Sen. Dorgan: Funding Of Tribal Colleges Shows Commitment To Native American Education

Appropriations bill contains $66.3 million for tribal colleges; $4.6 million for UTTC

October 29, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) said today that the $7 million increase in funding for tribal colleges nationwide represents a strong commitment to Native American higher education that will benefit students at tribal colleges in North Dakota.

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The Interior Appropriations conference agreement includes $66.3 million for tribally controlled community colleges, which is $7 million more than last year’s level. In addition, the bill includes a provision proposed by the President including $50 million to forward fund tribal colleges so they can better plan for the academic year.

There are four tribally controlled colleges in North Dakota that receive funding through the program: Sitting Bull College on the Standing Rock Reservation, Fort Berthold Community College on the Three Affiliated Tribes Reservation, Turtle Mountain Community College on the Turtle Mountain Reservation and Cankdeska Cikana Community College (Little Hoop Community College) on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation.

In addition, Senator Dorgan secured $4.4 million in Bureau of Indian Affairs operations funding for United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, a major increase for the school that faced seven straight years of elimination under the last Administration. Dorgan worked with his colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to add funding above the President’s $4 million request. Separately, the bill also included an additional $250,000 for UTTC to provide in-service BIA law enforcement training

“There is no greater investment that we can make in the future of our North Dakota tribes than in education,” said Dorgan. “The tribes run excellent community colleges that help students advance their careers and bring innovation and development to the reservations. Now more than ever community colleges are critical to shaping the next generations of tribal leaders as they seek to bring economic development and prosperity to their land. This is a great investment, and it shows that this administration and congress is dedicated to tribal higher education.”

Source: Senator Byron Dorgan