Native Student Program

Syracuse University’s Native Student Program supports the transition to college for students who are members of state and federally recognized Native American tribes. Located at 113 Euclid Avenue, it serves as a “home-away-from-home” for Native students and a gathering place for those who are interested in exploring Native American culture and history.

“Being of the Navajo and Crow Tribes and growing up on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico, it has been difficult adjusting to a college that is 2,000 miles away from home. Attending a prestigious university such as Syracuse, I have found my place in the Native Student Program. I have met students and faculty from Native American Tribal affiliations that share the same love for frybread as I do.” – Michael Buffalo ’16, Navajo, Crow

A Supportive Community

  • The program includes a three-day orientation for first-year and transfer students.
  • Members gather weekly for workshops and receive guidance that promotes academic success, including academic counseling.
  • Through faculty, staff and peer interaction, the program also offers opportunities to engage for growth and success beyond graduation.

A Celebration of Heritage

  • Opportunities to attend conferences and to remain connected to Native American culture and history.
  • A Native Identity Series is offered each year, culminating in a spring trip to museums, Native communities or historical sites. Past trips have included visits to the Ganondagan State Historical Site in Victor, New York; the Kanatsiohareke Mohawk Community in Fonda, New York; and the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.

    Indigenous students tabling on the Quad.

    The Native Student Program was established in 2006 through a collaboration among the Office of Academic Affairs, the Student Experience Division, and Multicultural Affairs.

    The Ionkerihonnien:ni Guide Program was created in 2017, by a then undergraduate student in the Native Student Program, Nicole Smoke. This an Indigenized peer mentorship program within the Native Student Program, intended to support Indigenous first-year/transfer students with adjusting to campus life, including but not limited to, academics, finding community, and more. In our communities, we do not believe in hierarchies; therefore within the Ionkerihonnien:ni Guide Program, we intentionally learn and teach one another.

    This program includes weekly workshops, one-on-one guidance, and advising/support from staff. If you're interested in joining the program, reach out directly to our Graduate Assistant, Nicole Smoke at nmsmoke@syr.edu.

    To learn more, please email the Coordinator of the Native Student Program, Bailey Tlachac or call 315.443.0258. Explore the Meet the Staff webpage to learn more about Bailey Tlachac and Multicultural Affairs team.