TITLE 25 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER I - TRIBALLY CONTROLLED COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES GRANT PROGRAM

25 USC 1802 - Purpose

It is the purpose of this subchapter to provide grants for the operation and improvement of tribally controlled colleges or universities to insure continued and expanded educational opportunities for Indian students, and to allow for the improvement and expansion of the physical resources of such institutions.

25 USC 1803 - Grants authorized

(a) Purposes
The Secretary shall, subject to appropriations, make grants pursuant to this subchapter to tribally controlled colleges or universities to aid in the post-secondary education of Indian students.

(b) Deposit of funds; limitations on uses
Grants made pursuant to this subchapter shall go into the general operating funds of the institution to defray, at the determination of the tribally controlled college or university, expenditures for academic, educational, and administrative purposes and for the operation and maintenance of the college or university. Funds provided pursuant to this subchapter shall not be used in connection with religious worship or sectarian instruction.

25 USC 1804 - Eligible grant recipients

To be eligible for assistance under this subchapter, a tribally controlled college or university must be one which

(1) is governed by a board of directors or board of trustees a majority of which are Indians;

(2) demonstrates adherence to stated goals, a philosophy, or a plan of operation which is directed to meet the needs of Indians; and

(3) if in operation for more than one year, has students a majority of whom are Indians.

25 USC 1804a - Planning grants

(a) Establishment of program
The Secretary shall establish a program in accordance with this section to make grants to tribes and tribal entities

(1) to conduct planning activities for the purpose of developing proposals for the establishment of tribally controlled colleges or universities, or

(2) to determine the need and potential for the establishment of such colleges or universities.

(b) Procedures for submission and review of applications
The Secretary shall establish, by regulation, procedures for the submission and review of applications for grants under this section.

(c) Reservation of funds; number of grants
From the amount appropriated to carry out this subchapter for any fiscal year (exclusive of sums appropriated for section 1805 of this title), the Secretary shall reserve (and expend) an amount necessary to make grants to five applicants under this section of not more than $15,000 each, or an amount necessary to make grants in that amount to each of the approved applicants, if less than five apply and are approved.

25 USC 1805 - Technical assistance contracts

The Secretary shall provide, upon request from a tribally controlled college or university which is receiving funds under section 1808 of this title, technical assistance either directly or through contract. In the awarding of contracts for technical assistance, preference shall be given to an organization designated by the tribally controlled college or university to be assisted. No authority to enter into contracts provided by this section shall be effective except to the extent authorized in advance by appropriations Acts.

25 USC 1806 - Eligibility studies

(a) Development of plans, procedures, and criteria
The Secretary is authorized to enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Education to assist the Bureau of Indian Affairs in developing plans, procedures, and criteria for conducting the eligibility studies required by this section. Such agreement shall provide for continuing technical assistance in the conduct of such studies.

(b) Initiation by Secretary; grant applications and budgets
The Secretary, within thirty days after a request by any Indian tribe, shall initiate a^[1] eligibility study to determine whether there is justification to encourage and maintain a tribally controlled college or university, and, upon a positive determination, shall aid in the preparation of grant applications and related budgets which will insure successful operation of such an institution. Such a positive determination shall be effective for the fiscal year succeeding the fiscal year in which such determination is made.

(c) Source of appropriations
Funds to carry out the purposes of this section for any fiscal year may be drawn from either

(1) general administrative appropriations to the Secretary made after October 17, 1978 for such fiscal year; or

(2) not more than 5 per centum of the funds appropriated to carry out section 1807 of this title for such fiscal year.

[1] So in original. Probably should be “an”.

25 USC 1807 - Grants to tribally controlled colleges or universities

(a) Submission of applications; necessity of eligibility study
Grants shall be made under this subchapter only in response to applications by tribally controlled colleges or universities. Such applications shall be submitted at such time, in such manner, and will contain or be accompanied by such information as the Secretary may reasonably require pursuant to regulations. Such application shall include a description of recordkeeping procedures for the expenditure of funds received under this chapter which will allow the Secretary to audit and monitor programs conducted with such funds. The Secretary shall not consider any grant application unless a^[1] eligibility study has been conducted under section 1806 of this title and it has been found that the applying college or university will service a reasonable student population.

