To serve the little ones, SBC houses a language immersion nest and children’s learning center.

Sitting Bull College (SBC) student Austin Kasto’s morning begins like so many other young mothers. She gets herself and her two young children ready to leave, kisses her husband goodbye, and jumps in their family van to take the children to daycare. But unlike many other young mothers, Kasto drops her young son, Wanbli, at the Lakȟól’iyapi Wahóȟpi—the Sitting Bull College Immersion Nest— where he speaks only Lakota for the entire day; she drops her daughter at the Kampus Kids Learning Center, located conveniently across the hall; and then she reports to her job as assistant to the SBC president where she juggles her administrative responsibilities with her school work.

Kasto will be graduating from SBC soon with a major in business. She then plans to begin work on her master’s degree. Like so many SBC students, Kasto has found an educational and family-friendly home at Sitting Bull College where the vision of Sioux leader Sitting Bull is alive and well: “Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children. Wakháŋyeža kiŋ lená épi čha táku waštéšte iwíčhuŋkičiyukčaŋpi kte,” he proclaimed. Indeed, a key element of the SBC mission is supplying assistance to those students who are tackling their secondary education with the added responsibilities of caring for a family.

Not only is childcare available, but SBC offers student families access to homes as part of campus housing services. Presently, SBC has 10 two-bedroom homes and eight three-bedroom homes available to rent—all of which are within walking distance to classes. For students living off campus, the SBC transit program offers free transportation on all bus routes, which stop in most Standing Rock Indian Reservation districts. Students’ children are also allowed to ride the bus for free.

SBC Student Services offers assistance to students and their families for financial setbacks through two partnerships. In the first, SBC joined Scholarship America Dreamkeepers, an emergency financial aid program. After completing the required paperwork, students may be eligible for assistance with expenses that include childcare, food, gas, housing/rent, medical/ dental, personal automobile, public transportation/bus passes, and utilities. SBC also teamed up with Herring Bank to offer students access to a Mázaska Card. With this card, students can access their excess financial aid via direct deposit instead of using paper checks. The bank helps students open a checking account that includes ATM usage, no-fee purchases, and online access.

SBC Student Services provide a variety of other forms of assistance to help students academically and personally. Academic support includes a variety of tutoring options and writing lab and library hours designed to meet all students’ schedules. More personal support includes access to the SBC food pantry where families can obtain free groceries and clothing. The pantry is stocked with clothing, food, and monetary donations from staff, faculty, and community members. SBC staff members have even designated one area of the pantry, the “career closet,” for professional clothing to assist

students with preparation for career opportunities.

By taking into account the whole person and the varied challenges and responsibilities each student faces, SBC helps students move forward in not only careers, but in life. Sitting Bull College recognizes the success of our community is in part based on the success of our students.