Comanche Nation College facts for kids

Comanche Nation College was a special kind of school called a tribal college. It was a two-year college, meaning students usually studied there for two years. Anyone could apply to study there. The college was in Lawton, Oklahoma, which is an important city for the Comanche Nation. The Comanche Nation started the college in 2002. It helped students learn and grow until it closed on July 31, 2017.

About Comanche Nation College

Comanche Nation College was the first tribal college ever started in the state of Oklahoma. It was created to help Native American students get a good education. The college was a place where students could learn new skills and prepare for their future careers.

College History and Founding

The Comanche Nation officially started Comanche Nation College in 2002. They created it as a community college for their people. This was a big step for the Comanche Nation. The college aimed to provide education close to home.

The college operated for about 15 years. It closed its doors on July 31, 2017. This happened because the college lost its special approval, called accreditation. Without this approval, it was hard for the college to get enough money to keep going.

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is like a stamp of approval for a college. It means that the school meets high standards for teaching and learning. Colleges need accreditation for their students to get financial aid. It also helps students transfer their credits to other schools.

Comanche Nation College tried to get this approval from a group called the Higher Learning Commission. They became a candidate for accreditation in 2012. However, they decided to stop the process in 2016. Because they could not get this approval, the college had to close in 2017.

How the College Was Run

The Comanche Nation set up a special group to guide the college. This group was called the Comanche Nation College Council. It was made up of leaders who knew a lot about education. The Comanche Nation is a recognized tribe in the United States.

There are many members of the Comanche Nation. About 13,679 people are officially part of the tribe. Around 6,000 of these members live near Lawton, Oklahoma. This is where the college was located.

College Partnerships

Comanche Nation College worked with other important groups. It was a member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. This group helps tribal colleges across the country. Comanche Nation College was the 36th member of this group. It was also the first tribal college in Oklahoma to join.

The college also partnered with Cameron University in Lawton. This partnership was very helpful for students. They could take classes at both colleges at the same time. This made it easier for them to move on to a four-year degree program.

Nursing Program Success

Comanche Nation College also had a special two-year nursing program. The Oklahoma Board of Nursing approved this program. This was a big achievement for the college. It was the first approved tribal nursing program in Oklahoma. This helped many students become nurses.

College Campus

The college was located in a building that used to be an elementary school. This means it was in a city area. The campus provided a place for students to learn and study.