Institutional Mission Statement
Turtle Mountain Community College is committed to functioning as an autonomous Indian controlled college on the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation focusing on general studies, undergraduate education, Career & Technical Education, scholarly research, and continuous improvement of student learning. By creating an academic environment in which the cultural and social heritage of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa is brought to bear throughout the curriculum, the college establishes an administration, staff, faculty, and student body exerting leadership in the community and providing service to it.
Institutional Goals
Turtle Mountain Community College hereby establishes the following goals:
- A learning environment stressing the application of academic concepts to concrete problems;
- Academic preparation for learning as a life-long process of discovery of knowledge embedded in the intellectual disciplines and the traditions of the tribe;
- In and out of class opportunities to discover the nature of Indian society, its history, variation, current and future patterns, needs and to serve as a contributing member toward its maintenance and betterment;
- A curriculum wherein Indian tribal studies are an integral part of all courses offered as well as history, values, methods, and culture of Western society;
- Continuous assessment of institutional programs and student academic achievement for the purpose of continuous improvement of student learning;
- Baccalaureate, Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science degrees and certificate programs of study;
- Cooperation with locally Indian-owned business and stimulation of economic development for the service area;
- Continued independent accreditation; and
- Community service and leadership.
Institutional Philosophy
Turtle Mountain Community College is a tribal community college with obligations of direct community service to the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe. Under this unifying principle, the college seeks to maintain, seek out, and provide comprehensive higher education services in fields needed for true Indian self-determination.
The Seven Teachings of the Anishinabe People
The philosophical foundation of the college is embedded in the system of values that stem from the heritage and culture of the Anishinabe people and expressed in the Seven Teachings of the Tribe.
- To cherish knowledge is to know WISDOM.
- To know LOVE is to know peace.
- To honor Creation is to have RESPECT.
- BRAVERY is to face the foe with integrity.
- HONESTY in facing a situation is to be honorable.
- HUMILITY is to know yourself as a sacred part of the Creation.
- TRUTH is to know all of these things.