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American Indian Higher Education Consortium facts for kids

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The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) is an important group started in 1972. It helps tribal colleges and universities, which are schools run by American Indian nations. AIHEC works to make sure these colleges have a strong voice and get the support they need.

What is AIHEC?

AIHEC was created to represent the interests of new tribal colleges. These colleges are special because they are controlled and operated by American Indian nations.

The group was founded by four people:

  • Gerald One Feather from Oglala Sioux Community College
  • David Reisling from D-Q University
  • Pat Locke from WICHE (Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education)
  • Helen Schierbeck from the USOE (United States Office of Education)

They brought together everyone who wanted to form this national organization.

Big Achievements and Goals

One of AIHEC's biggest successes was working with the United States Congress. In 1994, they helped 29 tribal colleges get "land-grant" status. This means these colleges receive special support from the government, similar to many other universities across the country. This happened in October 1994, thanks to a law called the Elementary and Secondary Education Reauthorization Act.

Because of this, AIHEC can have a representative join the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges' Council of Presidents. This gives tribal colleges a voice at a very high level in education.

AIHEC's main office is in Alexandria, Virginia. It includes 36 tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) in the United States and one in Canada. The presidents of these colleges work together to lead AIHEC. The organization helps its member colleges grow and works to promote the whole Tribal College Movement.

In 1989, AIHEC also started the American Indian College Fund (AICF). This fund helps raise money for scholarships, so American Indian students can attend tribal colleges and universities.

AIHEC's Mission

AIHEC has been the voice for tribal colleges and universities since 1972. Its main goal is to protect and promote American Indian history, culture, art, and language. It also works to protect the rights of American Indian people to their identity and heritage.

AIHEC does this by:

  • Helping tribal colleges keep high standards for education.
  • Working to create new tribal colleges.
  • Promoting laws and rules at the national level to make American Indian higher education stronger.
  • Giving help and advice to its member colleges.
  • Finding ways for tribal colleges to succeed in new areas like science, technology, agriculture, and leadership.

AIHEC's Main Goals

AIHEC has several important goals:

  • Keeping TCUs Strong: They want to make sure tribal colleges and the Tribal College Movement continue to grow and succeed.
  • Being Accountable: They help TCUs be top-notch education centers in their communities by providing support and standards.
  • Engaging Students: They work to help TCUs offer great education that includes tribal culture.
  • Helping Communities: They assist TCUs in better serving their students, families, and communities.

See also

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