Oyáte Kiŋ Wóuŋspe Uŋ Philáič’iyapi
The People Have Benefited Themselves Through Education
TCU Capacity for Student Success Conference
June 23-25, 2026 | Sitting Bull College | Fort Yates, ND
Lakota Title Pronunciation
The American Indian College Fund is proud to be co-hosting the 2026 TCU Capacity for Student Success Conference (formerly Cultivating Native Student Success (CNSS) conference) in Fort Yates, North Dakota with Sitting Bull College.
Attendees will explore innovative strategies and proven practices that support Native students from enrollment through graduation, employment, and beyond.
Save the date and start planning your travel!
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Register for The Conference
Organizing Your Travel
We encourage all participants to mark their calendars now and begin preparing for travel to Fort Yates, North Dakota.
A dedicated hotel room block for this event has been established with Prairie Knights Casino & Resort to support your travel planning. When you call, please be sure to mention you are booking under the American Indian College Fund room block. Provided room rate is $110 + tax.
Call the hotel at and reserve your rooms:
(701) 854-7777
Hotel address and location:
7932 ND-24, Fort Yates, ND 58538
Distance from host hotel to conference site:
14.3 miles | approximately a 16 minute vehicle commute
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events. Please contact Taylor K. at tkeplin@collegefund.org if you have any specific requirements to fully participate.
What to Expect
At the 2026 convening, attendees will engage in cultural events and:
- Inspiring keynote sessions from Native higher education experts
- Interactive workshops and breakout sessions featuring practical tools and emerging best practices for Native student success.
- Collaborative discussions focused on supporting the Native student journey
- Explorations of strategic enrollment management, data‑informed storytelling, and the evolving higher education landscape
- Networking opportunities that strengthen partnerships and uplift the TCU community
- Discussions on TCUs’ workforce and economic development roles and efforts to “Grow Your Own”
Please bring your latest TCU swag for exchange!
Together, we will continue to expand the pathways that ensure Native students thrive in college, career, and community.
Who Should Attend
TCU Faculty and Staff
Student Support Professionals
Enrollment and Communication Staff
Higher Education Partners and Advocates
Submit a Conference Proposal
We invite you to submit a proposal sharing effective practices, ideas and activities centering culture, wellness, and Indigenous knowledge at your tribal college or organization focusing on Native student success strategies that support enrollment, retention, persistence, and graduation.
We believe that peer-to-peer holistic learning is important in Indigenizing strategic enrollment management (SEM) practices and creating SEM plans. We want to ensure that TCU staff and organizations supporting TCUs have an opportunity to share these practices with one another.
In sharing these practices, we hope that TCUs in the Cultivating Native Student Success Initiative and Building Pathways for Rural and Tribal Employment will build a stronger community toward continued resilience in the work done within our tribal communities and with Native students.
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Submit a Proposal
Questions?
For general conference questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Taylor K. at tkeplin@collegefund.org.