(b) Determination of support; factors considered
The Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Education to determine the reasonable number of students required to support a tribally controlled college or university. Consideration shall be given to such factors as tribal and cultural differences, isolation, the presence of alternate education sources, and proposed curriculum.

(c) Priority and number of grants
Priority in grants shall be given to institutions which are operating on October 17, 1978, and which have a history of service to the Indian people. In the first year for which funds are appropriated to carry out this section, the number of grants shall be limited to not less than eight nor more than fifteen.

(d) Consultation with national Indian organizations and tribal governments
In making grants pursuant to this section, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, consult with national Indian organizations and with tribal governments chartering the institutions being considered.

[1] So in original. Probably should be “an”.

25 USC 1808 - Amount of grants

(a) Formula
Except as provided in section 1811 of this title, the Secretary shall, subject to appropriations, grant for each academic year to each tribally controlled college or university having an application approved by him an amount equal to the product of

(1) the Indian student count at such college or university during the academic year preceding the academic year for which such funds are being made available, as determined by the Secretary in accordance with section 1801 (a)(7) of this title; and

(2) $6,000,

except that no grant shall exceed the total cost of the education program provided by such college or university.

(b) Advance installment payments; adjustments; methods of payment; interest or investment income; types of investments

(1) The Secretary shall make payments, pursuant to grants under this chapter, of not less than 95 percent of the funds available for allotment by October 15 or no later than 14 days after appropriations become available, with a payment equal to the remainder of any grant to which a grantee is entitled to be made no later than January 1 of each fiscal year.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall not, in disbursing funds provided under this subchapter, use any method of payment which was not used during fiscal year 1987 in the disbursement of funds provided under this subchapter.

(3)

(A) Notwithstanding any provision of law other than subparagraph (B), any interest or investment income that accrues on any funds provided under this subchapter after such funds are paid to the tribally controlled college or university and before such funds are expended for the purpose for which such funds were provided under this subchapter shall be the property of the tribally controlled college or university and shall not be taken into account by any officer or employee of the Federal Government in determining whether to provide assistance, or the amount of assistance, to the tribally controlled college or university under any provision of Federal law.

(B) All interest or investment income described in subparagraph (A) shall be expended by the tribally controlled college or university by no later than the close of the fiscal year succeeding the fiscal year in which such interest or investment income accrues.

(4) Funds provided under this subchapter may only be invested by the tribally controlled college or university in obligations of the United States or in obligations or securities that are guaranteed or insured by the United States.

(1) Each institution receiving payments under this subchapter shall annually provide to the Secretary an accurate and detailed accounting of its operating and maintenance expenses and such other information concerning costs as the Secretary may request.

(2) The Secretary shall, in consultation with the National Center for Education Statistics, establish a data collection system for the purpose of obtaining accurate information with respect to the needs and costs of operation and maintenance of tribally controlled colleges or universities.

(d) Construction of section
Nothing in this section shall be construed as interfering with, or suspending the obligation of the Bureau for, the implementation of all legislative provisions enacted prior to April 28, 1988, specifically including those of Public Law 98192.

25 USC 1809 - Effect on other programs

(a) Eligibility for assistance
Except as specifically provided in this subchapter, eligibility for assistance under this subchapter shall not, by itself, preclude the eligibility of any tribally controlled college or university to receive Federal financial assistance under any program authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.] or any other applicable program for the benefit of institutions of higher education, community colleges, or postsecondary educational institutions.

(b) Allocations from Bureau of Indian Affairs

(1) The amount of any grant for which tribally controlled colleges or universities are eligible under section 1808 of this title shall not be altered because of funds allocated to any such colleges or universities from funds appropriated under section 13 of this title.

