Bacone College: A Legacy in Peril

Bacone College, one of Oklahoma's oldest higher education institutions with a rich history of serving Native American students, is facing unprecedented challenges that threaten its very existence. Founded in 1880, the college has navigated numerous financial, enrollment, and accreditation crises. However, the current situation, including a possible sheriff's auction of its campus, paints a grim picture for the future of this historic institution.

A Storied Past: From "Indian University" to Bacone College

Originally known as "Indian University," Bacone College was established in 1880 by the American Baptist Home Mission Society. It holds the distinction of being America's first Native-serving institution and Oklahoma's first college. The Muscogee-Creek Nation played a crucial role in its establishment, chartering the college and donating the land that would become its permanent home.

In its early years, Bacone focused on providing education to Native Americans within a Christian framework, with the aim of assimilating Native students into White culture. Over time, the college evolved, and in 1910, it was renamed after its first president, Almon Bacone, a missionary teacher. His one-time colleague Laura Rockefeller convinced her husband, John D., to become a donor.

Bacone College made significant contributions to Oklahoma's educational landscape, including the establishment of the state's first associate degree nursing program. The institution also gained recognition for its renowned arts program, which fostered the "Bacone style" of Native American art. This style, characterized by action, bright colors, and a flat method of painting, had a widespread influence across Native communities. In 1932, Bacone established the Art Lodge, renamed Ataloa Hall in 1967, which was the vision of Ataloa McLendon, a faculty member and citizen of the Chickasaw Nation. “In the Bacone style, nostalgic, sometimes mythical, historical subjects were given stylized representation within clearly outlined areas of often brilliant color,” Nelson wrote.

Johnnie Diacon, a Muscogee, Thlopthlocco Tribal Town and Deer Clan citizen, fondly remembers his time at Bacone College in 1988, emphasizing the profound impact it had on his life and career as an Indigenous artist. He proudly acknowledges his alma mater's role in his success, stating, "I always make sure to mention that I’m an alumni of Bacone College. I was always proud of that heritage and legacy." Diacon recalls the vibrant atmosphere and camaraderie among students, highlighting the unique opportunity Bacone provided for Indigenous students to pursue higher education close to home. "You know, I think the Indigenous roots to this school are what kept it alive for so long," he said. "In the fact that at the time… where else could we go?"

Financial Woes and Leadership Instability

In recent years, Bacone College has been plagued by a multitude of financial problems, unstable leadership, and mismanagement, leading to a significant decline in enrollment and accreditation challenges. The college owes millions of dollars to numerous creditors, and its financial instability has made it difficult to maintain its campus and programs.

Nicky Michael, a Delaware Tribe of Indians citizen and former president of Bacone, described the dire state of the campus, noting the dilapidation of its historic buildings and the immense cost of repairs. She revealed that the college had been struggling to keep up with necessary maintenance, resorting to temporary fixes that masked underlying issues.

The college's financial struggles have been exacerbated by lawsuits from companies seeking payment for services rendered. For example, an HVAC company from Utah sued Bacone after the college was unable to pay for completed repairs. These legal battles have further strained the college's resources and added to its financial woes.

The situation became so critical that Dr. Michael decided to suspend classes temporarily to allow the college to recover. Northeastern State University offered to accept Bacone students, allowing them to transfer their credits and graduate on time. Despite these efforts, the college's problems persisted, and Michael eventually left her position.

Leslie Hannah, a Cherokee Nation citizen, replaced Michael as president. Since taking the position, he’s dealt with a similar non-stop onslaught of creditors and looters coming to claim portions of the property. Hannah said he caught a man trying to pawn off official university vehicles while trespassing on campus. When he confronted the man, he discovered the individual had sold other items and had pocketed the money. Earlier this year, when searching the grounds, Hannah realized the historic art museum and sweat lodge had also been burglarized.

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Bankruptcy and Accreditation Loss

In a last-ditch effort to save the campus, Hannah filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This move allowed the college to "pause" its debts and present a list of finances to a judge for future deliberation. Their deadline to file these documents was July 5. However, the bankruptcy process revealed further troubling issues. The trustee recommended that the federal court handling Bacone’s case convert the college’s bankruptcy to a Chapter 7, entailing a managed wind-down overseen by a third party.

