Public Law 119-87 (04/30/2026)

20 U.S.C. § 1059c

American Indian tribally controlled colleges and universities

(a)

Program authorized

The Secretary shall provide grants and related assistance to Tribal Colleges and Universities to enable such institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve Indian students.

(b)

Definitions

In this section:
(1)

Indian

25 U.S.C. 1801The term “Indian” has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 [].

(2)

Indian tribe

25 U.S.C. 1801The term “Indian tribe” has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 [].

(3)

Tribal College or University

The term “Tribal College or University” means an institution that—
(A)
25 U.S.C. 180125 U.S.C. 640a1
1 See References in Text note below.
qualifies for funding under the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 ( et seq.) or the Navajo Community College Act ( note);  or
(B)
7 U.S.C. 301 is cited in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 ( note).
(4)

Institution of higher education

section 1001(a) of this titleThe term “institution of higher education” means an institution of higher education as defined in , except that paragraph (2) of such section shall not apply.

(c)

Authorized activities

(1)

In general

Grants awarded under this section shall be used by Tribal Colleges or Universities to assist such institutions to plan, develop, undertake, and carry out activities to improve and expand such institutions’ capacity to serve Indian students.

(2)

Examples of authorized activities

The activities described in paragraph (1) may include—
(A)
purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional and research purposes;
(B)
construction, maintenance, renovation, and improvement in classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and other instructional facilities, including purchase or rental of telecommunications technology equipment or services, and the acquisition of real property adjacent to the campus of the institution on which to construct such facilities;
(C)
support of faculty exchanges, faculty development, and faculty fellowships to assist in attaining advanced degrees in the faculty’s field of instruction or in tribal governance or tribal public policy;
(D)
academic instruction in disciplines in which Indians are underrepresented and instruction in tribal governance or tribal public policy;
(E)
purchase of library books, periodicals, and other educational materials, including telecommunications program material;
(F)
tutoring, counseling, and student service programs designed to improve academic success;
(G)
education or counseling services designed to improve the financial literacy and economic literacy of students or the students’ families;
(H)
funds management, administrative management, and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds management;
(I)
joint use of facilities, such as laboratories and libraries;
(J)
establishing or improving a development office to strengthen or improve contributions from alumni and the private sector;
(K)
establishing or enhancing a program of teacher education designed to qualify students to teach in elementary schools or secondary schools, with a particular emphasis on teaching Indian children and youth, that shall include, as part of such program, preparation for teacher certification;
(L)
establishing community outreach programs that encourage Indian elementary school and secondary school students to develop the academic skills and the interest to pursue postsecondary education;
(M)
developing or improving facilities for Internet use or other distance education technologies; and
(N)
other activities proposed in the application submitted pursuant to subsection (d) that—
(i)
contribute to carrying out the activities described in subparagraphs (A) through (M); and
(ii)
are approved by the Secretary as part of the review and acceptance of such application.
(3)

Endowment fund

(A)

In general

A Tribal College or University may use not more than 20 percent of the grant funds provided under this section to establish or increase an endowment fund at the institution.

(B)

Matching requirement

In order to be eligible to use grant funds in accordance with subparagraph (A), the Tribal College or University shall provide matching funds, in an amount equal to the Federal funds used in accordance with subparagraph (A), for the establishment or increase of the endowment fund.

(C)

Comparability

The provisions of part C regarding the establishment or increase of an endowment fund, that the Secretary determines are not inconsistent with this paragraph, shall apply to funds used under subparagraph (A).

(d)

Application, plan, and allocation

(1)

Institutional eligibility

section 1058(b) of this titleTo be eligible to receive assistance under this section, a Tribal College or University shall be an eligible institution under .

(2)

Application

(A)

In general

A Tribal College or University desiring to receive assistance under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require.

(B)

Streamlined process

The Secretary shall establish application requirements in such a manner as to simplify and streamline the process for applying for grants under this section.

(3)

Awards and allocations to institutions

(A)

Construction grants

(i)

In general

Of the amount appropriated to carry out this section for any fiscal year, the Secretary may reserve 30 percent for the purpose of awarding one-year grants of not less than $1,000,000 to address construction, maintenance, and renovation needs at eligible institutions.

(ii)

Preference

In providing grants under clause (i) for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall give preference to eligible institutions that have not received an award under this section for a previous fiscal year.

(B)

Allotment of remaining funds

(i)

In general

Except as provided in clause (ii), the Secretary shall distribute the remaining funds appropriated for any fiscal year to each eligible institution as follows:
(I)
25 U.S.C. 1801(a)2
2 So in original. Probably should be followed by a third closing parenthesis.
60 percent of the remaining appropriated funds shall be distributed among the eligible Tribal Colleges and Universities on a pro rata basis, based on the respective Indian student counts (as defined in section 2(a) of the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 ()  of the Tribal Colleges and Universities.
(II)
The remaining 40 percent shall be distributed in equal shares to the eligible Tribal Colleges and Universities.
(ii)

Minimum grant

The amount distributed to a Tribal College or University under clause (i) shall not be less than $500,000.

