American Indian College Fund Partners with Tribal Colleges and Universities to Focus Research on Cultural Impact
Findings to be Presented at World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education
August 21, 2025, Denver, Colo.— Three American Indian College Fund (College Fund) staff, along with partners from tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), were chosen in a competitive process to present two sessions at the upcoming World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education (WIPCE) in November 2025. Research Director, Crystal LoudHawk-Hedgepeth (Diné), will speak about the development of a culturally appropriate metric to assess internship-related outcomes for Native American students at TCUs. Director of Organizational Learning and Impact, Dr. Rebecca Garvoille, and Research and Evaluation Specialist, Dr. Kayla Alkire-Stewart, will co-present with TCU partners on an analysis of how TCUs are designing and using culturally grounded assessment practices to support their missions and Native communities.
The first presentation, “Bridging the Gap: Development and Validation of a Scale to Measure Internship-Related Student Outcomes for Native American Students at Tribal Colleges and Universities,” is based on a research initiative called the “Inquiry Project.” This project examined internship and emergency aid programs at three TCUs—Red Lake Nation College, Stone Child College, and Diné College—to better understand the barriers and experiences related to internships, especially the challenges caused by limited funding and capacity at TCUs. The research team, including Tami Nenedick from Red Lake Nation College; Jolin Sunchild and Dessie Demontiney from Stone Child College; Drs. Gerrity, Lerma, and Reeverson Descheny from Diné College; and Dr. Julie Lucero from the University of Utah, created a cultural metric to evaluate internship outcomes. They gathered and analyzed data from 147 Native student interns, focusing on skills related to work self-efficacy, perceptions of internship learning, mentorship experiences, and perceived professional abilities. The study revealed that internships greatly improve student employability, confidence, and professional skills. The new 45-item metric captures the cultural context of TCUs, whose missions are deeply rooted in tribal culture and traditions. This metric is an important step toward promoting equity in higher education.
The second session, “Beyond Compliance: Leveraging Assessment to Advance the Cultural Missions of Tribal Colleges,” focuses on four case studies of culturally grounded assessment practices (CAPs) at tribal colleges and the resulting “5+5 CAPs model” consisting of five steps and five characteristics for the effective development of culturally grounded assessment practices at TCUs. The TCUs involved in this study were the Institute of American Indian Arts, Turtle Mountain College, United Tribes Technical College, and Nebraska Indian Community College. CAPs are important for all tribal colleges and serve a dual purpose: they help TCUs measure and reflect on both students’ academic progress and student development in relation to cultural goals outlined in the college’s charter, mission, and strategies. CAPs and the “5+5” model demonstrate how TCUs are taking ownership of their assessment practices and grounding them in Indigenous values rather than viewing them as a compliance-based activity. TCU partners who will be co-presenting with the College Fund team in New Zealand include Stephen Wall, Institute of American Indian Arts; Ace Charette, Turtle Mountain College; and Dr. Leah Woodke, United Tribes Technical College.
The College Fund’s partnerships with TCUs are a testament to our shared commitment to equity, inclusivity, and impact of tribally led education.
About the American Indian College Fund— The American Indian College Fund has been the nation’s largest charity supporting Native higher education for 35 years. The College Fund believes “Education is the answer” and provided $20.5 million in scholarships and other direct student support for access to a higher education steeped in Native culture and values to American Indian students in 2023-24. Since its founding in 1989 the College Fund has provided more than $349 million in scholarships, programs, community, and tribal college support. The College Fund also supports a variety of programs at the nation’s 34 accredited tribal colleges and universities, which are located on or near Indian reservations, ensuring students have the tools to graduate and succeed in their careers. The College Fund consistently receives top ratings from independent charity evaluators. It earned a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, a Gold Seal of Transparency from Guidestar, and the “Best in America Seal of Excellence” from the Independent Charities of America. The College Fund was also named as one of the nation’s top 100 charities to the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. For more information about the American Indian College Fund, please visit www.collegefund.org.
Journalists—The American Indian College Fund does not use the acronym AICF. On second reference, please use the College Fund.
