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American Indian Law Program

University of Boulder
LegalColorado Law

At Colorado Law, we believe that American Indians deserve the very best lawyers and that we have an obligation to train them. Our American Indian Law Program faculty, including the nation’s top scholars and practitioners in the field, offers a full slate of introductory and advanced classes in the field to prepare students for all aspects of Indian law practice, and we now have dozens of successful alumni practicing Indian law in tribal government, federal agencies, and at law firms.

American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program

Cornell University
Native Transfer ProgramCollege of Agriculture and Life Sciences

The American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program (AIISP) can help with your transfer application and can connect you to the transfer coordinators of specific Cornell colleges and schools. To make the transfer process more efficient, Cornell has articulation agreements with a number of colleges and universities.

Contact:
Wayva Waterman Lyons
wl685@cornell.edu

Center for Regional and Tribal Child Welfare Studies

University of Minnesota - Duluth
HumanitiesAmerican Indian Learning Resource Center

Our programs and projects prepare students to become effective child welfare practitioners, particularly in working with American Indian families through offering stipends, coursework and other cultural and experiential learning opportunities. The Center also partners with tribes, county agencies, and non-profits in Minnesota to help improve American Indian child welfare practice and reduce the disparities experienced by families in the child welfare system.

Contact:
Bree Bussey
bussey@d.umn.edu

Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health (CAIANH)

University of Colorado - CU Anschutz
HealthColorado School of Public Health

The Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health (CAIANH) was established in 1986 and is the largest, most comprehensive, and longest standing program of its kind in the country. Our mission is to promote the health and well-being of American Indians and Alaska Natives, of all ages, by pursuing research, training, continuing education, technical assistance, and information dissemination within a biopsychosocial framework that recognizes the unique cultural contexts of this special population.

Caring for Our Own Program (CO-OP)

Montana State University
HealthCollege of Nursing

The Caring for Our Own Program (CO-OP) is a supplemental student support program for Native American and Alaska Native students pursuing their nursing degree at Montana State University. CO-OP’s goals are to increase the enrollment of American Indian nursing students in the College of Nursing at Montana State University and build a strong pool of American Indian and Alaska Native nurses who are prepared for practice, management, and leadership to serve Indian Country.

College of Education and Human Service Professions

University of Minnesota - Duluth
EducationAmerican Indian Learning Resource Center

The American Indian Learning Resource Center exists to enrich the cultural, academic, supportive, and social environment of the UMD campus. Our mission is to increase the recruitment and retention of American Indian and Alaskan Native students, while promoting a more culturally diverse campus environment. Working in conjunction with UMD staff, the AILRC provides supportive services to empower and aid in the success of our students and to enhance their educational experience.

Daḳota Iapi Uƞspewic̣akiyapi Teaching Certificate

University of Minnesota
LanguageDepartment of American Indian Studies

The Daḳota Iapi Uƞspewic̣akiyapi Teaching Certificate is designed to address the critical point of Dakota language loss in Minnesota by developing a cadre of Dakota language learners, speakers, and teachers. This effort is part of a global indigenous language revitalization movement based on the understanding that language is fundamental to cultural survival and tribal sovereignty.

Indigenous Sun Devil Transfer Program

Arizona State University
Native Transfer ProgramAmerican Indian Student Support Services

The Indigenous Sun Devil Transfer Program helps Indigenous students transition from a community college to ASU. The program provides personalized support whether completing an admissions application or being admitted to ASU. Students are provided with resources and engagement opportunities that support their transition to ASU, connect them with Indigenous peers and staff, and provide personalized guidance to achieve academic and professional goals. The American Indian Student Support staff looks forward to helping you adjust to campus life, build connections and identify mentors.

Indian Natural Resources, Science and Engineering Program (INRSEP) + Diversity in STEM

Cal Poly Humboldt
STEMIndian Natural Resources, Science and Engineering Program (INRSEP)

The Master of Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship (MTRES) is an applied graduate degree designed in consultation with regional tribes to create future leaders and stewards of tribal natural resources. There is no other graduate-level degree program like this in the country. This degree program takes an integrated approach to protection of natural resources through the lens of Indigenous environmental stewardship.

