FEDERAL AGENCY:

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

AUTHORIZATION:

Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act, Public Law 95-471, 25 U.S.C. 640c - 1(c); 25 U.S.C. 1815.

OBJECTIVES:

To provide grants to establish endowments for the Tribally Controlled Community Colleges.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Funds are to be used to establish endowments. Interest earned on the invested funds may be used to defray expenditures associated with the operation of the College including maintenance, administration, academic and support costs, and community and student services programs. No part of the net earnings of the trust fund may be used to benefit any private person.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Colleges chartered by Federally Recognized Indian Tribes which are governed by an Indian 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.

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:   Approved status as a Tribally Controlled Community College.

Pre-application Coordination:   This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Colleges must complete an Endowment Fund agreement in accordance with 25 U.S.C. 1832(b).

Award Procedure:   The headquarters office calculates the amount of the award and the grantee is notified by the Branch Chief of Post- Secondary Education.

Deadlines:   Established by the Branch of Post-Secondary Education.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Not applicable.

Appeals:   An applicant who disputes the amount of the award may request an informal conference with the deciding official, or may appeal the denial of the application to the Interior Board of Indian Appeals. Full appeal procedures are found in 25 CFR, Part 2.

Renewals:   Colleges must file an annual application to receive continued funding.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   The Colleges must match an endowment grant with a capital contribution equal to half of the amount of the Federal contribution. Personal or real property received as a donation or gift may be applied toward the matching requirement.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Awards are made on an annual basis.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   OMB 1076-0105, Annual Report.

Audits:   For awards made under this program grantees/contractors are responsible for obtaining audits in accordance with the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501et. seq.).

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.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   14-2100-0-1-501.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $975,000; FY 02 est $975,000; and FY 03 est $975,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
Range is $0.00 to $5,700; Average $5,700.

Twenty-five Tribally Controlled Community Colleges received endowments grants.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

25 CFR, Part 41.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   See 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, District of Columbia 20240 Email: juanita.mendoza@bie.edu Phone: (202) 208-3559

Web Site Address:  
http://www.bia.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Using interest earnings from the endowment, a distance learning program utilizing satellites was established in one college and social science laboratories were updated.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Applicants meeting eligibility criteria are funded.