Admissions Process New

Former students of Oglala Lakota College not enrolled for two semesters or longer, must apply for readmission to the Registrar. Official transcripts of additional work completed at any other college, must be submitted.

Veterans

Veterans wishing to attend the college may use their veterans’ educational benefits. New students need to pick up an application at the Registrar's office. Continuing students should notify the Registrar to fill out an enrollment certification for the semester(s) they will be attending Oglala Lakota College.

The veteran will need to visit the Registrar's Office and sign the enrollment certification one month before classes begin to receive certification and authorization prior to registration in order to receive monthly subsistence without delay.

Application Procedure

Processing of an application will begin only when the application form, application fee, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and test data as required by the department are received in the Nursing Department. If an applicant fails to complete the application file by the last Friday of January deadline for the proposed term, a new date of entry will need to be specified. Students will be selected only in the Spring, to begin the nursing program the following Fall semester, providing they have met all prerequisite requirements.

Complete application files will include:

1. Application form fully completed
2. Three letters of reference, using nursing department reference form, from non-relatives or friends; employers, teachers/instructors preferred.
3. Certificate of Degree of Indian blood/tribal enrollment if applying to OLC for the first time.
4. Official high school transcript or GED if not already on file.
5. Official college transcripts from all othercolleges, universities, or post-secondary schools attended unless already on file at OLC Registrar’s Office ONLY if pre-requisite courses were taken outside of OLC.
6. Official high school transcript or GED if not already on file.
7. Typed Essay (five paragraphs of 100 to 150 words each) must address the following items:
1. why you have chosen nursing as a career,
2. life events that contributed to your decision to be a nurse,
3. people who influenced you,
4. what types of nursing interest you, and
5. what you hope to do with your nursing degree.
6. 
   Include the four Lakota valuesin any way you can in your essay as you relate them to aspects of nursing:
   
   
7. Respect,
8. Wisdom,
9. Courage, and
10. Generosity
    
    
8. Pre-admission entrance testing(to be conducted after applications completed –students will be notified of testing date and time)
9. Proof of Certified Nursing Assistant licensure or successful completion of OLC Nursing Department C.N.A. course.(needs to be completed prior to starting Nursing program if accepted)
10. Applications and all related documents should be mailed to:
    
    Oglala Lakota College-Department of Nursing
    P.O. Box 8611 Nursing Way
    Pine Ridge, SD 57770

Selection Criteria

Students who have completed pre-requisites will be selected according to the following criteria:

1. G.PA. of 2.8or better
2. Tribal Enrollment priority as follows:
   
1. Enrolled members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe who are veterans
2. Enrolled members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe
3. Enrolled members of other Lakota Tribes who are veterans
4. Enrolled members of other Lakota Tribes (Rosebud Priority)
5. Other enrolled Tribal members
3. Reference letters and personal interviews that evaluate personal characteristics desired in health professionals and that are reflective of Lakota values including the following:
1. Ability to work with people
2. Potential for leadership
3. Personal initiative
4. Growth potential
5. Concern for others
6. Motivation
7. Integrity
8. Reliability
9. Communication skills
4. When in the judgmentof the Nursing Department Admission Committee the program can accommodate additional students, non-Indian applicants who meet all other requirements will be selected according to the following criteria:
1. Commitment to remain in the service area as evidenced by:
1. Living in the service area for more than 10 years thus demonstrating permanent residence
2. Having permanent family/relative ties in the community

The number of students admitted for each fall semester will not exceed available faculty or clinical laboratory resources and will be determined prior to the convening of the Nursing Department Admission Committee.
Admissions Committee membership is comprised of Nursing Faculty/staff and outside members appointed by the Nursing Department Chair, and approved of by the V.P. for Instruction.
Provisional selection of students and alternates for the Fall semester will be made pendingthe successful completion of Spring prerequisite courses.
The applicant will be notified bythe end of June,prior to Fall entry.You will be asked to come in for an interviewandwill be scheduled for admission testing.