Salish Kootenai College facts for kids
| Type | Private tribal land-grant community college |
|---|---|
| Established | 1977 |
|
Academic affiliations
|
American Indian Higher Education Consortium American Association of Community Colleges Space-grant |
| President | Sandra Boham |
| Students | 850 |
| Location |
,
U.S.
|
| Campus | Rural |
| Nickname | Bison (Lady Bison) |
| Affiliations | Bitterroot Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d'Oreilles |
Salish Kootenai College (SKC) is a private college located in Pablo, Montana. It is a special type of school called a tribal college. SKC was created to help students from the Bitterroot Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d'Oreilles tribes.
The main campus of SKC is on the Flathead Reservation. There are also three smaller campuses in eastern Washington state. These are in Colville, Spokane, and Wellpinit. While anyone can attend SKC, its main goal is to support Native American students.
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History of SKC
SKC started in 1977. Before that, it was part of another college called Flathead Valley Community College. In 1981, SKC became its own independent college. This meant it could make its own rules and decisions.
In 1994, SKC was named a land-grant college. This special title helps the college get support for teaching and research.
SKC's Satellite in Space
In 2015, something very exciting happened! Students and teachers at SKC designed a small satellite. It was called BisonSat. NASA helped launch BisonSat into space. This made SKC the first tribal college to have its own satellite in orbit. BisonSat's main job was to take pictures of Earth.
What You Can Study at SKC
SKC offers many different programs for students. You can earn a bachelor's degree, which usually takes four years. They also have associate degree programs, which are shorter. Plus, you can get special certificates in certain skills.
Most of these programs help students get ready for a job or career. But you can also choose to study subjects like the liberal arts. These courses help you learn about many different topics. SKC also has programs focused on Native American Studies.
Working with Other Colleges
SKC is a member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. This group is like a team of tribal colleges. They work together to make tribal nations stronger. They also help improve the lives of American Indian and Alaska Native people.
SKC was created to help Native American students get a college education. Many of these students live in places far from other colleges. SKC gives them a chance to continue their learning after high school.
Sports at SKC
The sports teams at SKC are called the "Bison" for men's teams and "Lady Bison" for women's teams. They are very successful!
The men's basketball team has won the American Indian Higher Education Consortium Basketball Championships several times. They won in 2005, 2006, 2007, and again in 2014. The women's team has also won the championship in 2003, 2007, and 2014.
Scholarships for Students
Students at SKC can get help paying for college. There are scholarships available through the American Indian College Fund (AICF). Scholarships are like gifts of money that you don't have to pay back.