Little Priest Tribal and Community College
Site Visit 8/1/02

The meeting took place in the main building of LPTC located in Winnebago, Nebraska. In attendance were Ann Downes, President; Dar Bales, IT Director; and Betty Red Leaf, Academic Dean.

I began the meeting by congratulating President Downes on her appointment to serve on President Bush's Board of Advisors on Tribal Colleges and Universities (http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/07-2002/07032002a.html).

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss future content and programming to be delivered and received via the Tachyon CPE. Currently the CPE serves two computer labs with research capabilities. This access will expand to another computer lab opening in the newly constructed Cultural Learning Center. The center will house the language and culture department, the new student center, the Ho-Chunk museum, and the tribal repatriation office. There will be a great deal of unique content available to be delivered from the center if desired and appropriate.

Dar and Betty highlighted plans to offer on-line coursework tentatively starting with the spring 2003 semester. The plan is to approach this endeavor carefully while slowly growing the project out starting with the basic skills classes. On-line courses will be helpful at LPTC's outreach sites at Dakota City and the Casino.

President Downes believes the partnership in AISEP is only a beginning. LPTC's membership in ADEC represents a starting point in how the college can become a good land grant institution. The ability to be a part of the larger land grant community is important in creating dialogue, linkages, and projects amongst and between the diverse institutions. She is especially interested in partnering with the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's).

============================================
Craig Campbell
Project Coordinator for
Tribal Colleges and Indian Affairs
American Distance Education Consortium (ADEC)
============================================