Indigenous STEM Research and Graduate Education (ISTEM)

University of Idaho
STEMAquaculture Research Institute

The University of Idaho (UI) is taking the lead in American Indian graduate-level science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education by forming the Indigenous STEM Research and Graduate Education program, or ISTEM. The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded University of Idaho nearly $750,000 to create a national network of institutions collaborating to increase the number of Native students entering and completing masters and doctoral programs in STEM fields. ISTEM is a pilot program with the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program at NSF.

Indian Legal Program

Arizona State University
LegalSandra Day O'Conner College of Law

Established more than 30 years ago, the Indian Legal Program (ILP) at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University has grown to become one of the most respected Indian law programs in the nation. Situated in the heart of the Southwest, with connections to Arizona’s 22 tribes and tribes nationally, the ILP is in the perfect location for students looking to study the developing field of Indian law. Our nationally recognized faculty members are leading scholars in their fields, producing research and publications, as well as providing outreach and public service.

Contact:
Patty Ferguson-Bohnee
pattyfergusonbohnee@asu.edu

Indians Into Medicine (INMED)

University of North Dakota
Health School of Medicine & Health Sciences

INMED provides academic, personal, social, and cultural support for students in grades 7 through graduate studies. Each year, INMED enrolls an average of 100 health, pre-health, and allied health students in various academic programs.

Contact:

Indians Into Psychology (InPsych)

University of Montana
HealthDepartment of Psychology

The InPsych program is designed to recruit American Indian/Alaska Native undergraduate students into psychology and recruit, fund and train American Indian graduate students into Clinical Psychology. The ultimate goal is to send licensed American Indian/Alaska Native Clinical Psychologists back to reservation communities and urban Indian health programs to fill the needs for culturally competent care and address health disparities.

Contact:

INMED

University of Arizona
HealthHealth Sciences

The goal of the AZ INMED is to develop collaborative partnerships with tribal nations, K-12 school districts, community-tribal colleges, universities and health professional schools to recruit, support and encourage Native American students to enter and succeed in the health professions at the Arizona Health Sciences Centers located in both Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona (Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy and Public Health).

Indigenous Teacher Education Program

University of Arizona
EducationCollege of Education

The Indigenous Teacher Education Program (ITEP) is an in-person Bachelor's Degree granting program that was founded in 2016, through a grant from the US Department of Education. Our mission is to increase the number of Indigenous teachers serving Indigenous students, schools, and communities. Our students graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood or Elementary Education and a teaching certification.

Indigenous Peoples Law & Policy Program

University of Arizona
LegalJames E. Rogers College of Law

What makes the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy (IPLP) Program at the University of Arizona Law unique is our approach to legal education in the fields of federal Indian law, tribal law and policy, and Indigenous peoples human rights. Students are trained in the classroom and in real-world settings by faculty who are leaders both in their academic fields and as practitioners in tribal, national, and international forums.

Contact:
Justin Boro
justinboro1986@email.arizona.edu

(520) 626-9224

Law & Indigenous Peoples Program

University of New Mexico
LegalLaw & Indigenous Peoples Program

The UNM School of Law has a strong and longstanding tradition of dedication and commitment to the development of the field of Indian law education and assisting in the legal protection and representation of Native American nations and communities.

Contact:
John P. LaVelle
lavelle@law.unm.edu

Lakota Studies

Oglala Lakota College
LanguageLinguistics

The Lakota Studies department offers four different degrees as well as a Lakota Language Certificate. By training to develop skills in research, evaluation, communication, analysis, and graphic design, you'll experience a customized education befitting of the ever-changing demand of modern society. The department also provides the focus for the entire college in maintaining a Lakota perspective.

Master of Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship

University of Minnesota Duluth
STEMAmerican Indian Studies

The Master of Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship (MTRES) is an applied graduate degree designed in consultation with regional tribes to create future leaders and stewards of tribal natural resources. There is no other graduate-level degree program like this in the country. This degree program takes an integrated approach to protection of natural resources through the lens of Indigenous environmental stewardship.

