American Indian Higher Education Consortium
The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) is an organization founded in 1972 by leaders of tribal colleges in the United States and Canada, aimed at safeguarding the interests of these institutions. Its primary objectives include ensuring the survival of tribal colleges, maintaining American Indian control over educational practices, and securing necessary funding. AIHEC emphasizes culturally relevant training for college staff while promoting the preservation and teaching of Native languages and cultural traditions.
The organization emerged during a pivotal time when Native communities sought to collectively address common goals related to sovereignty and education. AIHEC plays a crucial role in navigating the political landscape surrounding American Indian higher education, particularly in light of legislative developments like the Tribally Controlled Community College Act of 1978. By serving as a national forum, AIHEC fosters collaboration among tribal colleges through conferences, workshops, and seminars. Additionally, it publishes the "Tribal College: Journal of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium," which addresses pertinent issues in Native higher education. Through initiatives like the American Indian College Fund, AIHEC aims to promote financial support for the tribal college movement, ensuring that these institutions continue to thrive while honoring their sovereignty.
American Indian Higher Education Consortium
Date: Established 1972
Tribes affected: Pantribal
Significance: The AIHEC promotes tribally controlled colleges and monitors state and federal legislation affecting Indian higher education.
The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) was formed by six tribal college leaders in 1972 to protect the interests of tribally controlled colleges in the United States and Canada. The overall goal of the organization is to ensure survival of tribal colleges, maintain American Indian control of the colleges, and secure an adequate funding base. The consortium promotes culturally meaningful training for college administrators and teachers working in the tribal colleges; it promotes and encourages the preservation and teaching of American Indian, Inuit, and Alaska Native languages, cultures, and traditions; and it encourages programs that are consistent with the inherent rights of tribal sovereignty and self-determination.
AIHEC came about at a time when Indian people were identifying common goals and establishing issue-oriented organizations that promoted sovereignty and represented both tribal and pantribal needs. Because of the complex issues connected with the implementation of the Tribally Controlled Community College Act of 1978, AIHEC has become a vital force in monitoring political and legislative issues connected with American Indian higher education at the state and federal levels. AIHEC also functions as a national forum to promote Indian higher education and recognition of the tribal college movement.
AIHEC provides considerable support to the tribal college infrastructure and sponsors annual conferences at which administrators, faculty, and students from the various colleges meet to participate in training workshops, seminars, and a variety of intercollegiate activities. AIHEC also publishes Tribal College: Journal of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, which focuses on issues of higher education for American Indians and provides a forum to address Indian research issues. In an effort to raise money and establish endowments, AIHEC created and oversees the American Indian College Fund, intended to promote personal, corporate, and foundation gift-giving to support the tribal college movement. Through the various activities of AIHEC, the Indian tribal colleges are connected by a national organization that promotes their well-being while respecting their inherent sovereignty.