(4)

Special rules

(A)

Concurrent funding

No Tribal College or University that receives funds under this section shall concurrently receive funds under any other provision of this part, part B, or part A of subchapter V.

(B)

Exemption

Section 1059(d) of this title shall not apply to institutions that are eligible to receive funds under this section.

Pub. L. 89–329, title III, § 316Pub. L. 102–325, title III, § 302(d)(1)106 Stat. 473 Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(a)(7)107 Stat. 2457 Pub. L. 105–244, title III, § 303(e)112 Stat. 1639 Pub. L. 106–211, § 1(a)114 Stat. 330 Pub. L. 110–315, title III, § 303122 Stat. 3167 Pub. L. 111–39, title III, § 301(1)123 Stat. 1936 (, as added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , (b)(1), , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 95–47192 Stat. 1325 section 1801 of Title 25The Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(A), is , , , which is classified principally to chapter 20 (§ 1801 et seq.) of Title 25, Indians. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Pub. L. 92–18985 Stat. 646 The Navajo Community College Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(A), is , , , which was classified to section 640a et seq. of Title 25, Indians, and was omitted from the Code as being of special and not general application.

section 532 of Pub. L. 103–382section 301 of Title 7Section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(B), is , which is set out in a note under , Agriculture.

Amendments

Pub. L. 111–39, § 301(1)(A)2009—Subsec. (a). , substituted “Tribal” for “Indian Tribal”.

Pub. L. 111–39, § 301(1)(B)(i)Subsec. (b)(1), (2). , (ii), substituted “the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978” for “the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act of 1978”.

Pub. L. 111–39, § 301(1)(B)(iii)Subsec. (b)(3)(A). , substituted “the Navajo Community College Act” for “the Navajo Community College Assistance Act of 1978”.

Pub. L. 110–315, § 303(1)section 1801 of title 252008—Subsec. (b)(3). , added par. (3) and struck out former par. (3). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The term ‘Tribal College or University’ has the meaning give the term ‘tribally controlled college or university’ in , and includes an institution listed in the Equity in Educational Land Grant Status Act of 1994.

Pub. L. 110–315, § 303(2)(A)Subsec. (c)(2)(B). , added subpar. (B) and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: “construction, maintenance, renovation, and improvement in classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and other instructional facilities, including purchase or rental of telecommunications technology equipment or services;”.

Pub. L. 110–315, § 303(2)(B)Subsec. (c)(2)(C). , inserted “or in tribal governance or tribal public policy” before semicolon at end.

Pub. L. 110–315, § 303(2)(C)Subsec. (c)(2)(D). , inserted “and instruction in tribal governance or tribal public policy” before semicolon at end.

Pub. L. 110–315, § 303(2)(D)Subsec. (c)(2)(G) to (N). –(H), added subpars. (G) and (M), redesignated former subpars. (G), (H), (I), (J), (K), and (L) as subpars. (H), (I), (J), (K), (L), and (N), respectively, and in subpar. (N)(i) substituted “subparagraphs (A) through (M)” for “subparagraphs (A) through (K)”.

Pub. L. 110–315, § 303(3)Subsec. (d). , added subsec. (d) and struck out former subsec. (d) which related to the application process for assistance under this section.

Pub. L. 106–211, § 1(a)2000—Subsec. (d)(2). , inserted after first sentence “The Secretary shall, to the extent possible, prescribe a simplified and streamlined format for such applications that takes into account the limited number of institutions that are eligible for assistance under this section.”

Pub. L. 106–211, § 1(b)(1)Subsec. (d)(3). , added par. (3) and struck out heading and text of former par. (3). Text read as follows: “For the purposes of this part, no Tribal College or University that is eligible for and receives funds under this section may concurrently receive other funds under this part or part B of this subchapter.”

Pub. L. 105–2441998— amended section catchline and text generally. Prior to amendment, text consisted of subsecs. (a) to (e) authorizing grants and related assistance to Hispanic-serving institutions to enable such institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve Hispanic and other low-income students.

Pub. L. 103–208Examples of authorized activities1993—Subsec. (c). substituted “(2) .—Such programs may include—” for “Such programs may include—”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2009 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–39Pub. L. 110–315section 3 of Pub. L. 111–39section 1001 of this titleAmendment by effective as if enacted on the date of enactment of (), see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 2000 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–211, § 1(c)114 Stat. 331

section 1059d of this title“The amendments made by this Act [amending this section and ] shall be effective on the date of the enactment of this Act [].”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–244Pub. L. 105–244section 3 of Pub. L. 105–244section 1001 of this titleAmendment by effective , except as otherwise provided in , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–208Pub. L. 102–325section 5(a) of Pub. L. 103–208section 1051 of this titleAmendment by effective as if included in the Higher Education Amendments of 1992, , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date

section 2 of Pub. L. 102–325section 1001 of this titleSection effective , see , set out as an Effective Date of 1992 Amendment note under .