USA Funds-Backed Research Featured in U.S. Senate Committee Hearing

The findings of a research paper that was developed with financial support from USA Funds^® helped inform members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs during an April 12 oversight hearing on tribal colleges and universities.

Jamie Merisotis, president of the Institute for Higher Education Policy, cited findings from The Path of Many Journeys: The Benefits of Higher Education for Native People and Communities in advocating for increased federal support for tribal schools. The research paper, which identifies the benefits of higher education for Native-American students and communities, was prepared by IHEP in collaboration with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium and the American Indian College Fund.

Merisotis urged the committee to take the following steps:

• Increase funding for tribal college and university operations. He noted that federal funding per Indian student has increased only slightly in the past 26 years.
• Invest in improved facilities and infrastructure at tribal schools.
• Reverse cuts proposed by the Bush administration in Title III institutional-development funds for tribal schools, base funding on a formula tied to enrollment, and increase the authorized funding level to at least $40 million.

“Low college-access and degree-achievement rates have been a persistent problem for American Indians,” Merisotis said. “As one of the main drivers of economic and social development for all American-Indian communities, tribal colleges and universities are critical to the future success of these communities.”

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