Indian tribes talk of creating virtual college

By The Associated Press

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BEND, Ore. — Indian tribes are talking about creating a virtual college that combines resources at reservations around the state.

The proposal, the first of its kind in the nation, also would allow reservation residents access to college courses at other schools.

Federal money would help pay for video or Web-based courses to link reservation classrooms or individual students.

A main goal would be to train and educate residents for reservation industries, said Wendell Jim, general manager of education for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

Tribal-education officials say the next step is approval from the nine tribal councils in Oregon.

Some courses might be created specifically to meet the needs of the reservations, including topics such as natural resources or casino management, said Clint Jacks, the Oregon State University extension agent for Jefferson County and Warm Springs.

Tribal experts also could teach courses in native languages, forestry and other topics that could be distributed to other campuses.

Another focus likely would be expanding the remedial-education program to help prepare students for degree programs.

Though many reservations, including Warm Springs, already have some local higher-education programs, the virtual college would expand education options.

Many reservation residents can't leave for school because they are already working locally, Jim said.

The program probably would start as a two-year college and be linked with four-year institutions, such as Oregon State University, said Bill McCaughan, the dean of the OSU Extended Campus program.

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