President's request increases support for colleges and universities serving American Indians

U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today met with 25 Tribal College presidents to discuss President Bush's budget request for the Education Department, which includes more than $18 million for programs to strengthen Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs)—an increase of 3.6 percent over current funding levels.

"The nation's tribal colleges and universities have an historic and unique role in American higher education and serve many Americans who might otherwise be left behind," Paige said. "This administration recognizes and reaffirms the special relationship of the federal government to American Indians and their sovereign tribal nations, and we renew our commitment to educational excellence and opportunity for American Indian children."

To fully recognize the TCUs, the White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities (WHITCU) will be elevated within the Department's organizational structure to report directly to the secretary. Previously under the Office of Postsecondary Education, the WHITCU is the staff office that serves the President's Board of Advisors on TCUs.

On Sept. 28, President Bush signed Executive Order 13021 authorizing the continuation of the WHITCU. The goals of the initiative are to ensure that TCUs are more fully recognized and have full access to federal programs benefiting other higher education institutions so they can successfully compete for federal funds.

Paige described President Bush's commitment to meeting the needs of all of America's students and the significance of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, which President Bush signed into law last month. The goal of the law is to ensure that all children can meet rigorous academic standards in elementary and secondary school so that they will have the academic preparation needed to succeed in higher education.

Paige also highlighted the administration's strong support for the American Indian Teacher Corps Program, which would receive $7.2 million—an 8 percent increase—under the president's proposed FY 2003 budget. The funding would support training for 1,000 Indian teachers over a five-year period to take positions in schools that serve concentrations of Indian children.

Joining Paige was James E. Shanley, president, American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), which represents the 32 Tribal Colleges and Universities across Indian Country. Shanley currently serves as president of Fort Peck Community College and is a member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine Tribe in Poplar, Mont.

As part of the meeting, the Tribal College presidents honored Paige with a traditional ceremony that included drummers, singers, an honor song and the presentation of an Indian blanket. The design of the blanket is the traditional Navajo-inspired "tree of life," representing prosperity, health and a long life.

The 32 TCUs are located in 12 states and serve an estimated 30,000 students from 250 tribes.

"I look forward to working together with the tribal college presidents and tribal leaders on how we will meet the promise of our American Indian children, their parents and our young people seeking higher education," Paige said.

###

Top

Back to February 2002