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.
Tribal Colleges and Universities have played an integral role in the growing numbers of students who attain the bachelor's degree. According to Ward (2002), these colleges and universities experienced a five-fold increase in student enrollment between 1982 and 1996. As it stands today, approximately 142,800 American Indians and Alaska Natives who are 25 and older hold a graduate or professional degree (Diverse, 2007), and Tribal Colleges and Universities have been integral to this graduate level attainment.
With this edited volume, Dr. Linda Sue Warner and Dr. Gerald E. Gipp, and the invited scholarly contributors, have provided a comprehensive explication of the phenomenal history of Tribal Colleges and Universities in the United States and the policy issues and concerns that these colleges and universities face.