Master of Professional Studies (MPS) Indigenous Governance

University of Arizona
LegalJames E. Rogers College of Law

The Indigenous Governance Program (IGP), a partnership between University of Arizona Law’s Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy (IPLP) Program and the University of Arizona Native Nations Institute (NNI), provides professional development, leadership training, and graduate education for individuals interested in a deep, practical understanding of Indigenous governance and rights. IGP’s nation building and Indigenous governance curriculum combines the expertise of world-renowned faculty with data-informed research on what works for Native Nation (re)building efforts. IGP offers both in-person and online courses for tribal leaders and other professionals to collaborate on how to strengthen Indigenous governance.

Contact:
Dr. Tory Fodder
taf05@email.arizona.edu
(520) 621-3093

MPA Tribal Governance

Evergreen State College
GovernanceMaster of Public Administration

Currently, there is no other Master of Public Administration program in the U.S. with an emphasis on Tribal Governance. With that in mind, the Tribal Governance Cohort focuses on structures, processes and issues specific to Tribal Governments providing the knowledge and skills needed to work successfully within public administration. The Cohort is also appropriate for those working with governmental or other organizations in a liaison role with Tribal Governments.

Contact:
Puanani Nihoa, MPA
nihoap@evergreen.edu
(360) 688-4780 (cell)

Master of Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship (MTRES)

University of Minnesota Duluth
LegalAmerican Indian Studies

The Master of Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship (MTRES) is an applied graduate degree designed in consultation with regional tribes to create future leaders and stewards of tribal natural resources. There is no other graduate-level degree program like this in the country. This degree program takes an integrated approach to protection of natural resources through the lens of Indigenous environmental stewardship.

Master of Tribal Administration and Governance

University of Minnesota Duluth
GovernanceAmerican Indian Studies

The Master of Tribal Administration and Governance (MTAG) is an applied professional development degree designed to develop the knowledge and skills needed to work as an administrator in a tribal government. Students in the program may already serve as tribal administrators, council members or tribal leaders. Students who currently work or aspire to work professionally in tribal governments or management positions will benefit from this program, which emphasizes both the acquisition of academic knowledge and the application of practical skills.

MLS in Indigenous Peoples Law

University of Oklahoma
LegalTBD

The M.L.S. in Indigenous Peoples Law is an online, 33-credit hour graduate degree that can be completed in 15 months. This program offers a strong foundation in Native American Law for non-lawyers who deal with contracts, negotiations or any other issues that demand knowledge of Native American policy, regulation or business practice.

Master of Arts in Native American Languages and Linguistics

University of Arizona
LanguageLinguistics

The NAMA degree program is oriented towards community language activists who wish to train in the kinds of skills and experience needed to work on maintaining, revitalizing, and documenting their native languages. Students interested in NAMA can either be speakers or second language learners of their language, or ones who have studied a particular Native American language and have close contact with that language community.

MBA in American Indian Entrepreneurship

Gonzaga University
BusinessSchool of Business Administration

Gonzaga's MBA in American Indian Entrepreneurship (MBA-AIE) program was established in 2001 with the generous help of the Johnson Scholarship Foundation. Gonzaga University was chosen to develop the program because of its national recognition, accreditation, strong mission, and commitment to social justice. The program strives to prepare leaders to effectively manage and support sustainable business on American Indian reservations.

MBA in Native American Leadership

Southeastern Oklahoma State University
BusinessJohn Massey School of Business - Online MBA Programs

Culture can be your key to success with our 100 percent online MBA in Native American Leadership degree program. Learn how to manage diversity in a changing world as you explore personal and organizational leadership, tribal sovereignty and contemporary issues facing the Indian Country.

Navajo Law Fellowship Program

University of Arizona
LegalJames E. Rogers College of Law

The Navajo Law Fellowship Program provides financial support, mentorship, a Navajo law curriculum, externship opportunities on the Navajo Nation, and bar preparation assistance to Navajo Juris Doctor (JD) students attending University of Arizona Law.

