MDC Establishes Academic Partnership With The Miccosukee Tribe Of Indians
Miami Dade College and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida are joining forces to make academic dreams come true.
On Sept. 12, they signed an agreement to offer MDC classes and student services at the Miccosukee Indian Reservation located along the Tamiami Trail, starting next spring.
Classes will include general education courses such as those offered at other MDC campuses. Because recruiting for the cohort has just started, it’s unclear how many students will participate.
“I’m a bit privileged to be part of the first cohort,” said the 19-year-old Heide Cypress who is majoring in political science. “Our ancestors were not even able to access these resources really easily, so I commend Miami Dade College for entering this agreement because they clearly see [a] future within us.”
For the past year, younger tribal members were offered dual enrollment course, which allow high school students to gain college credits. Classes were offered virtually and at West Campus, which is more than 30 miles from the reservation and a 45-minute drive.
“We’re making sure that physical distance is no longer a barrier to being able to take college classes,” said West Campus President Beverly Moore-García. “[Tribal members have] always been able to sign up [for] online classes, but, as a student, you want to actually take a class with other students and a teacher, and they’ve never had that opportunity to do so in their own community.”
As part of the arrangement, the College will provide staff at the Miccosukee Reservation to assist with student services such as admissions, registration, advisement, course placement and certification exams.
Staff from the Idea Center will host workshops about entrepreneurship to help tribal members scale up their small businesses.
“We saw a unique opportunity to partner with MDC because a lot of our students don’t have anything to lean on when it comes to the experience of going to college,” said Chairman Talbert Cypress of the Miccosukee Tribe, who oversees the business council of tribal members and employees of the tribe. “It’s important to provide a structure for them, so they can best succeed rather than just tossed on a campus.”
Tuition, fees, books and supplies will be funded by the Tribe. Additionally, they will provide tribal members with spaces such as a media center and gymnasium, classrooms, labs and offices.
Garret Rockwell, 23, a future anthropology student, sees the partnership as a game changer.
“I really hope it puts some enthusiasm into [the younger generation], and they realize that the opportunity that they have now to pursue higher education is a lot easier than they believe it is,” Rockwell said.
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