PHOTO: L-R: Delphina Thomas, American Indian College Fund, Brandi Espuma, Tohono O’odham Community College, Francetta Begay, Diné College, Lindy Warren, Salish Kootenai College.
Orlando, Fla., October 28, 2024.
The 2024 National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) conference in Orlando served as a platform for discussing strategic planning for dual enrollment students, particularly those from Native and Indigenous backgrounds attending Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).
The event featured a collaborative presentation from Francetta Begay, Dual Credit Director, Diné College Dual Credit Program alongside Delphina Thomas, Program Officer at the American Indian College Fund, Lindy Warden, Director of Early College Outreach & Recruitment at Salish Kootenai College, and Brandi Espuma, Dual Enrollment Coordinator at Tohono O’odham Community College.
The presentation focused on the transformative impact of the Tribal College Movement on higher education for Native students. Key topics included strategies for building partnerships and enhancing collaboration among TCUs. TCUs’ mission is to offer higher education opportunities that are locally, culturally grounded, and supportive of American Indian students.
A significant highlight of the event was the recognition of the TCU-affiliated chapter with NACEP, marking an important milestone in advancing dual and concurrent enrollment initiatives crucial to Native communities. This new chapter aims to provide networking opportunities, best practices, updated policies, and professional services for educators across the state.
The Diné College Dual Credit Program, in cooperation with other TCUs, has been instrumental in establishing this chapter. Their efforts are part of a broader initiative supported by the American Indian College Fund through the SEMP grant “Cultivating Native Student Success.” This grant aims to support systemic change at TCUs by enhancing strategic enrollment management, academic planning, and student support services, ultimately strengthening enrollment, persistence, and graduation rates among TCU students.
The overarching goal is to ensure that TCUs remain sustainable beyond the five-year duration of the grant and continue to contribute significantly to the educational landscape for Native American students.
