Desiree Linden was named the White Earth Tribal and Community College Student of the Year at the American Indian Higher Education Consortium student conference in Billings, Montana. Each year the American Indian College Fund recognizes students at the annual conference who represent the best of their institutions. The award is sponsored by the Adolph Coors Foundation and each recipient receives a $1,000 scholarship.

Desiree maintains a 4.0 GPA and serves as a tutor. Dr. Steven Dahlberg wrote in his nomination letter that “[Desiree] is a profoundly positive leader who sets the tone in every course and group she participates in. She consistently mentors students who are struggling, and is a major, if unofficial, force in our retentions efforts.”

Desiree graduates this Spring with an Associate of Arts degree with an emphasis in Education. She will be continuing her studies this fall at Minnesota State University Moorhead and wants to become an elementary school teacher.

WETCC will be offering two new online classes this summer. The Creative Writing and Intro. to Humanities classes will be offered as online hybrid courses. Hybrid classes have both in-class and online studies allowing students flexibility in fitting classes into their busy schedules. Many WETCC students work, raise children, and/or have long commutes to campus. By offering hybrid classes it is hoped that students will be able to save time and money. This will aid retention and keep students on track to graduate. These two courses will pave the way for future hybrid class offerings.

In addition to the two hybrid classes WETCC is also offering three other classes for the summer: Woodland Pottery, Biology of Plants, and a Native American Studies Special Topics/Ojibwe Language Camp.

Biology of Plants will be taught by Dr. Steve Dahlberg and is part of the Environmental Sciences track.

Students in the Native American Studies Special Topics class will travel to the Red Cliff Ojibwe Language camp in Wisconsin. Students will camp for the four-day cultural immersion camp. Both Ojibwe language lessons and traditional hands-on skills are taught at the camp.

Woodland Pottery class participants will learn the history of woodland pottery. Students will gather, prepare, and use the clay that gave White Earth its name. Artisan Judy Toppings will instruct the class and has been working with Woodland Pottery for over twenty years. This class is open to Non-degree seeking community members.

For more information about enrolling for classes contact:

Sheila M. Michaels
Interim Academic Dean/Faculty
Email
218-935-0417, Extension 326

Eugene Klinke
Dean of Student Services
Email
218-935-0417, Extension 304

William Stech
Admissions/Recruitment Coordinator
Email
218-935-0417, Extension 335

2014 Summer Schedule

The White Earth Tribal and Community College Council of Trustees is pleased to introduce our new President, Terry Janis. Mr. Janis began duties as President on Monday, April 21, 2014.

Terry Janis is Oglala Lakota from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. He comes to our college after working as the Project Manager for the White Earth Nation Constitution Reform process and eight years as Program Officer at the Indian Land Tenure Foundation in Little Canada, Minnesota. Prior to that, he worked for the Northwest Area Foundation where he helped to design and implement Northwest Area’s rural leadership program, Horizons.

Over the years, Janis has worked extensively on Native American and international indigenous education and human rights issues. Working through organizations such as the University of  Arizona, the Indian Law Resource Center, and Northern Arizona University, Terry Janis has consistently combined education and law to work with Indian leaders and students to advocate for indigenous rights.

"It is with great honor and humility that I accept the Presidency of White Earth Tribal and Community College. WETCC is a strong institution with faculty and staff who are highly skilled and committed to providing the best college education for the people of White Earth. There have been struggles in the past year, but I have seen current faculty and staff overcome those struggles and maintain their focus and love for the students and community of White Earth. In the months and years ahead we will build on this strength to make WETCC the strongest tribal and community college in the nation."

Terry Janis holds a bachelor’s degree from Macalester College, a master’s in education from Harvard University, and a law degree from the University of Arizona. He has been married to his wife, Olivia, for 28 years and has a 19 year old son.

Please help us all welcome Terry as we continue to dedicate our efforts to educational excellence through provision of a culturally relevant curriculum, in partnership with students, staff, community, and industry.