Tribal Colleges and Universities Documents
Tribal Colleges and Universities



Federal Register, Volume 61 Issue 206 (Wednesday, October 23, 1996)

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 23, 1996)]
[PRESD]
[Pages 54929-54932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27352]
                        Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 206 / Wednesday, October 23, 1996 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 54929]]
                Executive Order 13021 of October 19, 1996
Tribal Colleges and Universities
                By the authority vested in me as President by the
                Constitution and laws of the United States of America,
                in reaffirmation of the special relationship of the
                Federal Government to American Indians and Alaska
                Natives, and, for the purposes of helping to: (a)
                ensure that tribal colleges and universities are more
                fully recognized as accredited institutions, have
                access to the opportunities afforded other
                institutions, and have Federal resources committed to
                them on a continuing basis; (b) establish a mechanism
                that will increase accessibility of Federal resources
                for tribal colleges and universities in tribal
                communities; (c) promote access to high-quality
                educational opportunity for economically disadvantaged
                students; (d) promote the preservation and the
                revitalization of American Indian and Alaska Native
                languages and cultural traditions; (e) explore
                innovative approaches to better link tribal colleges
                with early childhood, elementary, and secondary
                education programs; and (f) support the National
                Education Goals (20 U.S.C. 5812), it is hereby ordered
                as follows:
                Section 1. Definition of Tribal Colleges and
                Universities. Tribal colleges and universities
                (``tribal colleges'') are those institutions cited in
                section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant
                Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), any other
                institution that qualifies for funding under the
                Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act of
                1978, (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and Navajo Community
                College, authorized in the Navajo Community College
                Assistance Act of 1978, Public Law 95-471, title II (25
                U.S.C. 640a note).
                Sec. 2. 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 (``Board''). Notwithstanding the
                provisions of any other Executive order, the
                responsibilities of the President under the Federal
                Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.),
                with respect to the Board, shall be performed by the
                Secretary of Education (``Secretary''), in accordance
                with the guidelines and procedures established by the
                Administrator of General Services.
                    (b) Composition. The Board shall consist of not
                more than 15 Members who shall be appointed by the
                President. The Board shall include representatives of
                tribal colleges. The Board may also include
                representatives of the higher, early childhood,
                elementary, and secondary education communities; tribal
                officials; health, business, and financial
                institutions; private foundations; and such other
                persons as the President deems appropriate. Members of
                the Board will serve terms of 2 years and may be
                reappointed to additional terms. A Member may continue
                to serve until his or her successor is appointed. In
                the event a Member fails to serve a full term, an
                individual appointed to replace that Member will serve
                the remainder of that term. All terms will expire upon
                the termination of the Board.
                    (c) Role of Board. The Board shall provide advice
                regarding the progress made by Federal agencies toward
                fulfilling the purposes and objectives of this order.
                The Board shall also provide recommendations to the
                President and the Secretary at least annually on ways
                tribal colleges can:
                     (1) utilize long-term development, endowment
                building, and master planning to strengthen
                institutional viability;
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                     (2) utilize the Federal and private sector to
                improve financial management and security, obtain
                private sector funding support, and expand and
                complement Federal education initiatives;
                     (3) develop institutional capacity through the use
                of new and emerging technologies offered by both the
                Federal and private sectors;
                     (4) enhance physical infrastructure to facilitate
                more efficient operation and effective recruitment and
                retention of students and faculty; and
                     (5) help achieve National Education Goals and meet
                other high standards of education accomplishment.
                    (d) Scheduled Meetings. The Board shall meet at
                least annually to provide advice and consultation on
                tribal colleges and relevant Federal and private sector
                activities, and to transmit reports and present
                recommendations.
                Sec. 3. Office of White House Initiative. There shall
                be established in the Department of Education the White
                House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities
                (``Initiative''). The Initiative shall be authorized
                to: (a) provide the staff support for the Board;
                    (b) assist the Secretary in the role of liaison
                between the executive branch and tribal colleges;
                    (c) serve the Secretary in carrying out the
                Secretary's responsibilities under this order; and
                    (d) utilize the services, personnel, information,
                and facilities of other Federal, State, tribal, and
                local agencies with their consent, and with or without
                reimbursement, consistent with applicable law. To the
                extent permitted by law and regulations, each Federal
                agency shall cooperate in providing resources,
                including personnel detailed to the Initiative, to meet
                the objectives of the order.
