February 20, 2026

AIHEC WEEKLY UPDATE

The Collective Spirit and Unifying Voice of our Nation's Tribal Colleges and Universities

HIGHLIGHTS

Celebrating 30 Years of Iḷisaġvik College!

30 years as Alaska’s only Tribal College

In 1996, Iḷisaġvik College was officially established by the North Slope Borough, continuing the vision that began in 1986 when the North

Slope Borough and the University of Alaska Fairbanks partnered to create the North Slope Higher Education Center. They pursued a purpose powerful enough to transform a community and inspiring enough to shape future generations: to provide education and vocational training that would prepare local residents to take on key administrative, business, and political roles throughout the North Slope. By focusing on building local capacity, they ensured that the region’s leadership and workforce are rooted in the community.

US Department of Labor announces availability of $65M in grants to help community colleges increase access to in-demand, high-quality training

On 2/17/26, the Department of Labor announced a $65 million grant competition for the Strengthening Community College Training program, funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The funding aims to support programs that help community colleges develop high-quality, short-term training programs that meet employers’ and workers’ skill development needs. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act authorized a new Pell Grant program for short-term workforce programs, and DOL noted that grant applications must describe how programs will meet the hiring requirements of employers in in-demand industries.

Applications deadline is May 20, 2026. There is no cost share or matching requirement for this program.

For more information, please refer to the Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants program.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Faculty Opportunity!

EVENTS & WEBINARS TO CHECK OUT

Building Indigenous Food Sovereignty: How Creating a Tribal Department of Agriculture Can Help

The webinar will be held on Thursday, February 26 from 1:00-2:30 pm Eastern Time.

In 2025, the National Congress of American Indians passed a resolution supporting the establishment of Tribal departments of agriculture as a way to bolster Tribal sovereignty through agriculture. Tribal departments of agriculture are poised to ensure Tribes have the authority and infrastructure needed to build and regulate their own agricultural economies, cultivating food sovereignty as part of Tribal sovereignty.

In this interactive session we’re joined by Nickole Keith of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi and Will Derouin of the Grand Traverse Bay Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians to learn about their respective departments of agriculture and Tribal food sovereignty efforts.

This meeting is co-hosted by the Michigan Local Food Council Network (MLFCN), the Michigan Inter-Tribal Land Grant Extension System (MILES), the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, and MSU Extension.

AIHEC National Basketball Tournament

Registration

Registration Packet

Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College has released the registration packet for the upcoming AIHEC National Basketball Tournament. The tournament will take place in New Town, North Dakota, March 26-29. Click the link above for the registration packet!

Medicine Pathways for Advancing Tribal Healthcare

(M-PATH) Program 2026-2027

We are inviting all interested pre-medical students pursuing the physician pathway to apply for the third year of the Medicine Pathways for Advancing Tribal Healthcare Program!

Dates: Monday, June 1st 2026 – Friday, June 19th, 2026
Location: Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
Covered Expenses: Travel, flights, lodging, program materials, and most meals are covered by FLIP.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at flip@partners.org. We would love to hear from you!

Apply Here

2026 AIHEC Student Conference

Our Stories, Our Strength, Our Future

March 15 -18, 2026

Exciting updates are on the way for the 2026 AIHEC Student Conference!

Follow the 2026 AIHEC Student Conference Facebook Page to stay informed on all things conference-related!

Find the conference webpage here: Home | AIHEC 2026

Announcing the NIH #GraphMedChallenge! Young people ages 13–25 can submit original comics how to reduce health risks from certain beauty products & behaviors used to meet societal beauty standards – and win up to $3,500! Closes 4/2/26. challenge.gov/?challenge=beauty-health-youth-graphic-medicine-challenge

JOB/INTERNSHIP

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FIND THESE AND OTHER JOBS HERE AT THE TRIBAL COLLEGE JOURNAL JOB BOARD

American Indian College Fund Announces TCU Faculty Fellow Cohort

The fellows are working to increase the academic capacity of their respective tribal colleges by pursuing higher or terminal degrees.

Salish Kootenai College Student Selected As Achieving the Dream Scholar

Sarah Cochran is one of just eight students selected through a highly competitive application process to participate in the DREAM Scholars program this year.

Tribal College Journal On Campus

Tribal College & University News Round-up

Other News

Navajo Nation Signs $19 Million Diné Higher Education Grant Fund Act into Law

Indigenous Students Face Stark Barriers at Colleges Built on Tribal Lands, New Report Finds

Lawmakers shelve in-state tuition for tribe members; pass history advisory board

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED

The American Indian Higher Education Consortium congratulates Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) President Shelly Lowe on her upcoming Presidential Inauguration celebration March 26 -27, 2026.