Preserving Culture and Planning for the Future: An Exploration of Student Experiences at Tribal Colleges

Abstract

The tribally controlled education represented by the Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) is restorative— bringing access to language, socialization, relationships, and indigenous knowledge that is inherently empowering to students and their families. This report provides a snapshot of the ways that students experience TCUs. This research also shows there is a gap—in order to increase the number of Native students who complete college, more students need support. With continued investments from tribal colleges and additional investments from outside the colleges, this gap can be narrowed and more students can succeed.