Iḷisaġvik College facts for kids
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| Motto | Honoring your past, preparing for your future |
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| Type | Public tribal land-grant community college |
| Established | 1996 |
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Parent institution
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North Slope Borough |
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Academic affiliations
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UArctic; AIHEC |
| President | Justina Wilhelm |
| Location |
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United States
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| Campus | Rural |
Iḷisaġvik College (pronounced i-li-SAHG-vik) is a special kind of college in Utqiaġvik, Alaska. It's the only college in Alaska that is run by a Native American tribe. It's also the northernmost college in the United States!
This college is located in a huge area called the Alaska North Slope. This area is mostly Arctic tundra. It's a very remote place. You can only reach it by an ice road in winter. Most people travel there by plane.
Iḷisaġvik College helps students get different types of degrees. These include a bachelor's degree in business and associate's degrees. They also offer one-year certificates and classes to help adults prepare for their GED tests.
In 2020, the college's dental therapy program made history. It was the first program in the U.S. to be fully approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. This means it meets high standards for training dental therapists.
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How Iḷisaġvik College Started
Iḷisaġvik College got its current name in 2005. But its story began earlier, in 1986. It started as a partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
The college was created because Native American and Alaskan Native people wanted more control over their own education. This idea grew strong in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The North Slope Borough government was formed in 1972. This was a big step for the Iñupiat people to regain control of their culture.
The college helps people in remote areas get a higher education. These areas might not have other ways to access college classes. In 1995, the North Slope Borough officially made Iḷisaġvik College its own independent school.
The college moved into a building once used by the United States Naval Arctic Research Laboratory. In 1996, it also took over the Iñupiat Heritage Center. This center helps preserve the Iñupiat culture.
From 1995 to 2005, the college was led by Edna Ahgeak MacLean. She is an Iñupiat educator from Utqiaġvik. In 1997, the college helped start the Consortium for Alaska Native Higher Education.
In 2005, Iḷisaġvik College became the first and only Tribal College in Alaska. The U.S. government recognized it as a tribal college in 2007. The next year, it was named a land-grant college. This means it gets federal support to help with education and research.
College Leaders
Iḷisaġvik College has mostly been led by Native educators. Many of them are local Iñupiat people. The current president is Justina Wilhelm.
What Students Learn at Iḷisaġvik College
The college was approved to offer degrees in 2003. It offers a bachelor's degree in business administration. Students can also earn associate's degrees and one-year certificates. They can also take classes to prepare for their GED test.
The programs at Iḷisaġvik College are special. They include Iñupiat traditions, values, and culture. This helps students connect with their heritage. The programs also train students for jobs.
In 2018, the college hoped to add a second bachelor's degree program. This would be in elementary education, with a focus on indigenous teaching.
The college's Alaska Dental Therapy Educational Program is very important. It started in 2004. By 2017, this program helped provide dental care to 40,000 more people. Most of these people live in rural areas of Alaska.
Working Together
Iḷisaġvik College is part of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC). This group helps tribal colleges work together. They aim to make higher education stronger in tribal communities.
How the College is Run
The Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS) tribal government supports Iḷisaġvik College. The college makes sure that Iñupiaq values are part of everything they do. They believe these values make their students and the college community stronger.
By staying true to Iñupiat culture, Iḷisaġvik College helps keep the language and traditions alive. It's a unique college that helps students learn modern skills. The goal is for graduates to use their traditional values in today's world. This helps both the students and their culture grow.
Where is the Campus?
The college campus is located in a place that used to be the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory.
The college library is called the Tuzzy Consortium Library. It's named after Evelyn Tuzroyluk Higbee. She was an important person on the college's first Board of Higher Education.
See also