(2) No tribally controlled college or university shall be denied funds appropriated under section 13 of this title because of the funds it receives under this chapter.

(3) No tribally controlled college or university for which a tribe has designated a portion of the funds appropriated for the tribe from funds appropriated under section 13 of this title may be denied a contract for such portion under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.) (except as provided in that Act), or denied appropriate contract support to administer such portion of the appropriated funds.

(c) 1 Assistance deemed to be basic educational opportunity grant
For the purposes of sections 312(2)(A)(i) and 322(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 1058 (2)(A)(i), 1061 (a)(2)(A)(i)],^[2] any Indian student who receives a student assistance grant from the Bureau of Indian Affairs for postsecondary education shall be deemed to have received such assistance under subpart 1 of part A of title IV of such Act [20 U.S.C. 1070a].

(c) 1 Treatment of funds under certain Federal laws
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds provided under this subchapter to the tribally controlled college or university may be treated as non-Federal, private funds of the college or university for purposes of any provision of Federal law which requires that non-Federal or private funds of the college or university be used in a project or for a specific purpose.

[1] So in original. Two subsecs. (c) have been enacted.
[2] See References in Text note below.

25 USC 1810 - Authorization of appropriations

(a)

(1) There is authorized to be appropriated, for the purpose of carrying out section 1805 of this title, $3,200,000 for fiscal year 1999 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.

(2) There is authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out section 1807 of this title, $40,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.

(3) There is authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out sections 1812 (b) and 1813 of this title, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.

(4) Funds appropriated pursuant to the authorizations under this section for the fiscal year 1999 and for each of the succeeding 4 fiscal years shall be transferred by the Secretary of the Treasury through the most expeditious method available, with each of the tribally controlled colleges or universities being designated as its own certifying agency.

(b)

(1) For the purpose of affording adequate notice of funding available under this chapter, amounts appropriated in an appropriation Act for any fiscal year to carry out this chapter shall become available for obligation on July 1 of that fiscal year and shall remain available until September 30 of the succeeding fiscal year.

(2) In order to effect a transition to the forward funding method of timing appropriation action described in paragraph (1), there are authorized to be appropriated, in an appropriation Act or Acts for the same fiscal year, two separate appropriations to carry out this chapter, the first of which shall not be subject to paragraph (1).

25 USC 1811 - Grant adjustments

(a) Formula for allocation

(1) If the sums appropriated for any fiscal year pursuant to section 1810 (a)(2) of this title for grants under section 1807 of this title are not sufficient to pay in full the total amount which approved applicants are eligible to receive under such section for such fiscal year

(A) the Secretary shall first allocate to each such applicant which received funds under section 1807 of this title for the preceding fiscal year an amount equal to 95 percent of the payment received by such applicant under section 1808 of this title;

(B) the Secretary shall next allocate to applicants who did not receive funds under such section for the preceding fiscal year an amount equal to 100 per centum of the product of

(i) the per capita payment for the preceding fiscal year; and

(ii) the applicants projected Indian student count for the academic year for which payment is being made;

in the order in which such applicants have qualified for assistance in accordance with such section so that no amount shall be allocated to a later qualified applicant until each earlier qualified applicant is allocated an amount equal to such product; and

(C) if additional funds remain after making the allocations required by subparagraphs (A) and (B), the Secretary shall allocate such funds by

(i) ratably increasing the amounts of the grants determined under subparagraph (A) until such grants are equal to 100 per centum of the product described in such subparagraph; and

(ii) then ratably increasing the amounts of both

(I) the grants determined under subparagraph (A), as increased under clause (i) of this subparagraph, and

(II) the grants determined under subparagraph (B).

(2) For purposes of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the term per capita payment for any fiscal year shall be determined by dividing the amount available for grants to tribally controlled colleges or universities under section 1807 of this title for such fiscal year by the sum of the Indian student counts of such colleges or universities for such fiscal year. The Secretary shall, on the basis of the most satisfactory data available, compute the Indian student count for any fiscal year for which such count was not used for the purpose of making allocations under this subchapter.

