Tribal Colleges - WI

The Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Tribe, recognizing its responsibilities for the higher education of tribal members, established Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College in 1982. The college began with an enrollment of 30 students, a staff of three and a single small building that housed all offices, classrooms and services. By the fall of 2002, enrollment had grown to more than 550 students and added several new additions to its campus including an auditorium and student center. The study and preservation of tribal culture is part of daily life at the college. Students enrolled in health-related degrees take courses in traditional healing beliefs or Native American gerontology. Business students examine tribal administration and American Indian law. In the introduction of Native culture course, students study outside the classroom to learn skills such as constructing wigwams, cooking on open fires, and studying ethnobotany of local forests. The college offers 16 associate degree programs in addition to 10 certificate programs.