- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
Pawnee Nation College (PNC) and Tulsa Community College (TCC) have established a partnership aimed at supporting PNC’s path to full accreditation and expanding educational opportunities for students in the Pawnee Nation and other rural areas.
Leaders from both colleges met Friday at TCC’s West Campus to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that formally launches the collaboration. Under the agreement, PNC will operate within TCC’s academic and administrative framework as it seeks accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission—an essential requirement for institutions granting fully recognized degrees.
As part of the partnership, TCC will offer academic support, faculty collaboration, and student services designed to build PNC’s institutional strength. Meanwhile, PNC will continue its commitment to providing education that reflects the culture and traditions of the Pawnee Nation and surrounding communities.
Founded in 2004, PNC is a tribally controlled institution based in Pawnee, Oklahoma, serving both traditional and non-traditional students. In collaboration with TCC, it will offer degree programs in Business Administration, Child Development, and Environmental Science and Natural Resources.
The agreement also grants students immediate access to key TCC resources, including academic advising, library services, and institutional policies, while creating a long-term foundation for growth and development at PNC.
This collaboration marks a significant step forward for higher education in Oklahoma, particularly for students in rural and tribal areas who have long encountered obstacles to earning a college degree.
More Stories Like This
Hanging a Red Dress for Christmas: MMIP, Native Higher Education, and Hope for a Better New YearNative Students Can Win $5,000 Scholarship, International Distribution in Pendleton Design Contest
American Indian College Fund Raises Alarm Over Plan to Shift Native Programs Away From the Dept. of Education
MacKenzie Scott Foundation Gives $5 Million Contribution to Little Priest Tribal College
Tribal Leaders Push Back on Dismantling of U.S. Department of Education
Help us defend tribal sovereignty.
At Native News Online, our mission is rooted in telling the stories that strengthen sovereignty and uplift Indigenous voices — not just at year’s end, but every single day.
Because of your generosity last year, we were able to keep our reporters on the ground in tribal communities, at national gatherings and in the halls of Congress — covering the issues that matter most to Indian Country: sovereignty, culture, education, health and economic opportunity.
That support sustained us through a tough year in 2025. Now, as we look to the year ahead, we need your help right now to ensure warrior journalism remains strong — reporting that defends tribal sovereignty, amplifies Native truth, and holds power accountable.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Your support keeps Native voices heard, Native stories told and Native sovereignty defended.
Stand with Warrior Journalism today.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
