November 21, 2025

American Indian Higher Education Consortium's Statement on U.S. Dept. of Education Changes

The Department of Education’s recent changes will have significant implications for the nation’s education system. The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) is monitoring this development and remains committed to working closely with the Department of the Interior to ensure stability and continuity for Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) and their students. AIHEC will continue to advocate for approaches that uphold the federal government’s trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations and protect the vital role of TCUs in advancing Tribal sovereignty and student success.

Tribal leaders say Trump administration failed to consult with them on Education Department changes

Indian Land Tenure Foundation (ILTF) is accepting applications for the 2026 Summer Internship Grants program! 

Through this grant, Tribal land offices can receive up to $10,000 to host paid high school interns who will gain real-world experience in Tribal land management, mapping, cultural preservation, environmental data collection, and more. 

By hosting interns, your office helps develop the next generation of Native land professionals—those who will carry forward the essential work of protecting and restoring Tribal homelands. 

EVENTS & WEBINARS TO CHECK OUT

Anatomy and Physiology I & II Supplemental Program

The AIHEC health initiatives team partnered with Dr. Allison Kelliher (Koyukon Atahabascan, Dena), an Alaskan physician, to create a supplemental educational anatomy and physiology program designed for TCU students. The program is specifically for TCU students enrolled in A&P II to work in partnership with A&P II offered at the TCUs, but is open to anyone interested participating. The FREE virtual program begins January 2026 and meets weekly through the Spring 2026 semester. Students can apply directly through the link or be referred to Maggie Grandon (mgrandon@aihec.org) to answer any questions. 

Applications for the 2026 cycle of the Cobell Fellowship Program opportunities are now open - starting September 1, 2025! More on both the Cobell Graduate Summer Research Fellowship and the Elouise Cobell Dissertation Writing Year Fellowship can be found at cobellscholar.org. Applications will be accepted until January 10, 2026, without exception.

JOB/INTERNSHIP

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Advocacy is Something We Inherit

The president and CEO of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium explains why advocacy is so critical.

The Girl, The Grandmother, and the Guilt

“Make time for them without the assumption of tomorrow. Make them things. I didn’t get to show her this, but I was working on something for her.”

Tribal College Journal On Campus

Tribal College & University News Round-up

Other News

$5 million gift from the McKenzie Scott Foundation accelerates Little Priest Tribal College plans for campus growth

Federal funding surge will provide relief for tribal college

‘My Heart Is Good’ tells ‘an untold story’

Tribal colleges are a unique resource — and they're under threat

Department of Education: Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education – Special Projects

This week, the Department of Education issued a notice inviting applications for new awards for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education – Special Projects (FIPSE-ED). The purpose of the grants is to support innovative projects concerning one or more areas of national need identified by the Secretary of Education. This competition focuses on supporting four areas - (1) advancing the understanding of and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in postsecondary education, (2) promoting civil discourse on college and university campuses, (3) promoting accreditation reform, and (4) supporting capacity-building for high-quality short-term programs. For more detailed descriptions, please refer to the Federal Register notice.

Application Deadline: December 3, 2025. For more information, please review the Federal Register notice.

Our Stories,

Our Strength,

Our Future.

Available Hotels for the

2026 AIHEC Student Conference

Congratulations to Iḷisaġvik College for being selected for the Top 200 institutions eligible to apply for the 2027 Aspen Prize.

These colleges represent the amazing potential of America's community colleges as engines of prosperity and social mobility.