                Sec. 4. Department and Agency Participation. Each
                participating executive department and agency
                (hereinafter collectively referred to as ``agency''),
                as determined by the Secretary, shall appoint a senior
                official, who is a full-time officer of the Federal
                Government and who is responsible for management or
                program administration, to serve as liaison to the
                White House Initiative. The official shall report
                directly to the agency head, or agency representative,
                on agency activity under this order and serve as
                liaison to the White House Initiative. To the extent
                permitted by law and regulation, each agency shall
                provide appropriate information in readily available
                formats requested by the White House Initiative staff
                pursuant to this order.
                Sec. 5. Five-Year Federal Plan. (a) Content. Each
                agency shall, in collaboration with tribal colleges,
                develop and document a Five-Year Plan of the agency's
                efforts to fulfill the purpose of this order. These
                Five-Year Plans shall include annual performance
                indicators and appropriate measurable objectives for
                the agency. The plans shall address among other
                relevant issues:
                    (1) barriers impeding the access of tribal colleges
                to funding opportunities and to participation in
                Federal programs, and ways to eliminate the barriers;
                    (2) technical assistance and information that will
                be made available to tribal colleges regarding the
                program activities of the agency and the preparation of
                applications or proposals for grants, cooperative
                agreements, or contracts; and
                    (3) an annual goal for agency funds to be awarded
                to tribally controlled colleges and universities in:
                     (A) grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and
                procurement;
                     (B) related excess property-type acquisitions
                under various authorities such as section 923 of the
                Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996
                (7 U.S.C. 2206a) and the Federal Property and
                Administrative Services Act of 1949, chapter 288, 63
                Stat. 377 (codified as described at 40 U.S.C. 471
                note); and
[[Page 54931]]
                     (C) the transfer of excess and surplus Federal
                computer equipment under Executive Order 12999.
                In developing the Five-Year Plans required by this
                order, agencies shall strive to include tribal colleges
                in all aspects and activities related to the attainment
                of the participation goals described in Executive Order
                12928, ``Promoting Procurement with Small Businesses
                Owned and Controlled by Socially and Economically
                Disadvantaged Individuals, Historically Black Colleges
                and Universities, and Minority Institutions.'' The
                Plans may also emphasize access to high-quality
                educational opportunity for economically disadvantaged
                Indian students; the preservation and revitalization of
                American Indian and Alaska Native languages and
                cultural traditions; innovative approaches to better
                link tribal colleges with early childhood, elementary,
                and secondary education programs; and the National
                Education Goals.
                    (b) Submission. Each agency shall submit its Five-
                Year Plan to the White House Initiative Office. In
                consultation with the Board, the White House Initiative
                Office shall then review these Five-Year Plans and
                develop an integrated Five-Year Plan for Assistance to
                Tribal Colleges, which the Secretary shall review and
                submit to the President. The Five-Year Plan for
                Assistance to Tribal Colleges may be revised within the
                5-year period.
                    (c) Annual Performance Reports. Each agency shall
                submit to the White House Initiative Office an Annual
                Performance Report that shall measure each agency's
                performance against the objectives set forth in its
                Five-Year Plan. In consultation with the Board, the
                White House Initiative Office shall review and combine
                Annual Performance Reports into one annual report,
                which shall be submitted to the Secretary for review,
                in consultation with the Office of Management and
                Budget.
                Sec. 6. Private Sector. In cooperation with the Board,
                the White House Initiative Office shall encourage the
                private sector to assist tribal colleges through
                increased use of such strategies as: (a) matching funds
                to support increased endowments;
                    (b) developing expertise and more effective ways to
                manage finance, improve information systems, build
                facilities, and improve course offerings; and
                    (c) increasing resources for and training of
                faculty.
                Sec. 7. Termination. The Board shall terminate 2 years
                after the date of this Executive order unless the Board
                is renewed by the President prior to the end of that 2-
                year period.
                Sec. 8. Administration. (a) Compensation. Members of
                the Board shall serve without compensation, but shall
                be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu
                of subsistence, as authorized by law for persons
                serving intermittently in Government service (5 U.S.C.
                5701-5707).
                    (b) Funding. The Board and the Initiative shall be
                funded by the Department of Education.
                    (c) Administrative Support. The Department of
                Education shall provide appropriate administrative
                services and staff support for the Board and the
                Initiative. With the consent of the Department of
                Education, other agencies participating in the
                Initiative shall provide administrative support to the
                White House Initiative Office consistent with statutory
                authority and shall make use of section 112 of title 3,
                United States Code, to detail agency employees to the
                extent permitted by law. The Board and the White House
[[Page 54932]]
                Initiative Office shall have a core staff and shall be
                supported at appropriate levels.
                    (Presidential Sig.)
                THE WHITE HOUSE,
                     October 19, 1996.
[FR Doc. 96-27352
Filed 10-22-96; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P