American Indian Students Hit Hard by Welfare Reform Story-Date: 12:35 p.m. PST Sunday , September 28, 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------ American Indian Students Hit Hard by Welfare Reform By Sarah Trimble-Cuny, Indian Country Today, Rapid City, S.D. Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News BISMARCK, N.D.--Sep. 29--Welfare reform is expected to hit American Indian college students hard. Secretary of Education Richard Riley attended a meeting of North Dakota tribal colleges representing the institutions of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium on Sept 14. The first-time event, which was sponsored by North Dakota's congressional delegation, included all North Dakota tribal colleges. One of the major issues discussed was the effect of welfare reform on American Indian college students at tribal colleges. "With welfare reform, there will not be adequate support for those students attending. The majority of our students come from low income families," said David Gipp, the President of United Tribes Technical College. Mr. Gipp also says welfare reform will effect the students depending on welfare, under the welfare reform act people using their resources will have only a 12 month to finish their training at vocational schools. "Twelve months is not long enough for some students to finish. The nursing program takes at least 18-24 months, like some other programs in vocational training," said Mr. Gipp. Dr. Carty Monette, AIHEC President said there is a great need for the White House executive order to be implemented, which directs federal agencies to work together to support tribal colleges and universities throughout the nation. "This White House executive order for tribal colleges and universities is essential since our schools are already drastically underfunded. Parity in treatment and in the valuable role the colleges play in serving over 25,000 students across Indian Country is important," said Dr. Monette during the meeting with Mr. Riley. "With the pressures of welfare reform, the tribal colleges are already playing a significant role in training and educating those families in need...the executive order will prove to crucial in bringing resources together to meet the challege," said Mr. Gipp during the meeting. Mr. Riley told those at the meeting the executive order establishes an office with an executive director and three positions that will help develop a national council and a strategic plan to attend to the needs of the 30 schools. The office will be housed at the Department of Education. He said they are in the process of appointing a director for the executive order. Other issues address during the meeting were the Higher Education Act, and the Vocational Educational Act. ----- Visit Indian Country Today on the World Wide Web at http://www.indiancountry.com/ ----- (c) 1997, Indian Country Today, Rapid City, S.D. Distributed by Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News. ------------------------------------------------------------