(b) Ratable reduction or increase in funds available for existing schools; excess funds; definition

(1) If the sums appropriated for any fiscal year for grants under section 1807 of this title are not sufficient to pay in full the total amount of the grants determined pursuant to subsection (a)(1)(A) of this section, the amount which applicants described in such subsection are eligible to receive under section 1807 of this title for such fiscal year shall be ratably reduced.

(2) If any additional funds become available for making payments under section 1807 of this title for any fiscal year to which subsection (a) of this section or paragraph (1) of this subsection applies, such additional amounts shall be allocated by first increasing grants reduced under paragraph (1) of this subsection on the same basis as they were reduced and by then allocating the remainder in accordance with subsection (a) of this section. Sums appropriated in excess of the amount necessary to pay in full the total amounts for which applicants are eligible under section 1807 of this title shall be allocated by ratably increasing such total amounts.

(3) References in this subsection and subsection (a) of this section to section 1807 of this title shall, with respect to fiscal year 1983, be deemed to refer to section 1806 of this title as in effect at the beginning of such fiscal year.

(c) Reallocation of funds
In any fiscal year in which the amounts for which grant recipients are eligible to receive have been reduced under the first sentence of subsection (a) of this section, and in which additional funds have not been made available to pay in full the total of such amounts under the second sentence of such subsection, each grantee shall report to the Secretary any unused portion of received funds ninety days prior to the grant expiration date. The amounts so reported by any grant recipient shall be made available for reallocation to eligible grantees on a basis proportionate to the amount which is unfunded as a result of the ratable reduction, but no grant recipient shall receive, as a result of such reallocation, more than the amount provided for under section 1807 (a) of this title.

25 USC 1812 - Report on facilities

(a) Study on condition of currently existing facilities; submission of report; contents
The Secretary shall provide for the conduct of a study of facilities available for use by tribally controlled colleges or universities. Such study shall consider the condition of currently existing Bureau of Indian Affairs facilities which are vacant or underutilized and shall consider available alternatives for renovation, alteration, repair, and reconstruction of such facilities (including renovation, alteration, repair, and reconstruction necessary to bring such facilities into compliance with local building codes). Such study shall also identify the need for new construction. A report on the results of such study shall be submitted to the Congress not later than eighteen months after September 30, 1986. Such report shall also include an identification of property

(1) on which structurally sound buildings suitable for use as educational facilities are located, and

(2) which is available for use by tribally controlled colleges or universities under section 523 of title 40 and section 443a of this title.

(b) Renovation program
The Secretary, in consultation with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, shall initiate a program to conduct necessary renovations, alterations, repairs, and reconstruction identified pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

(1) The Secretary shall enter into a contract with an organization described in paragraph (2) to establish and provide on an annual basis criteria for the determination and prioritization in a consistent and equitable manner of the facilities construction and renovation needs of colleges or universities that receive funding under this chapter or the Navajo Community College Act [25 U.S.C. 640a et seq.].

(2) An organization described in this section is any organization that

(A) is eligible to receive a contract under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act [25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.]; and

(B) has demonstrated expertise in areas and issues dealing with tribally controlled colleges or universities.

(3) The Secretary shall include the priority list established pursuant to this subsection in the budget submitted annually to the Congress.

(d) “Reconstruction” defined
For the purposes of this section, the term reconstruction has the meaning provided in the first sentence of subparagraph (B) of section 1132e–1 (2)1 of title 20.

[1] See References in Text note below.

25 USC 1813 - Construction of new facilities

(a) Grants
With respect to any tribally controlled college or university for which the report of the Secretary under section 1812 (a) of this title identifies a need for new construction, the Secretary shall, subject to appropriations and on the basis of an application submitted in accordance with such requirements as the Secretary may prescribe by regulation, provide grants for such construction in accordance with this section.