Contact:
Faith Liston
afs1@email.arizona.edu
(520) 621-1166

Native Americans Into Medicine (NAM)

University of Minnesota - Duluth
HealthCenter of American Indian and Minority Health

NAM is a seven-week summer enrichment program for college sophomores, juniors and seniors interested in pursuing health careers. The 2023 NAM Summer program will provide students with both qualitiative and quanitative research experience, using data from the Minnesota Youth Survey. The dates of the program are June 20th-Aug 4th. The 2023 NAM program is a two-summer cohort.

Contact:

Native American Science and Engineering Program

University of Arizona
STEMEarly Academic Outreach

An initiative of the Office of Early Academic Outreach at The University of Arizona, the Native American Science & Engineering Program is a FREE year-long program designed to provide Native American high school students with the necessary resources to enroll in college and pursue a career in a Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) field. NASEP participants will gain a wide exposure to these fields through interactions with university experts on many subjects including environmental sustainability. The intention of this program is to expose students to a wide variety of STEM pathways so as to better inform their college pathways in the context of the Native American experience.

Native Children's Research Exchange Scholars Program

University of Colorado - CU Anschutz
HealthColorado School of Public Health

The NCRE Scholars Program provides career development support to early career investigators and late-stage graduate students interested in pursuing research on substance use and disorder and Native child and adolescent development.

Contact:

Native American Tribal Management

Nicolet College
BusinessBusiness Management Programs

Develops the skills of people who work or plan to work in a First Nation environment including fundamental management skills, and how a Native nation’s legal, political and cultural context impact an organization’s work.

Native Early Transition Program (NET)

University of Alaska - Anchorage
College BridgeNative Student Services

Native Student Services (NSS) provides a safe, affirming space on campus for Alaska Native, Native American, and Indigenous students. It is a gathering place where incoming and current students can find academic, advising, and cultural support; access resources; study with classmates; attend culturally empowering events, connect with community representatives; and interact with people who share similar experiences as Indigenous peoples.

https://iaia.edu/

New Freshman Summer Bridge (NFSB)

Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA)
College Bridge

The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) New Freshman Summer Bridge (NFSB) is a free, three-week, on-campus program available to incoming IAIA Freshmen with no college experience who have been accepted to IAIA for Fall 2022. Students establish skills for college readiness, leadership, and creativity with dedicated instructors and staff. Students will also earn three credits through educational workshops and classes while attending the program.

Ojibwe Language Program

Bemidji State University
LanguageLanguages & Indigenous Studies

Bemidji State University is home to the first collegiate Ojibwe language program in the United States, starting with adjunct classes in 1969 and a full three-year sequence of language courses starting in 1971. Additional current course offerings include Ojibwe Culture, Ojibwe Oral Literature, and Instruction of Ojibwe.

Preparing Indigenous Teachers & Administrators for Alaska Schools (PITAAS)

University of Alaska Southeast
EducationSchool of Education

Alaska is diverse and so are our educators. The PITAAS program is a scholarship that supports Alaska Native students who want to become teachers and administrators in Alaska’s schools. A total of 228 degrees and certificates were awarded to 152 Alaska Native students with PITAAS scholarship support. PITAAS graduates are employed by 28 of 54 school districts across our vast state. Application for Spring 2023-Summer 2023 will be posted mid-November.

Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI) for American Indians and Alaska Natives

University of New Mexico School of Law
LegalAmerican Indian Law Center, Inc.

PLSI is an intensive two-month program that prepares American Indian and Alaska Native individuals for the rigors of law school by essentially replicating the first semester of law school. The PLSI concentrates its content into eight weeks of instruction, research and study, teaching students the unique methods of law school research, analysis, and writing. The success of the PLSI in providing a nationally respected pre-law orientation can be traced to its original and continuing intent — that it be based on sound legal education principles, and not function as a philosophical, political, or cultural training ground. For more than five decades, the Law Center has remained dedicated to providing valid training in the skills required for the study of law.

Sloan Scholars Program; Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership

University of Montana
STEMIndigenous Research and STEM Education

The UM Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership (UM SIGP) was established in the fall of 2005. Indigenous (Native American, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian) graduate students pursuing degrees in STEM at The University of Montana are eligible to apply for the scholarship program established by the A.P. Sloan Foundation. The UM SIGP Program is intended to increase the number of Indigenous Americans earning master’s and doctoral degrees in STEM disciplines.