Adding to the college's woes, the Higher Learning Commission revoked Bacone's accreditation. This loss of accreditation dealt a severe blow to the institution, further jeopardizing its future.

Allegations of Mismanagement and Financial Impropriety

During the bankruptcy proceedings, allegations of mismanagement and financial impropriety surfaced. The trustee, Ilene Lashinsky, pointed to a payment of $16,500 made by Bacone to the Small Business Administration (SBA) to pay off a loan owned by Leslie Hannah, who became president of the college in April 2024. Lashinsky argued that this indicated Hannah had used college funds to pay his personal debt. Hannah claimed that he obtained a $15,000 SBA loan before the bankruptcy filing to pay for the college's payroll.

These allegations have further complicated the situation and raised questions about the leadership and financial management of the college.

Enrollment Decline and Shifting Demographics

Bacone College has experienced a significant decline in enrollment in recent years. In fall 2017, the college enrolled more than 900 students, but financial issues prompted a temporary shutdown in 2018. While the college reopened later that year, enrollment never recovered, hovering below 300 before falling to around 100.

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The proportion of Native students at Bacone has also fluctuated over the years. In 1956, Native American enrollment made up 75% of the student body, falling to 44% in 2004. While the proportion rose to 60% in 2020, the college's overall population had dwindled significantly.

A Crossroads for Bacone College

Bacone College stands at a crossroads. The college has been listed twice on the sheriff’s auction block. But both sales were called off, including one as recently as December. The bankruptcy proceedings will likely pause any further actions in state court, including a hearing set for July 29. The possibility of a sale at a sheriff's auction looms large, threatening the loss of its historic campus. The college's leadership is exploring various options to save the institution, including merging with another university or rebranding as a satellite Indigenous studies campus. However, these efforts face significant challenges, and the future of Bacone remains uncertain.

Despite its recent struggles, Bacone College holds a special place in the hearts of many, particularly its alumni. Johnnie Diacon, for example, is proud of his time at Bacone and the impact it had on his life. He recognizes the unique opportunities it provided for Indigenous students.

The fate of Bacone College remains to be seen. Whether it can overcome its financial difficulties and continue its mission of serving Native American students is a question that hangs heavy over the institution and its community. The loss of Bacone would not only impact its students and faculty but also diminish a vital piece of Oklahoma's educational and cultural heritage.

Differing Visions for the Future

Leaders want to save Bacone College - but don't necessarily agree on how. Hannah said he would like to see Bacone rebrand as a satellite Indigenous studies campus of another college, though he said not all of the school’s seven board members share his vision. He said board members do agree, however, on saving the institution in some way.

Prior administrators tried to save the school by turning it into a federally overseen tribal college. officials rejected the school’s requests, likely because of Bacone’s historic affiliation with Baptist groups, Hannah said. The school then cut all of its religious ties. In hindsight, Hannah said, that move exacerbated Bacone’s woes. Annual financial support from Baptist organizations vanished.

Protecting a Legacy: Art and Archives

As questions about Bacone’s future grew, so did concerns about its collection of significant Native American artworks. Most of those pieces have been moved off campus to protect them from theft and vandalism, and a federal grant is covering the costs of archiving and cataloging the works, Hannah said. He said historical documents from as far back as 1791 that had been stored in Bacone’s library basement also will be part of the archival project.

The Human Cost

The uncertainty surrounding Bacone's future has taken a toll on its students, faculty, and staff. Michael said her focus remains on students, many of whom have been “triggered” by recent events. The potential closure of the college raises concerns about the educational opportunities available to Native American students and the livelihoods of those employed by the institution.

Amanada Swope, the Director of Tribal Policy & Partnerships with the City of Tulsa, said, "It's certainly unfortunate. You know, not only it takes away an option from students and people in the rural part of Oklahoma that are seeking higher education, but, you know, Bacone was really such a mecca and a well-known university in Indian Country, and for Native students in particular."

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