20 U.S.C. § 1059c - American Indian tribally controlled colleges and universities

20 USC 1059c - American Indian tribally controlled colleges and universities

(a) Program authorized 
The Secretary shall provide grants and related assistance to Indian Tribal Colleges and Universities to enable such institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve Indian students.
(b) Definitions 
In this section:
(1) Indian 
The term Indian has the meaning given the term in section 1801 of title 25.
(2) Indian tribe 
The term Indian tribe has the meaning given the term in section 1801 of title 25.
(3) Tribal College or University 
The term Tribal College or University has the meaning give the term tribally controlled college or university in section 1801 of title 25, and includes an institution listed in the Equity in Educational Land Grant Status Act of 1994.
(4) Institution of higher education 
The term institution of higher education means an institution of higher education as defined in section 1001 (a) of this title, except that paragraph (2) of such section shall not apply.
(c) Authorized activities 

(1) In general 
Grants awarded under this section shall be used by Tribal Colleges or Universities to assist such institutions to plan, develop, undertake, and carry out activities to improve and expand such institutions capacity to serve Indian students.
(2) Examples of authorized activities 
The activities described in paragraph (1) may include
(A) purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional and research purposes;
(B) construction, maintenance, renovation, and improvement in classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and other instructional facilities, including purchase or rental of telecommunications technology equipment or services;
(C) support of faculty exchanges, faculty development, and faculty fellowships to assist in attaining advanced degrees in the facultys field of instruction;
(D) academic instruction in disciplines in which Indians are underrepresented;
(E) purchase of library books, periodicals, and other educational materials, including telecommunications program material;
(F) tutoring, counseling, and student service programs designed to improve academic success;
(G) funds management, administrative management, and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds management;
(H) joint use of facilities, such as laboratories and libraries;
(I) establishing or improving a development office to strengthen or improve contributions from alumni and the private sector;
(J) establishing or enhancing a program of teacher education designed to qualify students to teach in elementary schools or secondary schools, with a particular emphasis on teaching Indian children and youth, that shall include, as part of such program, preparation for teacher certification;
(K) establishing community outreach programs that encourage Indian elementary school and secondary school students to develop the academic skills and the interest to pursue postsecondary education; and
(L) other activities proposed in the application submitted pursuant to subsection (d) of this section that
(i) contribute to carrying out the activities described in subparagraphs (A) through (K); and
(ii) are approved by the Secretary as part of the review and acceptance of such application.
(3) Endowment fund 

(A) In general 
A Tribal College or University may use not more than 20 percent of the grant funds provided under this section to establish or increase an endowment fund at the institution.
(B) Matching requirement 
In order to be eligible to use grant funds in accordance with subparagraph (A), the Tribal College or University shall provide matching funds, in an amount equal to the Federal funds used in accordance with subparagraph (A), for the establishment or increase of the endowment fund.
(C) Comparability 
The provisions of part C of this subchapter regarding the establishment or increase of an endowment fund, that the Secretary determines are not inconsistent with this paragraph, shall apply to funds used under subparagraph (A).
(d) Application process 

(1) Institutional eligibility 
To be eligible to receive assistance under this section, a Tribal College or University shall be an eligible institution under section 1058 (b) of this title.
(2) Application 
Any Tribal College or University desiring to receive assistance under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, and in such manner, as the Secretary may by regulation reasonably require. The Secretary shall, to the extent possible, prescribe a simplified and streamlined format for such applications that takes into account the limited number of institutions that are eligible for assistance under this section. Each such application shall include
(A) a 5-year plan for improving the assistance provided by the Tribal College or University to Indian students, increasing the rates at which Indian secondary school students enroll in higher education, and increasing overall postsecondary retention rates for Indian students; and
(B) such enrollment data and other information and assurances as the Secretary may require to demonstrate compliance with paragraph (1).
(3) Special rules 

(A) Eligibility 
No Tribal College or University that receives funds under this section shall concurrently receive funds under other provisions of this part or part B of this subchapter.
(B) Exemption 
Section 1059 (d) of this title shall not apply to institutions that are eligible to receive funds under this section.
(C) Distribution 
In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall, to the extent possible and consistent with the competitive process under which such grants are awarded, ensure maximum and equitable distribution among all eligible institutions.

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