Contact:
Dr. Thomas
406-243-2052

Stanford Native Immersion Program

Stanford University
College BridgeNative American Cultural Center

The Stanford Native Immersion Program (SNIP) is a six-day, fun and information-filled virtual experience designed to welcome incoming frosh to the Farm.

Hoover Institution’s Indigenous Student Seminar

Stanford University
SeminarHoover Institute

The Indigenous Student Seminar is an intensive, four-day residential immersion program exploring federal policy, tribal governance, and indigenous entrepreneurship. The goal is to help Indigenous college students and recent graduates think critically about the interface between federal Indian policy, self-determination, and economic development.

Yup'ik; Yup’ik Language and Culture; and Iñupiaq Bachelor of Arts degrees; minor degrees in Alaska Native Languages; Yup'ik, and Iñupiaq; Associate's degrees in Native Language Education and Yup'ik Language Proficiency; and certificates in Native Language Education and Yup'ik Language Proficiency

University of Alaska - Fairbanks (Kuskokwim campus in Bethel, AK)
LanguageAlaska Native Lanaguage Center

The Alaska Native Language Center offers academic programs ranging from certificates to bachelors degrees. Our programs promote language revitalization, community connections, and intergenerational learning.

Tribal Colleges and Universities

Tribal colleges and universities provide dynamic higher education opportunities, most on or near reservation lands. Known for their remarkable programs, culturally-relevant curricula, and familial student care – tribal colleges allow students to further their careers, attain an advanced degree, or better support their communities.

News & Events

Protect the Department of Education

On March 20 President Trump signed an Executive Order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. The directive will require an Act of Congress to officially eliminate the Cabinet-level agency, and it is not clear whether the President has the votes in Congress to do so. This comes on the heels of the Trump Administration’s cuts to the agency’s work force by nearly 50 percent (1300 people were fired after 600 decided to resign). Both the cuts and the Executive Order raise questions about whether the government can still accomplish the department’s core functions required by law without disrupting its important services to students and communities. The Department of Education’s role includes distributing money to college students through grants and loans. It also funds and ensures services for low-income and disabled student programs at K-12 schools and enforces anti-discrimination laws. The Trump Administration announced it will move student loan administration to the Small Business Administration and special education services along with nutrition programs to the Department of Health and Human Services. Both moves will require significant changes at the SBA and DHHS.

The department also conducted critical research to help institutions and policymakers understand college affordability for students (including Native students who often demonstrate the greatest financial need), post-secondary-level student enrollment, Native student persistence and graduation trends, and workforce readiness of graduates. Nearly all staff in this area were laid off during the reduction in force, and the contract cancellations raised serious concerns about the integrity, privacy, and security of sensitive student data collected. Last week the American Indian College Fund joined 90 organizations and researchers to call on Congress to protect postsecondary data and demand transparency around the cancellations that shift our country away from evidence-based policymaking that supports students to uninformed guesswork jeopardizing the higher education system.

Yesterday’s Executive Order calls on Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps” to “facilitate” closing the department without eliminating most of its core functions, while working “to ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.” According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, “Those programs include distributing more than $100 billion in student financial aid through Pell Grants and loans, as well as seeking to ensure that students’ civil rights are protected while they pursue their college education.”

Yet the Trump Administration also announced it will focus civil rights enforcement on allegations of antisemitism. People with pending investigations are concerned their cases, including those with allegations of sex discrimination, will remain in limbo.

The American Indian College Fund is concerned that Native students, whose equitable access to higher education hinges on federal programs (which are tied to Native tribes’ trust and treaty relationship with the federal government) will be disproportionately and negatively impacted by the dismantling of the department and the haphazard way the Trump Administration is going about it. The Administration has said it wants to return education to the states, however, Native nations do not have treaty relationships with the states—our relationships are with the federal government, which has committed through legally binding treaties and trusts to provide Native people with education and other services in exchange for the land Native people gave. And while Native people are also citizens of states, we know from experience that state and tribal relations in education and other areas can be strained, thus creating a climate of uncertainty regarding state support of Native education.”

