Mission

 

The Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College mission is to provide Anishinaabe communities with post-secondary and continuing education while advancing the language, culture, and history of the Ojibwa.

 

History

 

In 1982, a task force of educators and parents undertook the establishment of Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College. The task force called on the Bureau of Indian Affairs to conduct a feasibility study to determine the appropriateness of a tribal community college at Lac Courte Oreilles.

 

In August of 1982, the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board chartered the College and provided it with Articles of Incorporation.  Classes were held throughout the 1982 – 1983 academic year, primarily through the volunteer efforts of part‐time instructors. The Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted on‐site evaluations in April of 1983 and notified the college that it had fulfilled all requirements and approved funding for the fiscal year under P.L. 95‐471, the Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act of 1978. This Act continues to be the prime source of funding for the College.

 

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College granted its first certificate of completion in the Community Health Educator program in June 1985. In May 1986, the College granted its first Associate of Arts Degree.

 

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College was granted candidate status for accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools in February 1987. This six‐year accreditation process resulted in full accreditation of all programs in February 1993. Credit transfer agreements with public and private colleges and universities were signed and two‐plus‐two agreements in Nursing with UW‐Eau Claire and Agriculture and Natural Resource Management with UW‐River Falls were developed to facilitate transfer of Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College students to baccalaureate programs. In 1998, Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa community College was granted an additional 8 years of re-accreditation.

 

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College received Land Grant Status approval on October 5, 1994, in legislation passed by the U.S. Congress within the Tribal College Act Endowment Amendment. This Amendment was attached to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and signed into law by President Bill Clinton.

 

In the spring of 2003, the Cultural Resource Center was completed. In May 2007, the Library at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College was completed. In 2011, the College dedicated a fully‐equipped nursing simulation lab to support instruction in Allied Health programs.  In the fall of 2016, a new 6100 sq. ft. facility was dedicated, replacing a portion of campus that had been severely damaged during a fire in 2012.  This new “600 Wing” addition contains a large Student Commons, a commercial kitchen, a study room, a classroom, storage spaces and houses the College’s Extension programs and staff.

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In 2019 the college's name was changed to Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College and a 4-Year Bachelor Degree Program was added.

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Bachelor Degree Programs

 

Business Aministration

Human Services

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Associate Degree Programs

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Agriculture & Natural Resource Management

Accounting

Human Services

Liberal Arts

Native American Studies

Science

Pre-Nursing

Small Business Administration

 

Certificate Programs

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AODA

Culinary Arts *New*

Native American Art

Native American Tribal Management

Office Support Specialist

Ojibwe Language Specialty

Personal Care Worker

Tribal Lay Advocate *New*

 

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College Extension

The Increased Capacity Program

Youth Development Program

Sustainable Agriculture Research Station