The student senate of the Oglala Lakota College is comprised of 13 members. Representatives are students elected by their student body. Representation includes the 9 college districts, the Rapid City Extension, the Vocational Education Department, the nursing program and Manager as warrior program. Elections are held the first week of each fall semester and students hold the position for one full year. Meetings are held the second Friday of each month. The president of the student senate sits on the Board of Trustees representing student interests. The student senate is the governing entity of the student membership of the Oglala Lakota College.

Student Activities

1. Student Organization

Student involvement is a significant factor in the functioning and development of each district college center and the Oglala Lakota College student senate. Students are encouraged to participate in the election of a student organization, president, vice-president, secretary, and/or treasurer during the first student body meeting of the fall semester in each district.

These officers call student senate meetings throughout the academic year for consideration of matters of interests to students. Student government also promotes various student activities throughout the year. Oglala Lakota College employees may participate in the Student Organization but cannot serve as an officer on the Student Organization or Student senate.

A. Local Board Responsibilities

1. Local Boards are encouraged to work with student organizations to insure accountability and nondiscrimination of student organizations or activities which make use of college facilities, or college resources, or attempts to represent the views of all students. This can be accomplished through meetings and/or hearings on various proposals presented by student organizations.

2. The Local Board may authorize a group or activity as having college sponsorship and may withdraw such authorization upon a showing that the organization or activity is not operating according to its approved constitution, or other formal commitment to the Board.

3. Any student organization under official college sponsorship shall lose its approval upon a showing to the Local Board or Board of Trustees that it has endorsed, campaigned for, or lent deliberate support to a particular candidate for Tribal or District office; or that it has refused an equal forum to any publication or meeting regarding a policy or issue affecting the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

Student organizations in districts should raise their own monies if possible and may keep their own bank accounts both for these funds and for any monies given to them by the local boards. However, fiscal reports must be made to the local boards monthly

a. Approved student organizations are encouraged to develop operations, plans, and budgets specifying the conduct of their internal affairs. These plans should be explicit in terms of the approval of the expenditures of funds to Local Boards.

b. It is advisable that student organizations have faculty sponsorship, with an advisor that can assist in the development of operational plans. This would permit the organization to seek assistance on organizational matters if and when required.

It is advisable that student operational plans be filed with the OLC President. This is not an attempt to police student activities but a means of ensuring the rights of students and compliance with federal regulations.

Student Recognition

The college will annually recognize students for athletic achievement, and individual special attainment.

A. HONOR ROLL: PRESIDENT’S HONOR LIST

1. Students must have a GPA of 3.25 + in either category.

a. 6 to 11 credits (part-time) and 12 + (full time)

b. the Registrar will submit a list of eligible students at the end of each semester (indicated as Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior or Senior and identifying majors) to the Student Services Committee for recognition.

c. Student Services Committee will forward the names of the President’s honor list to the Executive Director of Institutional Development for media publication including students hometown newspaper.

d. At the end of the academic year the overall GPA of each semester will be recognized in each of the categories at the Student Awards Banquet.

2. A Student Awards Banquet will beheld at the end of the Spring Semester and rotated among the 9 districts annually. Awards will be in the following categories:

a. Academic Achievement – The President’s Honor List

b. All graduates with an overall average GPA of 3.25+ at the end of the year will be recognized. There will be three categories: 1.) Cum laude or (in Lakota) Woyatan Kici (3.25 +) 2.) Magna cum laude or (in Lakota) Woyatan Tanka Kici (3.50+) 3.) Summa cum laude or (in Lakota) Woyatan Iyotan Wanka Tuya Kici (3.72 +)

c. Athletic Achievement (will be attached and submitted at a later date).

B. SPECIAL ATTAINMENT

1. Individual students who have accomplishments or special honors, ect. Achieved in that academic year including previous summer.

2. All Students with perfect attendance for each semester will be recognized.

3. Alumnus who have accomplished their goals or have some significant achievement since graduating (such as: go on to get a degree B.S. or M.A. or Ph.D. ect.)

4. Community involvement

C. STUDENT AWARDS AT OLC GRADUATION

At the annual OLC graduation, cash awards are provided to outstanding graduates through OLC funds and private donations. With the exception of the Carol Reyer awards, the amount of cash awards are $250 for both OLC funded and private donation supported awards.

In order for the private donation supported awards to be accepted by the Board of Trustees, there must be funds for 5 consecutive private donation supported awards deposited with Oglala Lakota College.

The following are students awards that have established by the Board of Trustees with OLC funding.

1. Hattie Twiss Award

$250

Female 2 yr. Graduate with the highest GPA and any

tribal member.

2. Black Elk Award

$250

4 yr. Graduate with highest GPA, Indian or Non-Indian

3. Lloyd D. Eagle Bull Award

$250

First preference MA Graduate with a high GPA who exemplified Lakota values & shows Lakota leadership. Second preference, 4 yr. Graduate with the same criteria.

The following have been graduate awards that have been established by private donors:

1.Carol Reyer Award	$1000(2)	Female and male recipient who has struggled for a Bachelors with a high GPA and must be Oglala Lakota
2.Robert Gay Memorial Award	$250(4)	Male and female recipient – AA degree with Lakota studies major with highest GPA.
3.Patrick Hayes Memorial Award	$250	Male recipient with a 2 yr. Degree and any tribal member
4.The Spirit of Jeanne Smith Award	$250	A Graduate with a GPA of 3.0 or better, a biographical essay and two letters of recommendations.
5.Kathryn Fritz Salway Memorial Award	$250	A Nursing Student with Leadership, communication Skills and Outstanding dedication to academics.

YUOWANCA

Yuowanca, which means “coming together” is Oglala Lakota College’s Creative Arts Magazine. Students may submit original poetry, short stories, essays, photographs, or art work for publication. If students are interested in sending in their work for consideration, they may contact Deb Carpernter, Holly Boomer, or Martin Red Bear at Piya Wiconi. You may mail your work to: Oglala Lakota College, P.O. Box 490, Kyle, SD 57752.