In addition, we are concerned that dismantling the Department of Education will harm Native students by disrupting the application process for federal student financial aid, and the processing of federal student loans, Pell Grants, student work-study programs that a majority of Native students rely upon for financial access to a higher education. And we are not just concerned about the harm to Native students. All students, their families and communities, and the taxpayers who rely upon the goods and services that educated graduates provide will also be harmed if they cannot access a higher education. In addition, the quality and reputation of our nation’s education system, which has until now been the envy of the world, will also be harmed.

“These actions against the higher education community, students, and families will make it more difficult for Native communities—indeed all communities—to have their basic needs met,” said Cheryl Crazy Bull, President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund.

“Without the Department of Education, we are concerned about the ability of the federal government to fulfill its promise of delivering on all statutory programs, including student loans and Pell Grants, funding for higher education institutions, enforcement of civil rights protections in higher education.

To act, please contact your House Representative today and ask them to protect the Department of Education. You can find your Representative using the USA.gov tool.

American Indian College Fund Announces the 2024-25 Tribal College Students of the Year and Coca Cola Scholars

Denver, Colo., March 20, 2025—The American Indian College Fund (College Fund) honored 34 Tribal College and University Students of the Year and 35 Coca Cola First Generation Scholars at a ceremony held on March 9 in Rapid City, South Dakota. Dr. Carla Sineway, President of Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College in Michigan, was also named the College Fund’s 2024-25 Tribal College and University President Honoree of the Year. These individuals represent the passion, determination, and community spirit of Native scholars of the tribal colleges.

The Adolph Coors Foundation sponsors both the Tribal College and University Students of the Year and the Tribal College and University President Honoree of the Year. Every year each tribal college and university (TCU) selects one student to represent their institutions, and the College Fund selects the TCU President Honoree. Students receive a $1,200 scholarship and the president receives a $1,200 honorarium.

The Coca-Cola Foundation provides scholarships for first-generation Native American students who attend a TCU. The Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded over $4 million in scholarship support to the College Fund since 1990 to assist more than 790 students with their college education. Students can reapply for the scholarship each year if they maintain a 3.0 grade point average and are active in campus and community life.

Cheryl Crazy Bull, President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund, said, “We experience great joy when we gather to celebrate students and to congratulate them and their families. The College Fund thanks the students for joining us and shares its appreciation with the funders and supporters who made our celebration possible.

2024-2025 Tribal College and University Students of the Year celebrate at the spring banquet held in Rapid City, South Dakota. Photo Credit: Eunice Straight Head, Straight Head Creatives

2024-2025 Tribal College and University Students of the Year celebrate at the spring banquet held in Rapid City, South Dakota. Photo Credit: Eunice Straight Head, Straight Head Creatives.

2024-25 Tribal College Students of the Year

    • Aaniiih Nakoda College – Etcibetat Madera
    • Bay Mills Community College – Oscar Reo
    • Blackfeet Community College – Melisa Trombley
    • Cankdeska Cikana Community College – Shanell Paul
    • Chief Dull Knife College – Madison Doney
    • College of Menominee Nation – Dawn Tiger
    • College of the Muscogee Nation – Nora Tiger
    • Diné College – Rowena White-Claw
    • Fort Peck Community College – Tiffany Weinberger
    • Haskell Indian Nations University – Star Her Many Horses
    • Iḷisaġvik College – Sasha Derenoff (Carlile)
    • Institute of American Indian Arts – Tru West
    • Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College – Jenna Maki
    • Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University – Kay Jensen
    • Leech Lake Tribal College – Mya Morgan
    • Little Big Horn College – Shelby Big Lake-Hill
    • Little Priest Tribal College – Raven Turner
    • Navajo Technical University – Ronald Benally Jr.
    • Nebraska Indian Community College – Rosalind Grant
    • Northwest Indian College – Catherine Goble
    • Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College – Reilee Lee
    • Oglala Lakota College – Mato Hinton
    • Red Lake Nation College – Alyssa Fisher-Vizenor
    • Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College – Sam Hassan
    • Salish Kootenai College – James Douthwaite
    • Sinte Gleska University – Devin Whirlwind Soldier
    • Sisseton Wahpeton College – Kenyon Budack, Jr.
    • Sitting Bull College – Derek Gates
    • Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute – Luke Gibson
    • Stone Child College – King Ragged Robe
    • Tohono O’odham Community College – Isaiah Pashano
    • Turtle Mountain Community College – Amari Larocque
    • United Tribes Technical College – Rebecca Keepseagle
    • White Earth Tribal and Community College – Raeanna Connor

