Continuing Education / GED
Oglala Lakota College offers a comprehensive program for students wanting to enroll in continuing education, earn their high school equivalent, or get their GED.
The vision of the Community and Continuing Education and GED departments is “Rebuilding the Lakota Nation through education”. Their mission is to provide community members brief learning experiences that are relevant to their personal and professional lives. Since its implementation in 1973, the Community and Continuing Education Department has been providing learning experiences for people who are wanting to complete their GED high school equivalent, or just continue learning outside of seeking a degree. In the beginning, the major focus of the department was GED testing. In the years that followed, the department grew to include Community Education, life-coping skills workshops, adult basic education and GED tutoring. The name of the department was changed from Adult Education to Community and Continuing Education. This was translated directly from the Lakota Language as "Tiospaye Iciyohikeya Wounspe," which means community and continuing education, which serves in the spirit, mission and purpose of the college.
Oglala Lakota College identified the following Community purposes:
- Support local communities in educational and other development
- Engage people as active, productive members of their tiospaye and communities
- Offer framework for leadership development in the context of communities and organizations
- Provide lifelong learning through continuing education and community activities
Community and Continuing Education
Oglala Lakota College’s continuing education plays a key role in community outreach. Continuing education refers to learning experiences that are connected neither to a specific degree nor academic credit course but that provides participants with continuing education in a particular field. Examples are professional training, post-graduate experiences, Lakota culture, physical education, in-service training and conferences. Participants earn continuing education credits (CEUs) instead of academic credit.
Pursuant to the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act, Oglala Lakota College follows the criteria identified by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) in determining which activities allow for award of CEUs (see Policy 78-200).
Community Education is a philosophical concept that serves the entire reservation community by providing resources to meet the educational needs of its community members. In addition to the efforts of this program to develop a positive sense of community, improve community living, and develop the community process toward the goal of self-actualization, it works towards being a driving catalyst to unite community members and assess needed resources to create positive future growth.
This department also focuses on career counseling to provide resources and advice to students to better help them reach their professional goals. Each student will complete a Career Occupational Preference System Interest Inventory. This inventory assists the students in the selection of a career, and allows them the opportunity to pursue their career choice.
GED
The Community and Continuing Education Department offers a program responsive to the needs of the people of the Pine Ridge Reservation. The department tutors are responsible for preparing students for taking the GED tests. The instruction provided for each student is on an individualized basis set up to meet the needs of the student. Tutoring is provided at each of the local college centers. The majority of Community and Continuing Education Department tutors are bilingual and live in the community they serve. The department also offers lifelong learning through life coping skills workshops, and other continuing education opportunities.
Areas that GED students will be tested on include:
- Adult Basic Education Skills Tutoring in Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking, and Mathematics.
- GED Tutoring in high school subjects of Writing, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science.
- GED Testing Services is provided with PearsonVue.
- Life Coping Skills Workshops are short courses in many areas such as; Financial Literacy, Job Skills, Law and Government, Lakota Culture and Health.
- Career Counseling and Job Seeking Skills.
- Family Literacy
Oglala Lakota College Mission
To provide community members brief learning experiences that are relevant to their personal and professional lives.
Kateri Montileaux; Community/Continuing Education Coordinator
GED Tutors
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Carol Big Crow |
Pine Ridge College Center |
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Matthew Janis |
Pejuta Haka College Center (Kyle) |
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Cherilyn Black Feather |
LaCreek College Center (Martin) |
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Vacant |
Eagle Nest College Center (Wanblee) |
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Conrad Osbourne |
East Wakpamni College Center (Batesland) |
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Aloysius Wounded Head |
Pahin Sinte College Center (Porcupine) |
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Gerald Cottier |
Wounded Knee College Center (Manderson) |
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Talon Mesteth |
White Clay College Center (Oglala) |
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Sandra Shot With Arrow |
Pass Creek College Center (Allen) |
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Rhea LeCompte |
Cheyenne River Center (Eagle Butte) |
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Jordan Herman |
He Sapa College Center (Rapid City) |