The I Mua E Nā Pōki’i Graduate Student Support Program’s (I Mua) purpose is to provide important co-curricular programming support to graduate students through workshops, retreats, conference travel and other projects.
At NHSS we understand the vital importance of graduate student retention and matriculation. We hope that through our programming we can facilitate the retention and matriculation of native Hawaiian graduate students while also supporting their professionalization.
I Mua supports two groups of students; those students enrolled in Hawai’inuiākea master’s programs in Hawaiian Studies and Hawaiian Language, and native Hawaiian graduate students enrolled at UH Mānoa. This program is funded through the Hawai’inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge and administered by Native Hawaiian Student Services’ Graduate Programs Support Assistant.
Development Series
The Development Series is a variety of workshops offered throughout the academic year on several different topis applicable to the area of academia which are not typically covered in graduate courses. Workshop topics include: Scholarly Style, Indigenous Methodologies and Research, IRB Approval Process, Composing a Committee, Curriculum Vitae, Goal Setting, etc.
Writing Retreats
The retreats provide a venue for graduate students to spend focused, concentrated time writing in an environment free of distraction. The retreats also provide the opportunity for students to collaborate and ideate with faculty, staff, and their peers in a setting outside the pressures of the classroom, thus creating the potential for a richer graduate experience.
Conference Travel
I Mua funds student travel to present at the annual Native American and Indigenous Studies Association Conference. Through their participation we hope to strengthen students’ presentation skills though the delivery of a conference panel presentation; provide space for Hawaiian students, staff and budding scholars to network, discuss, and ideate; continue to develop a national Native American and indigenous studies professional network for NHSS; and to provide critical professional development for the graduate students of the Hawai’inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge.