Leech Lake Tribal College facts for kids
 |
|
| Motto | Be Different, Be Unique |
|---|---|
| Type | Public tribal land-grant community college |
| Established | 1990 |
|
Academic affiliations
|
Space-grant |
| President | Helen Zaikina-Montgomery |
|
Administrative staff
|
70 |
| Location |
Cass Lake
,
,
United States
47°23′45″N 94°39′05″W / 47.39583°N 94.65139°W |
| Campus | Rural |
Leech Lake Tribal College (LLTC) is a special kind of college in Cass Lake, Minnesota. It is a public college that serves the Leech Lake Tribe. It helps students learn and get ready for jobs or more schooling. LLTC started in 1990. About 250 students attend, and most are from the Leech Lake and Red Lake Reservations. Around 8% of the students are not Native American.
Contents
A Look Back: Leech Lake College History
The Leech Lake Tribal Council started LLTC in July 1990. For the first two years, students took classes from other universities. These included the University of Minnesota Duluth and Bemidji State University.
In the fall of 1992, LLTC began offering its own classes. Students could earn Associate of Arts or Associate of Applied Science degrees. These degrees help students prepare for a job or to continue their education at a four-year college.
Becoming a Land-Grant College
In 1994, LLTC became a "land-grant college." This means it receives special support from the government. It was one of 31 tribal colleges to get this important title that year.
That same year, 17 students graduated from LLTC. By 1995, the number of graduates grew to 24. The college saw its highest number of students in the 2007-2008 school year. The graduating class of 2008 was the largest in LLTC's history.
Explore the Leech Lake College Campus
LLTC is located on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. This is in north central Minnesota. The campus is about three miles northwest of Cass Lake.
The college campus has two main academic buildings. It also has a library with a computer lab. There are three buildings for technical training. A community garden is also part of the campus. The campus covers about 22 acres of land.
Campus Locations Over Time
When LLTC first started, classes were held in different buildings. These included a log cabin and an old church. In 1994, the college moved to the old Cass Lake High School building.
In 2005, LLTC moved to its current location. In 2015, a new community library opened. It is called the Bezhigoogahbow Library. It was named after Larry P. Aitken, who founded the college.
Today, LLTC has about 70 staff members and 250 full-time students. Most students are from the Leech Lake Reservation. Others come from nearby reservations in northern Minnesota.
Working Together: College Partnerships
LLTC works with many other groups and colleges. This helps them offer the best education.
College Accreditation
In 1993, LLTC became an accredited vocational school. This means it met certain quality standards. In 2006, it received full accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. This is a very important step for any college.
LLTC is also a member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC). This group helps tribal colleges work together. LLTC often serves students in areas that are far from big cities.
Funding and Agreements
LLTC is a member of the National Association of Land Grant Institutions. The college gets most of its money from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This funding helps support tribal colleges.
LLTC has agreements with other universities. These are called "articulation agreements." They make it easier for LLTC students to transfer to other colleges. Some partners include Bemidji State University and the University of Minnesota Duluth.
How Leech Lake College is Run
The Leech Lake Tribal Council created the LLTC Charter in 1999. This document set up an independent board of trustees. This board helps guide the college.
In 2003, Leech Lake Tribal College became separate from the Tribal Council. It began handling its own money and staff. The IRS also recognized LLTC as a non-profit educational group. LLTC still works closely with the tribal government. The Tribal Council provides about 11% of the college's yearly funding.
College Sports: The Lakers
LLTC has sports teams called the Lakers. They compete in the Northern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
People of Leech Lake College
- Elaine Fleming: She works in the Arts and Humanities Department. She was also the Mayor of Cass Lake, Minnesota.
