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Admissions Process New

Oglala Lakota College has streamlined the application process for admissions to make it as easy and hassle-free as possible for transfer students and veterans in particular.

New Student/Transfer Admissions
to Oglala Lakota College

All applicants seeking admission to Oglala Lakota College must send each of the items listed below, or complete tasks BEFORE admittance to the college:

  • Complete Application declaring a major. Students may only declare one major at a time while attending Oglala Lakota College.
  • A copy of high school transcripts, or certificate of high school equivalency (GED Diploma). This is MANDATORY. Students with a Bachelor's Degree or higher will be required to submit documentation verifying the degree(s) awarded.
  • Transfer students must send official college transcripts.
  • If the student is a tribal member of a Federally Recognized Tribe, verification will be required.
  • Complete College Readiness Assessment (see policy 70-300).
  • Transfer students who do not have approved transfer college credit for English Composition or Algebra must complete the college readiness assessment.

Any student falsifying information is subject to being dropped from all classes.

Oglala Lakota College does not admit under the Ability to Benefit criteria.

General Education Development Classes

Students who have not completed a high school degree and who do not have a G.E.D. may enroll for free G.E.D. classes at any of the college centers throughout the reservation. For further information, contact the college center director or tutor in their local district.

Registration for Courses

Registration can be completed at each one of the eleven district college centers throughout the Pine Ridge Reservation, the Cheyenne River Reservation, and at the Rapid City Extension. There is general registration for one week at each local district center, the Cheyenne River Reservation and the Rapid City Extension with pre-registration beginning in May and November for the fall and spring semesters. One week after registration will be the week for processing records.

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.

WIYOHPIYATA (West)

Wiyohpiyata meaning the cardinal direction of west is represented by the color black. The cycle begins in the west and continues clockwise. This direction is also known as the Wakinyan Oyate meaning Thunder Nation who teaches us that we must be courageous to overcome obstacles and difficulties in life (Bear Shield, et al, 2000). Graduate Students are required to demonstrate Wowacin Tanka meaning fortitude, Wohitika meaning courage and bravery, as well as Woksape meaning wisdom. Entering graduate students must endure and balance day-to-day obstacles of a family, geographical location, financial and personal responsibilities. The completion of the necessary core requirements for Graduate Studies Program(s) requires fortitude, courage and wisdom. Therefore, this is the starting point and the first stage of the entering graduate students' educational journey toward becoming a "Masters Candidate" and program completion.


Admission/Entrance Requirements

The Oglala Lakota College Graduate Studies Department accepts applications from new entering students one time per year for fall entry. Applications are due each spring semester, usually on the last Friday of April. Applications must be complete. All late applications will be reviewed for entry into the next academic year. Incomplete applications will not be accepted and will be returned as incomplete. All new entering students must meet the admission requirements listed below in order to be accepted into one of the degree programs. Students must be accepted into the graduate program and attend the Annual Graduate Studies Orientation, before registering for fall courses. The Graduate Studies Orientation is held in August of each year. All LMEA students must attend portfolio orientation. All graduate students must attend seminars as scheduled.


Admission Process

The following form is offered as an aid to ensure complete applications are submitted. Please submit application materials in one submission, either by email, by USPS or in person, with the exception of OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS and Letters of Recommendation, which may be submitted by college routing, email or by USPS directly from an institution or author. Late Submissions will not be accepted and incomplete submissions will not be considered.

Student Admissions Check List

Entering students must apply for acceptance into one of the degree programs by completing and submitting the following:

  1. Graduate application
  2. OLC Admissions Application (Online or Paper)
  3. $15.00 application fee
  4. All official transcripts specifying the date the degree was conferred (OLC Transcript Request)
  5. Degree of Indian blood or lineage form (Lineage Form)
  6. Current resume

Degree Program Requirements

Students must meet all graduate entrance requirements to gain full admission to the program. Students may be admitted on conditional status dependent on assessment scoring. Students who did not meet graduate entrance requirements are welcome to reapply. Students will not be considered for enrollment into any of the courses as a degree-seeking student until they have met entrance requirements and have been officially accepted into the program. Students may enroll in graduate core courses LAKM 603, LAKM 613, and LAKM 633 after acceptance. Course work is to be taken sequentially.

