Concept /
WHY
Oregon needs a TribalCollege for Indian people. Education is critical for the well being of Native people, economic development and independence. Only 1% of Indian people, on average, are currently taking advantage of higher education, compared with 6% of the dominant culture. We are not doing a good job. Sending students to a distant campus only works for a few, online computer classes work for a few, we need to do better. OregonStateUniversity recognizes this and wants to help with creating a new TribalCollege in Oregon that will not be a single campus, but distributed with physical buildings and staff in 13 locations at Tribes and urban centers supported by good telecommunications. This creates a local presence and cohort group to blend the best of face to face and online classes.
WHO
The OregonTribalCollege will be a new, independent, land-grant college owned by the nine recognized Tribes in Oregon, governed by a representative from each Tribe. The OTC will not ‘compete’ but enhance the Tribe’s existing relationships with colleges and universities and strengthen them by providing a place for classes and the ability to bring classes in via televideo conferencing. This is a new concept. There are more than 30 Tribal colleges in other states, but none that we know of that is a collaboration of Tribes statewide.
HOW MUCH
There is no ‘cash’ expected from the Tribes. OSU is contributing staff and resources for the planning and funding. Federal appropriations and grants are expected to cover the construction ($15 million) and the college can run at ‘break even’ with 500 students (2% of the enrolled population of Oregon Tribes), based upon current education funding available to Native students. An exit strategy will ensure there is no long term obligation to any one Tribe. New staff at Tribal and urban sites are included in the budget.
WHEN
Three to five years is the estimated time to ‘turn on the switch’ and includes matching the federal budget cycle, organizing the Board of Governors, designing and constructing buildings and training staff. Resolutions of Support from as many Tribes as possible need to be in hand by the fall of 2006 so we can begin working with the congressional delegation.
PROCESS
We, OSU staff, feel it is important to work with front line staff (Education Directors) in each Tribe, and allow them to bring this concept forward to Administrators and then to Tribal Councils. We hope to have Resolutions of Support for the idea from all the Tribes by this fall. OSU staff will then begin fund raising and help to organize the Board of Governors who will be in charge from that point forward, with OSU staff providing assistance.
NEXT STEPS
1. Encourage and assist Education Directors to present the OregonTribalCollege concept to Administrators and Tribal Councils.
2. Obtain a Resolution of Support for the concept from each Tribe.
3. Work with congressional delegation for funding in 2007 cycle.
4. Continue collaboration with regional institutions to encourage cooperation.
5. Convene a meeting of Tribal representatives for a planning workshop.
January 16, 2006
Link Shadley, OSU Extended Campus
541.340.9545