| Education for Native American people has been tainted with a history of forced education and assimilation into the American educational system. The development of tribal colleges began in 1968 as Native Americans returned to reservations with an education and desired a change for their people. Tribal colleges have been assisting tribes to meet the needs for higher education of Native American people in an environment that is more conducive to the diverse learning styles, and begin an educational process to preserve tribal culture.;This study identified the social-political factors that affected a tribal community college located in the upper Midwest, and identified the perceived challenges the college faces in the future. The study used archival data from student files, NCA reports, board of trustee minutes, historical data, news articles, and other pertinent materials. Interviews were conducted with seven informants identified through documents or interviews. A time line of events of the college was developed. Descriptive statistics were used to develop a profile of the students, faculty, and staff that are representative of the college. A random sample was drawn from four separate years of student files to obtain information on age, gender, GPA, tribal affiliation, completion rates, and status as full- or part-time students. Faculty and administrative profiles were developed through written documentation.;The five factors found to affect the development of the college were financial, the influence of institutional governance, accreditation, family influence, and cultural impact. Accreditation has consistently been a driving force for the college.;The demographic profiles of the students found an increase in female students and GPAs through the years. There was some discrepancy found between the random sample and NCA reports on the mean age of students, yet the student population would still be described as non-traditional. The demographic profile of the faculty has changed little through the years.;The perceived challenges for the tribal college are funding, developing a four-year program, and continuing cultural education using an intergenerational approach. Preservation of the culture and passing this knowledge on to future generations is a priority. |