Each degree program has the following additional requirements:


Lakota Leadership and Management (LAKM)

Two Writing Samples

1) An autobiography that includes an answer to the question, “What distinguishes you as an excellent candidate for the Lakota Leadership and Management graduate program?”.

The following link will give information on the scoring benchmarks: Scoring Rubric

2) A statement of personal philosophy and vision of leadership emphasizing current issues in native communities or communities serving the native population.

The following link will give information on the scoring benchmarks: Scoring Rubric

Reference Letters

Three (3) reference letters from employers, community members, or colleagues, etc. Reference letters cannot be from immediate family members.

Reference letter criteria:

  • Reference letters must explain why the student is an excellent candidate for the Master of Arts degree in Lakota Leadership and Management.
  • Distinguish the students' Lakota Leadership professional and personal disposition.
  • Explain student professional and personal ethics.
  • Elaborate on the student's civic engagement within the workplace and/or community.

Students must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution matching the admission requirements for the degree to which they are applying. A complete application, with official documents, must be mailed directly to: Graduate Studies Department: Attention Graduate Studies Admissions, P.O. Box 490, Kyle, SD 57752.

Applicants must meet the following entrance requirements before being accepted as pre-admission status.

  • Must have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Must have a 2.50 cumulative GPA
  • Must have a 3.00 GPA in an undergraduate major field in 300 or higher-level coursework
  • Must have a 3.00 GPA in all undergraduate Language Arts coursework.
  • Receive a rating of 8 or equivalent to .42 or higher on each writing sample: Autobiography and Philosophy of leadership.
  • Score as an intermediate in the Technology Assessment

Lakota Leadership and Management: Education Administration (LMEA)

Two Writing Samples

1) An autobiography that includes an answer to the question, “What distinguishes you as an excellent candidate for the Lakota Leadership and Management: Education Administration graduate program?”.

The following link will give information on the scoring benchmarks: Scoring Rubric

2) A philosophy of education, including an answer to the questions: a) “How does your philosophy of education incorporate the mission and vision of the graduate program at Oglala Lakota College?” and b) “What is your vision of the way schools should be regarding the following:

  • Administration
  • Curriculum
  • Communication
  • Instruction
  • Community

The following link will give information on the scoring benchmarks: Scoring Rubric

Teaching Certificate

For the LMEA degree only, a copy of a current and valid teaching certificate in elementary or secondary education.

Reference Letters

Three (3) reference letters from employers, community members, or colleagues, etc. Reference letters cannot be from immediate family members.

Reference letter criteria:

  • Reference letters must explain why the student is an excellent candidate for the Master of Arts degree in Lakota Leadership and Management: Education Administration.
  • Distinguish the students' Lakota Leadership professional and personal disposition.
  • Explain student professional and personal ethics
  • Elaborate on the student's civic engagement within schools and the community.

Students must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution matching the admission requirements for the degree to which they are applying. A complete application, with official documents, must be mailed directly to: Graduate Studies Department: Attention Graduate Studies Admissions, P.O. Box 490, Kyle, SD 57752.

Applicants must meet the following entrance requirements before being accepted as pre-admission status.

  • Must have a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Must have received their undergraduate educational bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
  • Three years of verified teaching experience at the elementary level and/or secondary level on a valid elementary and/or secondary teachers certification or another endorsement that includes elementary and/or secondary grades. Two years must include classroom teaching.
  • Must have a current and valid teaching certificate in elementary or secondary education
  • Must have a 2.50 cumulative GPA
  • Must have a 3.00 GPA in an undergraduate major field in 300 or higher-level coursework
  • Must have a 3.00 GPA in all undergraduate Language Arts coursework.
  • Submit and receive a rating of 8 equivalent to .42 or higher on each writing sample: Autobiography and Philosophy of Leadership.
  • Score as an intermediate in the Technology Assessment