American Indian Higher Education Consortium
Encyclopedia
The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) was established in 1972, in order to represent the interests of the newly developed tribal colleges
, which are controlled and operated by American Indian nations. One of the most significant achievements of AIHEC was to work with the United States Congress
to authorize in 1994 land-grant
status to 29 tribal colleges, achieved in October 1994 under the Elementary and Secondary Education Reauthorization Act.
As a result, AIHEC is eligible to have a representative participate in the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges' Council of Presidents. With administrative headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia
near Washington, DC, this organization has member universities located from Michigan west to Alaska and Arizona. AIHEC's membership consists of 36 tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) in the United States and one in Canada, whose first tribal college achieved independent status in 1995. AIHEC is jointly governed by the presidents from the member institutions. The organization offers technical assistance to its member colleges, as well as to developing institutions, and leads efforts to promote the Tribal College Movement.
In the late 1970s, AIHEC established the American Indian College Fund
(AICF) to raise scholarship funds for American Indian students at qualified tribal colleges and universities.
Tribal colleges and universities
Tribal colleges and universities are a category of higher education, minority-serving institutions in the United States. The educational institutions are distinguished by being controlled and operated by Native American tribes; they have become part of American Indians' institution-building in...
, which are controlled and operated by American Indian nations. One of the most significant achievements of AIHEC was to work with the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
to authorize in 1994 land-grant
Land-grant university
Land-grant universities are institutions of higher education in the United States designated by each state to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890....
status to 29 tribal colleges, achieved in October 1994 under the Elementary and Secondary Education Reauthorization Act.
As a result, AIHEC is eligible to have a representative participate in the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges' Council of Presidents. With administrative headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
near Washington, DC, this organization has member universities located from Michigan west to Alaska and Arizona. AIHEC's membership consists of 36 tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) in the United States and one in Canada, whose first tribal college achieved independent status in 1995. AIHEC is jointly governed by the presidents from the member institutions. The organization offers technical assistance to its member colleges, as well as to developing institutions, and leads efforts to promote the Tribal College Movement.
In the late 1970s, AIHEC established the American Indian College Fund
American Indian College Fund
The American Indian College Fund is an nonprofit organization that helps Native American students, providing them with support through scholarships and funding toward higher education...
(AICF) to raise scholarship funds for American Indian students at qualified tribal colleges and universities.
Mission statement
The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), since 1972, has been the collective spirit and voice of our nation’s Tribal Colleges and Universities, advocating on behalf of individual institutions of higher education that are defined and controlled by their respective tribal nations. AIHEC’s mission is to nurture, advocate, and protect American Indian history, culture, art, and language, and the legal and human rights of American Indian people to their own sense of identity and heritage through:- assisting Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) in maintaining standards of high quality education, developing an accrediting body for American Indian-serving post-secondary institutions, and reaching out to other national education organizations;
- promoting and advocating for the development of new TCUs;
- promoting policy, legislation, regulations at the national level to strengthen American Indian higher education and advocating for TCUs in Congress and with the federal government;
- providing technical assistance to member institutions;
- promoting public and private opportunities for TCUs in areas critical to success in the 21st century, including science and information technology, agriculture and natural resources use, pre-kindergarten through grade-12 linkages, international outreach, and leadership development.
Strategic goals
- Sustainability: sustain Tribal Colleges and Universities and the Tribal College Movement.
- Performance accountability: provide technical assistance, standards, and processes necessary for TCUs to be accountable to premier higher education centers within their communities.
- Student engagement: improve the capacity of TCUs to provide high quality, culturally relevant, and integrated higher education.
- Strengthening communities: assist TCUs in improving their capacity to serve their students, individuals, families, and extended families.
External links
- Tribal Colleges: An Overview
- AIHEC
- Tribal College Journal, Official Website