EO 13270 Title 3--The President Executive Order 13270 of July 3, 2002 Tribal Colleges and Universities By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Policy. There is a unique relationship between the United States and Indian tribes, and a special relationship between the United States and Alaska Native entities. It is the policy of the Federal Government that this Nation's commitment to educational excellence and opportunity must ex- tend as well to the tribal colleges and universities (tribal colleges) that serve Indian tribes and Alaska Native entities. The President's Board of Ad- visors on Tribal Colleges and Universities (the "Board") and the White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities (WHITCU) established by this order shall ensure that this national policy regarding tribal colleges is carried out with direct accountability at the highest levels of the Federal Government. Tribal colleges are both integral and essential to their communities. Often they are the only postsecondary institutions within some of our Nation's poorest rural areas. They fulfill a vital role: in maintaining and preserving irreplaceable languages and cultural traditions; in offering a high-quality college education to younger students; and in providing iob training and other career-building programs to adults and senior citizens. Tribal colleges provide crucial services in communities that continue to suffer high rates of unemployment and the resulting social and economic distress. The Federal Government's commitment to tribal colleges is reaffirmed and the private sector can and should contribute to the colleges' educational and cultural missions. Finally, postsecondary institutions can play a vital role in promoting excel- lence in early childhood, elementary, and secondary education. The Fed- eral Government will therefore work to implement the innovations and re- forms of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-\1770) in partnership with tribal colleges and their American Indian and Alaska Na- tive communities. Sec. 2. Definition of Tribal Colleges and Universities. Tribal colleges are those institutions cited in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land- Grant Status Act of \177994 (7 U.S.C. 30\177 note), any other institution that qualifies for funding under the Tribally Controlled Community College As- sistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. iS01 et seq.), and Din\177 College, authorized in the Navaio Community College Assistance Act of \177978, Public Law 95- 47% title II (25 U.S.C. 640a note). Sec. 3. Board of Advisors. (a) Establishment. There shall be established in the Department of Education a Presidential advisory committee entitled the President's Board of Advisors on Tribal Colleges and Universities (the "Board"). (b) Membership. The Board shall consist of not more than 15 members who shall be appointed by the President, one of whom shall be designated by the President as Chair. The Board shall include representatives of tribal colleges and may also include representatives of the higher, early child- hood, elementary, and secondary education communities; tribal officials; 242
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