MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA: The Cheyenne and Arapaho Legislature voted unanimously to charter Bacone College on September 24, 2019. Cheyenne and Arapaho Governor, Reggie Wassana, executed the resolution at the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Headquarters in Concho, Oklahoma where he formally announced the tribe’s decision to charter Bacone College as it applies for tribal college status.
“We are proud to charter Bacone College as a tribal college which will provide higher educational opportunities for our students, “ said Governor Wassana. “This partnership offers accessibility and affordability for our students to pursue a college degree in our community as well as at the main, historic, campus in Muskogee.”
“We greatly appreciate the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes joining us as the fourth Oklahoma tribe to support our movement in becoming a tribal college,” said Dr. Ferlin Clark, Bacone College President. “Our goal of forming a consortium of Oklahoma tribes continues to grow as we strive to rebuild Bacone College to offer higher educational opportunities for our Native students.”
The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes join the United Keetoowah Band, the Osage Nation, and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe in chartering Bacone College as it applies for tribal college designation.
“I am proud that the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes has joined us in our shared goal to serve American Indian students as we build a consortium of tribes to transform Bacone College into a tribal college,” said W. Richard West, Jr., President of the Bacone College Board of Trustees.
Aside from securing chartering resolutions from federally-recognized tribes, additional requirements to be designated a tribal college to receive federal and other public funds, include having a minimum American Indian Student enrollment of 51%, submitting formal applications, conducting a site visit, and assuring tribal engagement. Currently, the American Indian student enrollment at Bacone College is at 65%.
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Legislator and Speaker, Patrick SpottedWolf, sponsored the resolution, and the entire Legislature voted unanimously, 8-0-0 to sponsor Bacone College as a Tribal College, including encouraging long time donors and potential donors to continue supporting Bacone College.