Tribal College gets $1.2 million for Phase II of new campus

By Kelly Custer

Pioneer Staff Writer

      CASS LAKE - Leech Lake Tribal College’s dream campus took a step closer to realization this week, after receiving $1.2 million from the U.S. Department of Education.

      It’s highly likely that the grant will be followed with an additional $1.2 million Department of Education grant for 2005-06, completely funding Phase II of the project, said Leah Carpenter, interim president of the Leech Lake Tribal College.

      The LLTC broke ground in mid-April at the future site of the $10 million college facility – built in phases – northwest of U.S. Highway 2, off Cass Country Road 75. When completed, the college will resemble a Thunderbird from an aerial view, a symbol important to Anishinabe culture. The wings, Phase I and Phase II, will hold classroom space, staff and administrative offices.

      Construction of Phase I, a $3 million building with classroom space to house current students and staff, should be completed in December.

      When Phase I is completed, the college will be able to vacate three buildings in downtown Cass Lake: the old high school, which is on lease from the Cass Lake School District; the old church annex and the parsonage next door, both which belong to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.

      The fate of the three buildings will be left up to the district and the tribe, respectively, Carpenter said.

      The administrative offices will remain where they are, in a building east of State Highway 371, until Phase II is completed.

      The LLTC is already making a positive economic impact on the area, Carpenter said. The annual payroll amounts to $2 million, with an additional $500,000 in benefits paid, and a grant program contributing $3 million a year – not to mention the new construction taking place.

      The most important piece, Carpenter said, is the social and educational impact the school creates.

      Currently, 100 students are enrolled for this fall, although the numbers usually jump between now and the first day of school, Carpenter said.

      Anyone can attend the college, native or non-native.

      “New students are coming in and talking about the new campus,” she said. “People are excited about it ... the community is really excited.” The LLTC has 11 full-time faculty and 10 adjunct faculty.

      Next year, Carpenter said she expects the college will hire additional faculty to accommodate student growth.

      When the college is completed, there will be a commons area, library, bookstore and cafeteria.

      This summer, some LLTC employees went door-to-door with packets of information on the college.

      They hope to work with Cass Lake High School, the Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School, Bemidji and Walker schools to recruit new students and speak with classes about personal experiences.

      “We all have stories of struggle and survival, and we’re hoping to give inspiration,” Carpenter said.

      The college offers associate of arts degrees in liberal education, early childhood education and Anishinabe studies. Associate of science degrees are available in food and nutrition and associate of applied science degrees in business management, law enforcement and food and nutrition.

      They also have diplomas in residential carpentry, construction electricity and commercial/industrial electricity and food and nutrition. And certificates in child development and law enforcement skills and training.