Page 24 - November report 2023

NEBRASKA INDIAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE SITE VISIT
SEPTEMBER 12, 2023
NICC Meeting Participants
Dean Dawne Price, Dean of Student Services Dr. Michael Oltrogge, President
JSF Meeting Participants
Rick Williams, JSF Indigenous Consultant John Glover, JSF Indigenous Consultant
After introductions, we reviewed the agenda and asked for an overview of the scholarship program at NICC. This was John Glover’s first site visit to a tribal college or university, and Rick and John used the opportunity to have an extended conversation with Dean Price.
The Dean described the relevant NICC organizational structures mentioning a new hire and part time NICC student, Financial Advisor Krista Costello (Omaha). The Dean explained that there was no specific JSF Committee, rather the NICC Scholastics Committee she led (8-10 staff members) reviewed and awarded all NICC scholarships.
We expressed our concerns about the limited number of scholarships awarded during the past 2 years. This last year, only 7 students received scholarships through the Johnson Scholarship Foundation. Our desk audit revealed that 1 of the students was not eligible for funding. The student is no longer enrolled at the institution. We had a lively discussion about the JSF requirement that a student must be enrolled in at least two business courses or prerequisites for the business degree. The Dean argued that if a student were enrolled in a degree-seeking program, the requirements for the degree program would satisfy the two-course requirement. It was a matter of semantics and will require a follow-up after we review the new courses.
We reviewed the application for the scholarship to ensure that there was a waiver signed by the students in the application. Dean provided her own “JSF Checklist” used to confirm eligibility:
JSF student scholarship requirements:
• Must be Native American
• Must be first AA or BA Business degree. 50% of courses are in business. • Full time award levels
• 2.0 – 3.0 $4,000 or pro-rated based on enrollment
• 3.0 and up $6,000 or pro-rated based on enrollment
• Must be a business degree or certificate student.
• Must not be employed at NICC beyond FWS or internships.
• Pell eligible within COA.
A recommendation was made regarding the need for a separate JSF committee that selects the awardees. The Dean noted that every eligible student in the recent semesters who filled out an application received an award. Rick made it clear that if all the scholarship award money is not expended this year, it could jeopardize the future relationship with JSF.
She was very excited about the new opportunities at Nebraska Indian Community College, with the addition of a bachelor of business program. The new four-year degree business program includes many courses that cover tribal governance and management. This business program appears to be very similar to the program funded at Northwest Indian College.
President Oltrogge joined the discussion roughly halfway through the meeting.
Page 22 November Report