Chapter 1: Introduction

This volume of The David C. Anchin Research Center Series on Educational Policy in the 21st century: Opportunities, Challenges, and Solutions focuses on tribal colleges and universities. As a recent member of higher education community, tribal colleges and universities provide a unique perspective on higher education policy. Policies and structures rely increasingly on native culture and traditions and yet provide the framework for academic rigor, collaboration, and relevance.

When we proposed this edition, we worked on the fringes of higher education academe; both of us were program officers at The National Science Foundation. Both of us worked with tribal colleges throughout the United States in the Rural Systemic Initiatives in Alaska, Utah-Colorado-Arizona-New Mexico (UCAN), the Navajo Nation and the High Plains. Since that time, we both have moved into positions which provide a closer perspective; Dr. Gipp is the recent Executive Director of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC). AIHEC serves as the professional organization for the tribal colleges and universities. Dr. Warner currently serves as one of the Council Leaders to the newly approved Comanche Nation College in Oklahoma. We proposed an outline which would allow multiple voices.