University of Nevada, Reno opened a unique residence hall for the Fall 2018 Semester. Shannon Ellis, vice president of student services, said Great Basin Hall will feature indigenous art and partnerships that focus on increasing native students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines.
“Through the naming of Great Basin Hall, the University of Nevada, Reno recognizes the indigenous peoples of Nevada and acknowledges the tribes of the Great Basin who reside in the state of Nevada,” Ellis said at the opening ceremony.
In recognition of these efforts, Pyramid Lake Paiute elder Ralph Burns offered a blessing during the opening. The blessing was followed by an honor song from the Five Feathers Drum group from Pyramid Lake, Nevada.
Great Basin Hall will be home to first-year women majoring in science, mathematics or engineering. According to the university, this STEM-themed residential community will provide an informal mentoring system in an effort to retain students in the STEM fields.
“The University’s Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) program is encouraging and developing our next generation of female scientists, mathematicians, and engineers,” Nevada System of Higher Education Regent Cathy McAdoo said.
Great Basin Hall will feature a 24-hour computer lab and innovation lab for project designs.
“Fundamental to this experience is mentoring,” University of Nevada, Reno President Marc Johnson said. “Upperclassmen can take these younger students under their wings and assure that the principles they are learning in the STEM disciplines hold.”
Freshmen who live on and connect with the campus in their first year at the University are more likely to persist, re-enroll into their second year and ultimately graduate, the statement said.
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