Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University Accomplishments to Goal | January 1-June 31, 2023

(Hayward, WI) – September 29, 2023 - 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 – June 21, 2023.

 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.

o   Reviewing student account balances for import into Colleague.

o   Making draft plan for student accounts receivable for payment plan options for students.

o   Purchase TouchNet software for student account payments and payment plans.

o   Reviewed course fee and additional student charges for Colleague system.

o   Reviewed and changed the elder discount policy for next fiscal year.

o   Continued memberships to MASFAA (Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators), WASFAA (Wisconsin Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators), and NASFAA (National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators)

o   Created, developed and implemented scholarship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.

o   Communication sent to students about their student accounts, grants and scholarship opportunities. Utilized Canvas, social media platforms, emails, mailed letters, visited classrooms, and presented to students at LCOOU, visited and presented at LCO High School and Hayward High School about Financial Aid opportunities, and more face-to-face interactions with students, staff and community members.

o   Financial Aid fully implemented and went live in Ellucian/Colleague

o   Campus expansion briefing to Tribal Governments, community foundations, and partners.

2.       Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College will practice ethical and responsible conduct by continuing to develop and care for those in its employ.

·         Implemented payroll & HR module in Colleague for our faculty and staff.

·         Develop draft fiscal policies for the business office.

·         Amending the financial aid policy to better fit our needs

·         Faculty and staff engaged in Speakers Bureau Training, creating personal stories and updating University messaging.

·         Faculty and staff interviewed with WOJB and WRLS, ongoing.

 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.

·         Inaugural Niigaaniziwan at the U event, spring 2023 event featured Jamie Wilkemeyer, Hayward Nutrition

·         Fall 2023 registration mailer sent to area homes.

·         Spring events mailer sent to all constituents.

·         Hired a second recruiter to increase awareness in the communities we serve.

·         Hosted the 2nd annual Migiziwag Dayesaashijig Gala, honored Carlena Dennis as Alumni of the Year.

 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.

·         Fall 2023 offering BS Biology degree

·         Updating Degree plans (recommended course sequencing) for LCOOU Catalog- Fall 2023

 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.

·         2023-2024 Budget was approved

·         Participated in May 2023 Commencement

·         Received AICF-TCU Scholarship for Summer 2022- $29,311

·         Disbursed $1,382,016 of financial aid to eligible students for the 2022-2023 award year

·         FISAP was approved

·         Participated in the Restorative Justice in Indian Country Summit at Marquette University

·         Board of Regents and Executive Council attended the WIEA conference, meeting with WEIA and state representatives.

·         Participated in the UW System Tribal Consultation.

·         All regular employees completed Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Training in March of 2023.

·         A Nursing Faculty member completed her Master in Nursing Degree in May 2023 to comply with the State of Wisconsin requirements for our Nursing Program Faculty and enhance our Nursing Program.

·         Hired a full-time Nursing Faculty instructor in January who enrolled in the Master of Nursing degree program to work toward the State of Wisconsin requirements for our Nursing Program.

·         Hired a full-time Nursing Faculty instructor that has a Master of Nursing degree in February 2023.

·         We now have three Nursing Faculty, including the Program Director, that have Master of Nursing degrees and one working toward that degree.

·         Hired two full-time Recruiters in June 2023 to work toward increased enrollment.

·         Hired a Business Faculty instructor in June 2023.

About Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University

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

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University (LCOOU) is a non-profit Ojibwe tribal college. We are an open-door institution that is proud to serve American Indian students. LCOOU welcomes non-native students and celebrates a diverse student population at all of our locations.

Learn more at http://lco.edu