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1 1 (June 25, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/govepss0001 and id is 1 raw text is: s nforrnng y Egd ativ deate i ce 1914 Postsecondary Education of Native Americans Since the nation's early years, the United States of America has enacted federal policies intended to provide educational opportunities to Indian peoples. The federal government maintains and supports its trust relationship with Indian tribes, in part, through various postsecondary education programs and initiatives. The trust relationship is a responsibility derived from federal statutes, treaties, court decisions, executive actions, and the Constitution (which assigns authority over federal-Indian relations to Congress). This In Focus reviews college enrollment patterns and educational attainment levels of Native Americans and federal programs that support Indian postsecondary attainment. Postsecondary Access and Completion Although data are not available on Indian educational achievement nationally, the achievements of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students are reported. Persons who identify their race/ethnicity as AIAN may not be members of federally recognized Indian tribes, and not all members of such tribes may identify as AIAN. According to the most recently published statistics of the U.S. Census Bureau (Census), as shown in Figure 1, postsecondary enrollment and completion rates when examined by race/ethnicity are lowest for persons who identified as AIAN and Pacific Islander in 2022. Such rates are highest for persons who identified as Asian or White, not Hispanic. Figure I. Educational Attainment for the Population 25 Years and Over Who Have Completed High School, by Race/Ethnicity, 2022 Sorted by percentage of degree completers Race/ethnicity Pacific Islander Hispan c Black White, not H spani Total 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Degree Completers Some Pastecondary Enrollment Source: Figure prepared by CRS using U.S. Census Bureau, Sex by Educational Attainment for the Population 25 Years and Over, American Community Survey, ACS I-Year Estimates Detailed Tables, Table series B15002, 2022 (accessed on October 6, 2023). Updated June 25, 2024 Note: AlAN is American Indian and Alaska Native. The percentage of high school completers ages 25 and up who had enrolled in postsecondary education at some time was lowest for persons who identified as AIAN (60%), Pacific Islander (58%), and Hispanic (62%). The data also indicate that the percentage of high school completers ages 25 and up who at some time completed a postsecondary degree (associate's or higher degree) was lowest for persons who identified as AIAN (33%) and Pacific Islander (32%). Federal Programs and Support The federal government provides support to help members of federally recognized tribes (Indians) access and complete higher education. Two major mechanisms that primarily or exclusively support tribal members are funding for tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) and federal aid for Indian students. TCUs include federally operated or established institutions and tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs). FY2024 appropriations for the programs discussed in this section are presented in Table 1. TCUs and Indian students are eligible for and benefit from general federal educational assistance programs. For example, Indian students may be eligible to receive Pell Grants under the same terms as other students. The following programs are specific to TCUs and Indian students. Federally Operated or Estabished Institutions The federal government operates two postsecondary institutions for tribal members and established one for the preservation of tribal culture. The federal government, through the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), owns, operates, and funds two postsecondary institutions for tribal members-Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas and the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) in New Mexico. Haskell is a four-year liberal arts university with over 800 undergraduates in academic year (AY) 2021-2022. SIPI, a two-year college with over 400 students in AY2021-2022, primarily awards associate's degrees. Both institutions charge no tuition, and Haskell charged less than $500 in fees in AY2022-2023. The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in New Mexico is an independent, multi-tribal nonprofit higher education institution for Native Americans dedicated to the study, creative application, preservation, and care of Indian arts and culture (20 U.S.C. Chapter 56). IAIA is federally chartered and under the direction and control of a Board of Trustees appointed by the President of the United States.

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