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Tribal College Program

The Tribal College Program was established to ensure the Department fulfills the requirements of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 and Section 882 of the Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996. These Acts established tribally controlled colleges and universities as land-grant institutions. Congress required that the Department develop a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with 1994 Institutions and establish programs to ensure these school and the Native American communities they serve have equitable access to the Department’s employment, programs, services, and resources. There are currently 36 land-grant institutions.

The Tribal College Program does this by equipping tribal schools’ capacities to benefit Native American agriculture, rural Tribal economies, and to strengthen the United States’ food security. To help USDA fulfill its mandated responsibilities, the Tribal College Program staff provide critical assistance to the Secretary of Agriculture with the following:

  1. Establishment and maintenance of formal memorandum of agreements with 1994 Institutions to ensure these schools and the rural, tribal communities they serve have equitable access to the Department’s employment, programs, services, and resources; and
  2. Development of Departmental Regulations, policy, guidance and procedures;
  3. Engage in outreach with these schools, the communities they serve, and the tribal governments that established them.

The Tribal College Program does its work through three programs, the USDA and American Indian Higher Education Consortium Leadership Group, the Tribal Scholars Program for students, and the Terra Preta do Indio Tribal Fellowship for staff and faculty members.

1994 Land-Grant Institutions

There are 36 federally recognized tribal colleges and universities (also known as “1994 Institutions”, “1994s”, and “tribal land-grants”) designated as land-grant institutions through the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994. For reservation communities, these land-grant institutions help improve the lives and career opportunities for Native students and the communities at large. These schools support research, education, and extension programs that enhance local agriculture and food production.

There are 36 1994 institutions (PDF, 177 KB), and each support research, education, and extension programs that enhance local agriculture and food production.

USDA and American Indian Higher Education Consortium Memorandum of Agreement

USDA renewed its Congressionally mandated memorandum of agreement with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium during a ceremony on February 10, 2023.URL to photos and url to press release.

USDA and the American Indian Higher Education Leadership Group

The USDA and American Indian Higher Education Consortium Leadership Group is comprised of an equal number of USDA Mission Area decision-makers and 1994 Land-Grant Institutions president members. The 1994 Land-Grant Institutions make up the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC). The leadership group meets face-to-face yearly to ensure that USDA programs and services are accessible to the 1994 Land-Grant Institutions. Further, this group meets to ensure that USDA Mission Area representatives understand the uniqueness of and issues affecting these schools.

Terra Preta do Indio Tribal Fellowship

USDA fellowships are available to faculty and staff at 1994 land-grant tribal colleges and universities (TCUs). These fellowships target and address mutual areas of interest between 1994 land-grant TCUs and USDA and provide training about resources and opportunities available at USDA. This uniquely tailored experience brings together 1994 tribal land-grant faculty/staff and federal executives to address the spectrum of challenges faced in the development of a well-prepared American Indian and Alaska Native workforce. In addition, the fellowships offer the opportunity to develop collegial relationships with others at 1994 tribal land-grant colleges and universities and USDA through which collaboration and mutual learning can take place.

This fellowship is available to 1994 TCU faculty and staff working in the areas of agriculture, conservation, natural resource, science, or community development to broaden and deepen their understanding of USDA and to further advance the development of their school’s land-grant function.

The Terra Preta do Indio Tribal Fellowship is accepting Tribal College and University applications now through April 17, 2023.

1994 Tribal Scholarship – The USDA 1994 Tribal Scholars Program | USDA

Additional Information:

Success Stories

CONTACT US

Lisa Yellow Luger
Tribal Liaison
Phone: 202-845-5646
Email: lisa.yellowluger@usda.gov

Lawrence Shorty
Program Director
Phone: 202-720-7265
Email: lawrence.shorty@usda.gov