Assistance to Tribally Controlled Community Colleges and Universities

 

To provide grants for the operation and improvement of Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) 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.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
15.027
Federal Agency/Office
Bureau of Indian Education, Department of The Interior
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 No Current Data Available. No Information Available.
Fiscal Year 2017 No Information Available.
Fiscal Year 2018 No Information Available.
Fiscal Year 2020 Program mission fulfilled. BIA issued approximately 12 awards in FY 2020
Fiscal Year 2021 Indian Affairs issued 35 new awards and modifications to existing awards to 30 recipients.
Fiscal Year 2022 Awards 75 grants to entities to complete the goals and objectives of the program.
Authorization
Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act, Public Law 95-471, 25 U.S.C. 640c - 1(c); 25 U.S.C. 1815.
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Colleges chartered by Federally Recognized Indian Tribes or tribal organizations which are governed by a board of directors, are in operation more than one year, admit students with a certificate of graduation from a secondary institution or equivalent, provide certificates, associate, baccalaureate and graduate degrees, are nonprofit and nonsectarian, and are accredited by a nationally recognized agency or association.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Indian students who are a member of or are at least a one-fourth degree Indian blood descendant of a member of an Indian tribe which is eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States through the Bureau of Indian Affairs to Indians because of their status as Indians.
Credentials/Documentation
Written evidence of approval of the application by the governing body of one or more Indian tribes of the students served by or to be served by the college. "Tribal governing body" means the tribal governing body or tribal governing bodies that represent at least 90 percent of the students served by such school.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is required. An applicant should consult the Division of Post-Secondary Education.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. The organization should submit written evidence of approval of the application by the governing body of one or more Indian tribes of the students served by or to be served by the college to the Director, Bureau of Indian Education.
Award Procedure
After receiving approval of the application by the governing body or governing bodies, the Director will designate a study team to determine whether there is justification to encourage maintaining a college.
Deadlines
July 1, 2021 Colleges must submit the Tribe's approval of the application by March 1 of the fiscal year preceding the year in which they wish to be eligible for funding. Evidence that all administrative systems are in place such as accounting, personnel and property must be submitted by July 1 of the preceding year in which they wish to be eligible for funding. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
The study team will be designated within 30 days. Within 60 days the team must complete its eligibility study. The tribe will be notified of approval within 60 days of completion of the study.
Appeals
A negative determination may be appealed to the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs. Within 30 days of receiving a notice of appeal the Assistant Secretary must conduct a hearing at which the applicant may present evidence and offer arguments in support of the appeal. Within 30 days after the hearing the Assistant Secretary must issue a written ruling on the appeal. Specifics relative to the appeals process are found in 25 CFR 41.7.
Renewals
Colleges must file an annual application to receive continued funding.
How are proposals selected?
Applicants which the study team determines as eligible will be funded.
How may assistance be used?
Funds must not be used in connection with religious worship or sectarian instruction. Funds may be used for the general operating costs of the Tribally Controlled Community College to defray, at the determination of the College, expenditures for academic, educational and administrative purposes and for the operation and maintenance of the College.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Not applicable.
Auditing
Not applicable.
Records
Financial records must be retained for 3 years from the date of submission of the single audit report. Procurement records must be retained for 3 years from the date of final payment. Property records must be retained for 3 years from the date of disposition, replacement, or transfer. Records pertaining to any litigation, audit exceptions or claims must be retained until the dispute has been resolved.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Awards are made on an annual basis and the funds remain available without fiscal year limitation until expended by the contractor/grantee. Funds are calculated based on the recipient's Indian Student Count and are issued with a Form 21 Grant Agreement.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
See BIE Education Line Officers' addresses in Catalog Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
Juanita Mendoza
1849 C Street N.W.
Bureau of Indian Education, MS 4657-MIB
Washington, DC 20240 US
juanita.mendoza@bie.edu
Phone: (202) 208-3559
Website Address
http://www.bie.edu
Financial Information
Account Identification
14-2100-0-1-501
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 22$90,557,521.00; FY 23 est $113,973.00; FY 24 est $115,000.00; FY 21$375,301,862.00; FY 20$1,045,778.00; FY 19$181,170,167.00; FY 18$69,097,143.00; FY 17 FY 16 est $68,084,000.00; - Budget Fiscal Year 2024 estimate based on prior year appropriations and expenditures.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
FY 2015: Range is $273,790 to $13,598,820; Average $2,467,250. The amount of the award is determined by the number of eligible Indian students enrolled in the college. Indian Tribes may choose to supplement the funding provided by the grant program by identifying additional amounts in the Tribal Priority Allocations portion of the Bureau of Indian Affairs budget.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
25 CFR, Part 41; 25 CFR, Part 276.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2016 No Current Data Available. No Information Available.
Fiscal Year 2017 No Information Available.
Fiscal Year 2018 No Information Available.
Fiscal Year 2022 Projects funded provided tribes with resources to obtain the objectives of this program.

 


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