TCU Capacity for Student Success

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Theory of Action

TCUs are extensions of tribal sovereignty through their missions and tribal charters. TCU Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) planning further promotes tribal sovereignty and self-determination.

The Theory of Action guiding SEM at TCUs in Cultivating Native Student Success, provides a culturally rooted framework for institutional transformation. It includes four pillars: Reciprocity and Public-Spirited Leadership, Cultural Values and Relationality, Visibility and Redistribution, and Strategic Planning with Regenerative Impact (Jorgensen, 2007; LaFrance & Nichols, 2009; Wilson, 2008). Reciprocity and Public-Spirited Leadership are expressed through co-visioning processes that include students, faculty, tribal elders, and community members. This collaborative planning structure ensures that SEM outcomes reflect community values and strengthen Indigenous educational sovereignty.Cultural Values and Relationality emphasize the integration of tribal languages, traditions, and governance structures into SEM plans. This aligns with research showing that Indigenous cultural knowledge significantly enhances student belonging and success (Youngbull & Sanders, 2024). Visibility and Redistribution reflect the importance of transparent data sharing and community engagement in SEM planning. TCUs share SEM progress through websites and national convenings, reinforcing community trust and strengthening Indigenous representation in national higher education spaces. Strategic Planning and Regenerative Impact reflect the long-term, sustainable and regenerative nature of SEM within TCUs. Planning is intergenerational and rooted in Tribal nation building, ensuring that SEM initiatives continue to support students and communities for decades (Lopez, 2022).

Jorgensen, M. (Ed.). (2007). Rebuilding Native Nations: Strategies for Governance and Development. University of Arizona Press.

LaFrance, J., & Nichols, R. (2009). Indigenous evaluation framework: Telling our story in our place and time. American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC).

Lopez, J. D. (2022). For the Tribal Nations: Practices and policies to increase completion at Tribal Colleges and Universities. MDRC.

Wilson, S. (2008). Research Is Ceremony: Indigenous Research Methods.

Meet the Team