When the first tribal colleges were established over 50 years ago, Native American languages were more widely used than today. Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) were envisioned to offer a base for the retention and development of Indigenous languages and cultures, and they would establish archival collections to support this mission.…

Industrial engineering (IE) involves the design and improvement of integrated systems, such as materials, equipment, or human resources to maximize production of goods and services. In 2011, the Career Cornerstone Center (CCC) found that industrial engineering ranked third among the 17 different engineering fields in jobs filled. That same year,…

Located in Utqiagvik, formerly known as Barrow, I?isagvik College draws from the strength of its Arctic community, striving to equip its graduates with the knowledge and skills to ensure their success. The institution's mission is "providing academic, vocational and technical education in a learning environment that perpetuates and…

Ilisagvik College's "tikisaksraq," or vision, is as follows: "Ikayuutauluta Nunaaqqiñun Suannaktaaglugit IIisagnikunlu Suragallasiñikunlu"--to help build strong communities through education and training. The "sivuniq", or mission, is to provide quality post-secondary academic, vocational, and technical education in a…

More than just storerooms of information, tribal college libraries are gathering spaces that bring people together. The Tuzzy Consortium Library at IIisagvik College builds community by providing services and programs that reflect the values of Alaska's North Slope Iñupiaq people. The college library collaborates with different organizations to…

American Indian and Alaska Native students experience the lowest rates of college retention and graduation at four-year institutions in the United States. They often face a variety of barriers to completing their education that may be similar to other ethnic groups while also overcoming obstacles that are culturally specific. However, AIAN…

Tribal colleges and universities are working in their communities to identify factors that negatively impact health and are training the next generation of healthcare workers to deal with them. And they are making a difference--not just in the lives of their students, but in the lives of future patients.

An unlikely promoter of tribal development, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has set the bar for collaboration and capacity building. At first glance, the NSF was an unlikely and even unpromising administrator for a program promoting tribal development. Unlike the Bureau of Indian Affairs or the Department of Education, the NSF did not have a…

To create a strong local economy, the community needs a workforce. In Native communities, the workforce should be grounded in the local culture and values. On the North Slope of Alaska, this has long been a goal of leaders. To achieve this goal, North Slope leaders came together February 2010 in Barrow, Alaska, for the "Tumitchiat"…

AIDS affects thousands of American Indians and Alaska Natives: They have the third highest rate of AIDS diagnosis in the United States, despite having the smallest population. To tackle this problem, the federal agency has provided capacity-building grants to seven tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) for an innovative, peer-to-peer initiative.…

Through a new working group, tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) are playing a critical leadership role in addressing some of the most difficult climate-related problems now facing the planet. Because of their unique cultural character, TCUs have an important voice. The American Indian and Alaska Native Climate Change Working Group was formed…