Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College (LCOOCC) has received approval from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to offer the High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED). This move comes as a result of requests received by each of the tribal communities LCOOCC serves.
According to the Wisconsin Information System for Education (WISEdash) the graduation rate for the state of Wisconsin for Native American students has averaged 78.3 percent for the past five years; however, these numbers vary widely (57% to 92.4%) within the school districts served by Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College.
Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College, in its role as a tribal community college, has the role and responsibility of providing equal access to tribally underserved populations.
“When students are lifted up with an education, their families and tribal communities are also lifted up. Our College is poised and ready to offer this service and fulfill this very important responsibility.” says Dr. Swagger, President of Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College.
Offering this service means that tribal members and others will have greater access and a pathway to earning the postsecondary degree. People may not pursue a higher education without this access. Also, successful completion of the GED/HSED creates a greater likelihood that graduates will enroll in college level courses.
Sherry Holly, Alternative Education & GED/HSED Administrator in the approval letter states “the tribal communities of Bad River, Red Cliff, Lac du Flambeau, St. Croix, and Lac Courte Oreilles will be best served by LCOOCC GED/5.09 program services.”
Students can apply for the HSED/GED program at https://www.lco.edu/reg, or call Jimmy White, Recruitment and Admissions Specialist, at 715-558-5304.
