The University of North Dakota's Department of Social Work and the Sitting Bull College on the Standing Rock Reservation are collaborating on a new undergraduate social work degree.
It will allow members of the Standing Rock communities and the surrounding areas to enroll in the UND program, taught at Sitting Bull.
"Students can go into the program, come out with an associate degree, if that's all they want to do," said UND College of Nursing Dean Denise Korniewicz. "If they want to build on the associate degree, it's seamless -- they go right into the bachelor's degree program. Then they can become licensed social workers."
Korniewicz says there's a lot of interest in the program.
"It's exciting for students, because they wanted to have a bridge program to further their education," said Korniewicz. "It's exciting for the community because the community needs it. And it's exciting for Siting Bull, because they're going toward a baccalaureate and master's degree program within their own college."
UND President Robert Kelley says the university already has a number of collaborations with Sitting Bull College, as well as the other tribal colleges in North Dakota.
"We've had a good history, strong traditions," said Kelley. "Not only do we want to continue it, we want to make it larger, deeper."
The program at Sitting Bull College starts Sept. 14.