2024-25 Coca-Cola First Generation Scholars

    • Aaniiih Nakoda College – Lyle Stiffarm
    • Bay Mills Community College – Oona Burton
    • Bay Mills Community College – Audie Petrosky
    • Blackfeet Community College – Brandi Harwood
    • Cankdeska Cikana Community College – Aisha Ironhawk
    • Chief Dull Knife College – Linda Bahr
    • College of Menominee Nation – Rose Tourtillott
    • College of the Muscogee Nation – Brooke Branson
    • Diné College – Vanesha Cleveland
    • Fort Peck Community College – Waynette Boyd
    • Haskell Indian Nations University – Taylor Butterfield
    • Iḷisaġvik College – Kristina Cisneros
    • Institute of American Indian Arts – Brianna Waukau
    • Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College – Gabrielle Picciano
    • Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University – Clarice Roberts
    • Leech Lake Tribal College – David LeDoux
    • Little Big Horn College – Shelby Big Lake-Hill
    • Little Priest Tribal College – Angelica Parker
    • Navajo Technical University – Allyn Allen
    • Nebraska Indian Community College – Bridgette Hoshont’Omba
    • Northwest Indian College – Julie Bosch
    • Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College – Michelle Graham
    • Oglala Lakota College – Laweka White Hawk
    • Red Lake Nation College – Amanda Defoe
    • Salish Kootenai College – Arlene Rogers
    • Sinte Gleska University – Lacey Dillard
    • Sisseton Wahpeton College – Kaci Neilan
    • Sitting Bull College – Chyanne Ducheneaux
    • Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute – Keisha Edwards
    • Stone Child College – ShoShana Saddler
    • Tohono O’odham Community College – Christy McGaughey
    • Turtle Mountain Community College – Quentin Brien
    • United Tribes Technical College – Kaytlin Nation
    • United Tribes Technical College – Dasean Marquese
    • White Earth Tribal and Community College – Precious Hoagland

 

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.

Reporters: The American Indian College Fund does not use the acronym AICF. On second reference, please use the College Fund.

Photo Credit: Eunice Straight Head, Straight Head Creatives

Department of Education Says RIF Won’t Impact TCUs or Student Loans and Pell Grants

The Office of the Undersecretary of the Department of Education sent a letter to stakeholders in higher education this weekend stating that although the recent reduction in force (RIF) aligned with President Trump’s commitment to return education control to states, core functions related to Federal Student Aid (FSA) and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) will not be impacted.

The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) and the Office of Higher Education Programs (HEP) and other specific programs were also not impacted by the RIF, according to the letter. OPE and HEP divisions oversee funding for tribal colleges and universities, and the letter states funds will flow normally to grantees.

The letter also asserts management roles across the Department of Education were streamlined to reduce duplicative functions with the goal of eliminating bureaucratic excesses and to provide more opportunities for state and local entities.

Read the letter here.

The National College Attainment Network’s (NCAN) noted in its news digest that it is concerned about the ability of the U.S. Department of Education to fulfill its promise of delivering on all statutory programs, including student loans and Pell Grants, due to the magnitude of staffing cuts at the Department of Education. NCAN’s mission is to support members and influence leaders, organizations, policies, and systems across the country to increase equity and excellence in postsecondary degree access and attainment, while working to achieve its vision of ensuring that all students—especially first-generation students, students from underrepresented racial/ethnic backgrounds, and those from low-income backgrounds—have an equitable opportunity to achieve social and economic mobility through higher education.

At the American Indian College Fund we are monitoring the evolving situation at the Department of Education and the potential impacts staffing cuts and other mandates may have on Native scholars, in particular, the purported coming of a Presidential Executive Order on Thursday to eliminate the Department of Education.