Tohono O'odham Community College is a regionally accredited, publicly supported tribal college in Sells, Arizona. TOCC’s student body is 88 percent American Indian/Alaskan Native. Tohono O’odham Community College serves approximately 216 students (61 percent female; 39 percent male). The college’s faculty/staff is 57 percent American Indian, half of whom are O’odham.
History
TOCC was founded in 1998 when the Tohono O’odham Nation chartered TOCC in Sells, Arizona. The tribe's career center formerly provided associate degrees and a variety of certificates. TOCC began accepting students two years later, with classes accredited through an intergovernmental agreement with Pima County Community College District in Tucson, AZ. TOCC was fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools in February 2003.
Programs
TOCC offers students the opportunity to earn associate degrees in liberal arts, business administration, and science and numerous certificates.
Mission
The TOCC mission is:
- to serve the residents of the Tohono O’odham Nation and nearby communities,
- to prepare students to contribute to the social, political, and economic needs of the Tohono O’odham Nation and the world
- to preserve the O’odham Himdag (cultural way of life).
Although as a public institution the college is open to students of all backgrounds, the school maintains a deep connection to the Tohono O'Odham culture. As part of their curriculum, all students will be exposed to the Himdag, which encompasses a wide array of traditional beliefs and practices of this native group.
Partnerships
TOCC is a member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), which is a community of tribally and federally chartered institutions working to strengthen tribal nations and make a lasting difference in the lives of American Indians and Alaska Natives. TOCC was created in response to the higher education needs of American Indians. TOCC generally serves geographically isolated populations that have no other means accessing education beyond the high school level.
See also
- American Indian College Fund (AICF)
- Vivian Juan-Saunders, former Vice President of Tohono O'odham Community College
References
External links
- Official website
- Bureau of Indian Education National Directory