(b) Eligibility requirements
In order to be eligible for a grant under this section, a tribally controlled college or university

(1) must be a current recipient of grants under section 1805 or 1807 of this title, and

(2) must be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency listed by the Secretary of Education pursuant to the last sentence of section 1001 of title 20, except that such requirement may be waived if the Secretary determines that there is a reasonable expectation that such college or university will be fully accredited within eighteen months. In any case where such a waiver is granted, grants under this section shall be available only for planning and development of proposals for construction.

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), grants for construction under this section shall not exceed 80 per centum of the cost of such construction, except that no tribally controlled college or university shall be required to expend more than $400,000 in fulfillment of the remaining 20 per centum. For the purpose of providing its required portion of the cost of such construction, a tribally controlled college or university may use funds provided under section 13 of this title.

(2) The Secretary may waive, in whole or in part, the requirements of paragraph (1) in the case of any tribally controlled college or university which demonstrates that neither such college or university nor the tribal government with which it is affiliated have sufficient resources to comply with such requirements. The Secretary shall base a decision on whether to grant such a waiver solely on the basis of the following factors:

(A) tribal population;

(B) potential student population;

(D) tribal financial resources; and

(E) other factors alleged by the college or university to have a bearing on the availability of resources for compliance with the requirements of paragraph (1) and which may include the educational attainment of tribal members.

(d) Failure to use facility in approved manner; title to vest in United States; settlement
If, within twenty years after completion of construction of a facility which has been constructed in whole or in part with a grant made available under this section

(1) the facility ceases to be used by the applicant in a public or nonprofit">nonprofit capacity as an academic facility, unless the Secretary determines that there is good cause for releasing the institution from this obligation, and

(2) the tribe with which the applicant is affiliated fails to use the facility for a public purpose approved by the tribal government in furtherance of the general welfare of the community served by the tribal government,

title to the facility shall vest in the United States and the applicant (or such tribe if such tribe is the successor in title to the facility) shall be entitled to recover from the United States an amount which bears the same ratio to the present value of the facility as the amount of the applicants contribution (excluding any funds provided under section 13 of this title) bore to the original cost of the facility. Such value shall be determined by agreement of the parties or by action brought in the United States district court for the district in which such facility is located.

(e) Religious use
No construction assisted with funds under this section shall be used for religious worship or a sectarian activity or for a school or department of divinity.

(f) “Construction” and “academic facilities” defined
For the purposes of this section

(1) the term construction includes reconstruction or renovation (as such terms are defined in the first sentence of subparagraph (B) of section 1132e–1 (2)1 of title 20); and

(2) the term academic facilities has the meaning provided such term under section 1132e–1 (1)1 of title 20.

[1] See References in Text note below.

25 USC 1814 - Miscellaneous provisions

(a) Eligibility of Navajo Tribe
The Navajo Tribe shall not be eligible to participate under the provisions of this subchapter.

(b) Discriminatory practices prohibited

(1) The Secretary shall not provide any funds to any institution which denies admission to any Indian student because such individual is not a member of a specific Indian tribe, or which denies admission to any Indian student because such individual is a member of a specific tribe.

(2) The Secretary shall take steps to recover any unexpended and unobligated funds provided under this subchapter held by an institution determined to be in violation of paragraph (1).

25 USC 1815 - Rules and regulations

(a) Consultation with national Indian organizations
Within four months from October 17, 1978, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, consult with national Indian organizations to consider and formulate appropriate rules and regulations for the conduct of the grant program established by this subchapter.

(b) Publication
Within six months from October 17, 1978, the Secretary shall publish proposed rules and regulations in the Federal Register for the purpose of receiving comments from interested parties.

(c) Promulgation
Within ten months from October 17, 1978, the Secretary shall promulgate rules and regulations for the conduct of the grant program established by this subchapter.

(d) Source of appropriations
Funds to carry out the purposes of this section may be drawn from general administrative appropriations to the Secretary made after October 17, 1978.