The Office of the White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities (WHITCU) leads the implementation of Executive Order 13270, ensuring that the nation's Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) are more fully recognized and have full access to federal programs benefiting other higher education institutions.

President Bush recognized the important role Tribal Colleges and Universities play in American Indian communities and on July 3, 2002, signed Executive Order 13270 on Tribal Colleges and Universities. The Executive Order established the President's Board of Advisors on Tribal Colleges and Universities and the White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities.

There are 32 federally recognized Tribal Colleges and Universities in the United States. Located mainly in the Midwest and Southwest, Tribal Colleges and Universities service approximately 30,000 full- and part-time students. They offer two-year associate degrees in over 200 disciplines with some providing a bachelor's and master's degree. They also offer 200 vocational certificate programs.

Tribal Colleges and Universities are both integral and essential to their communities. They are often the only postsecondary institutions within some of our Nation's poorest rural areas. Tribal Colleges and Universities serve a variety of people, from young adults to senior citizens, American Indians to non-American Indians. They also provide crucial services and add hope to communities that suffer high rates of poverty and unemployment.