide, not only our students, but Indian Country in general with an avenue to have their research disseminated across Indian country, using Haskell as the mechanism to get that information out," Gipp said.

The center will present Haskell's first research summit April 10-11. "Urban Indian Experience" will be open to the public and will focus on indigenous research.

In addition to centering on research, the RED Center oversees these new scholar programs named after former Haskell presidents:

l Gerald E. Gipp Scholar Exchange Program. It provides faculty with the opportunity to pursue postbaccalaureate degrees through reduced teaching loads and sabbatical leave. Julia Good Fox, professor of American Indian studies, was named the first scholar. She plans to complete her dissertation at KU in American studies.

l Robert G. Martin International Education Program, which has three prongs - curricular exchange with tribal colleges, outreach projects and study abroad initiatives. Haskell's first study abroad trip is set for May 15 when 10 students will visit Zacatecas, Mexico, for nearly three weeks and study environmental science.

l Karen Gayton Swisher Instructional Mentorship Program. The goal is to train experienced teachers at Haskell to become mentors for new K-12 teachers.

"We would provide them with the skills and strategies to become an effective mentor to first-year teachers," Gipp said. "Right now, the attrition rates are pretty great with first-year teachers leaving BIE (Bureau of Indian Education) schools after a year or two."

Haskell plans to begin the four- to eight-week mentor program this summer with about 10 participants.

The three programs will be funded primarily through grants.

Warner said the programs were established to extend the reach of Haskell's baccalaureate programs - elementary teacher education, American Indian studies, business administration and environmental science - into Indian country.

Gipp believes Warner's programs will achieve just that.

"She is creating a number of opportunities that are only going to serve to enhance not only our students, staff and faculty but our Haskell community and Indian Country in general."