(Hayward, WI) – August 8, 2022 – Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University (LCOOU) is pleased to share its successful bi-annual Accomplishments supporting the 2021/2024 Strategic Goals. The following are notable accomplishments from January 1, 2022 – June 30, 2022.
1. Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College will continue to implement our mission by expanding our services and strengthening our relationships to meet the needs of the communities we serve.
a. Increased and improved admissions and recruitment events (HHS career fair, hosted campus preview day, LCO alumni basketball game, Ashland/ Bayfield recruitment events, tabling at area businesses, Grand Marais High School College Fair, Lakeland Union HS, etc.)
b. Developed a list of external scholarship opportunities for graduate students.
c. Financial Aid increased and improved communication sent to students about their student accounts, grants, and scholarship opportunities
d. COVID waiver applied to outstanding student balances for Spring 2022 semester.
e. The Business Office and Financial Aid began Ellucian/Colleague implementation.
f. Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College participated in the 2022 Musky Fest parade, winning first place in the float contest.
g. Financial Aid Director was a part of a MASFAA (Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators) on March 8, 2022, participating on a four-person panel discussing the impact of the pandemic and how it affected the college and universities.
h. New memberships to MASFAA (Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators) and WASFAA (Wisconsin Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators)
Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe college submitted an application for U.S. Department of Education’s Second Chance Pell- Pell for the Incarcerated Students Experiment.
Piloted a Master’s in Management and a Master’s in Human Services.
The Early Middle Education Bachelors received accreditation from HLC.
The Early Childhood Education Associates degree received eligibility for candidacy through NAEYC.
Nursing program granted full program approval by the State of Wisconsin
Nursing program received candidacy for accreditation through ACEN
Hosted the first annual Migiziwag Dayesaashijig Gala
Hosted the Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce Business After 5 event.
Hosted the College of Menominee Nation Board of Directors…
Hosted an honoring Banquet for Parker Arntsen
Hosted the Irishinaabe Irish Cultural Exchange
Hosted donor visits on campus.
Secured a 5 million Congressionally Directed Spending from Senator Baldwin as part of the campus expansion project.
2. Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College will practice ethical and responsible conduct by continuing to develop and care for those in its employ.
a. The President completed the 2021-2022 Aspen New Presidents Fellowship.
b. Conducted a survey for employee input on monthly All-Staff Meeting and implemented ideas from employee response to enhance the meeting experience for all.
c. The Human Resources Director received SHRM Certified Professional certification to better serve the College needs.
d. Worked with all departments to provide professional development training for employee needs.
e. Career Services Staff attended the GlobalMindED 2022 Conference in Denver, CO to network and learn from other career services and tribal colleges.
f. TRIO staff successfully completed JST coaching training
g. Developing and drafting travel and fiscal policies
h. Amending the financial aid policy to better fit our needs
i. Awarded ARA grant
j. Successfully implemented Ihduwiyayapi project in collaboration with the College of Menominee Nation.
k. ADN to BSN articulation agreement with University of MN Mankato.
l. Nursing program partnered with Essentia Health
m. Guaranteed admissions and full scholarship for Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College graduates with Marquette University.
n. Prepared for and presented at the AIHEC Legislative Summit
3. Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College will proactively pursue innovative ways to enhance current support services and create new opportunities for its students and alumni.
a. Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College celebrated 55 graduates this spring. 10 bachelors, 33 associates, 9 certificates, and 3 GED students.
b. Increased face-to-face course offerings at outreach sites
c. Piloted a successful student led study group to meet the needs of students in an online course
d. Financial aid attended multiple events at outreach sites.
e. Awarded $14K in student stipends to 11 SSS TRIO participants who met their individual set goals for the academic year
f. 90+ emergency aid applications awarded for $39K; 85-90% retention rate of students receiving emergency aid
g. Placed 45 interns with a 93% retention rate
h. The 17th Annual Career Fair hosted 37 business partners and 47 participants
i. Uwill mental health counseling services has 6% utilization rate
j. Developed a general brochure
k. Recorded new College tv commercials
l. Purchased computers and peripherals for student, staff and faculty use.
m. Campus Upgrades:
i. Installed AV upgrades to the auditorium to allow for live streaming events
ii. Completed cultural center ceiling repair
iii. Awarded contract for campus wide HVAC renovations
iv. Located and marked all electrical devices and control panels
v. Installed additional access control systems on exterior doors
vi. Completed network upgrades
vii. Purchased new tractor, attachments and zero turn mower for the farm
4. Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College will continue to evaluate current academic offerings and develop new programs to meet the needs of the tribal and surrounding communities we serve.
a. Created additional staff positions to support students, positions include a Career Services Coordinator, a Peer Mentor Advisor/Writing Lab Coordinator and a GED/HSED Program Coordinator.
b. Attending Ellucian Training for Accounts Payable & General Ledger.
c. Staff trained in Ellucian Self Service on requisitions.
d. Implemented tuition increase for undergraduate degrees and developed master’s degree tuition
e. Evaluated student account receivable and developing a student collection plan
f. Developed and presented Travel policy to Exec Council
g. The 2022-2023 Budget was approved
h. Financial Aid Awarded:
i. 44 students applied for AICF-Full Circle
ii. Received AICF-TCU Scholarship for Summer 2022- $22,147.65
iii. LCOOC Institutional Scholarship for Summer 2022 and Fall 2022 available sooner for students to complete
iv. Disbursed $1,145,343 of financial aid to eligible students for the 2021-2022 award year
v. 6 financial aid suspension appeals have been approved for the Spring 2022 Semester
i. DoD MOU (Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding) in support of veterans was approved.
j. FISAP (Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate) in support of Pell was approved
5. Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College will continue to develop relationships to increase the capacity to accomplish its goals and meet the needs of its students.
a. Red Cliff Outreach collaborated with Boys and Girls Club of Gitchi Gumee for Spring Camp, had a Lacrosse game with our neighboring Bad River community
b. Held Aadizokaan Story Telling events in outreach communities and on Zoom
c. Held a maple syrup and candy making class in Bad River and the Red Cliff Tribal Farm; hosted a spring maple syrup camp in LDF
d. Collaborated with Zaagichigaawowin for Father’s Day event
e. The Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Work Based Learning Program Director joined the Tribal College and University (TCU) Career Consortium
f. The Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Work Based Learning Program Director serves as an advisory board member for the Wisconsin Indian Education Advisory (WIEA) Board
g. Hosted the Indigenous Women’s Leadership Series on Zoom
h. Received hemp license and approved to move locations to the Sustainable Agriculture Research Station
To learn more visit the website at http://lco.edu.