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Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College stresses tribal charter, new elementary education bachelor's and rising enrollment
Summary
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College President Anita Hanson described the college's tribal charter, unique legal status within Minnesota State, a new elementary education bachelor's program to address the American Indian teacher shortage, and recent enrollment gains.
Anita Hanson, president of Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College (FDLTCC), told the Senate Higher Education Committee that FDLTCC occupies a unique place in Minnesota higher education: tribally chartered, recognized by the legislature and the only tribal college created under federal law that operates as a community college within a state system.
Hanson reviewed the college's history, the 2009 memorandum of understanding that defines the governing relationship with the Minnesota State Board of Trustees, and recent program and enrollment developments that the college says were enabled by state funding.
"Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College is a truly special institution," Hanson said. She told committee members the college was tribally chartered in 1987 and recognized by the Minnesota Legislature that same year. Hanson noted that in October 2022 the college obtained approval to offer a bachelor's degree in elementary education designed to integrate Anishinaabe knowledge and to meet Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) standards.
Hanson said state funding in fiscal years 2024 and 2025 had allowed the college to upgrade equipment and learning environments, provide workforce scholarships and emergency grants, and she reported on increases in on‑campus headcount and full‑year equivalent (FYE) for fall 2024 and spring 2025. She also highlighted FDLTCC's Leah Meyer Austin Award from Achieving the Dream in February 2024 for campuswide work on student success.
Hanson identified criminal justice/peace officer training and the associate degree in nursing as two large workforce programs at FDLTCC. She invited legislators to visit the campus and emphasized the college's decades‑long work with tribal nations and American Indian students.
The committee did not take action during the presentation; Hanson closed by thanking members for the invitation and support.
