Minutes

President's Advisory Board on Tribal Colleges and Universities

April 10-11, 2006

Washington, DC

Attendees: Ron His Horse is Thunder, Chair; Eddie F. Brown; Kathy L.
Domenici; Ann Marie Downes; Deborah His Horse is Thunder, Daniel
Keating; Martha McLeod; Karen Swisher, Della Warrior

WHITCU Staff: Deborah Cavett, Executive Director; Anselm Davis; Pamela
DeRensis; Norma Hardie

Ron His Horse is Thunder called the meeting to order at 8:45 AM on April
10, 2006. Roll call of Advisory Board members taken and WHITCU staff
introduced.

# February 2005 minutes

Dan Keating moved to approve the February 2005 minutes. Karen Swisher
seconded the motion, unanimous approval.

# Ethics Briefing

Sean Dent, ED-Office of Ethics, presented annual ethics briefing to
advisory board members.

The Board went into executive session with the Executive Director to
discuss administrative and personnel issues of the WHITCU office.

# Federal Advisory Committee Update

Karen Akins, new Committee Management Officer-ED, spoke to the group on
holding public meetings under the FACA regulations and the importance of
advising the public on such issues.

# WHITCU Annual Reports

Dr. Anselm Davis provided the Board members with a short review of the
information contained in the 2003 Annual Report to the President, which
was published and sent to the Board the end of March 2006. It was noted
that the Report has been officially submitted to Secretary Spellings'
office and a copy provided to forward to the President. Copies are being
readied to mail to federal agency contacts and tribal colleges.

Pamela DeRensis provided information on the reports submitted by the
federal agencies for FY2004. Data has not passed a final WHITCU review
nor been deemed accurate. There are still many agencies need to be
contacted to forward data to WHITCU.

Deborah Cavett indicated that the agencies will be contacted and WHITCU
will want to move forward with an accurate picture of resources provided
by the federal agencies. It is hoped that a solicitation for the 2004,
possibly combined with the 2005, report can go out summer 2006 and have
the report ready to pass on to the President by winter 2006/2007
(December/January).

# Under Secretary David Dunn

Acting Under Secretary and Chief of Staff David Dunn spoke to the Board.
He thanked the Board for completion of the 2003 Report to the President.
He also acknowledged the priorities that the Board has set in the report
and requested members to focus on several important initiatives that
would help move programs forward at the Tribal Colleges. He spoke of the
Administration's (and Education's) priorities being the American
Competitiveness Initiative, Math Now, Reading First, and Adjunct Teacher
proposals. The Secretary's Commission on Higher Education is on schedule
to publish its final report in early August and this report should
contain many opportunities for dialogue that can include the tribal
colleges. In response to a question from the Board, Mr. Dunn indicated
that the bona fide assistance Boards such as PABTCU can provide is to
leverage resources with the private sector and communities in
partnership that help achieve the objectives to bring about needed
change.

# PABTCU-Unfinished Business

Martha McLeod reported on a fact-finding session between the
WHITCU/PABTCU and AIHEC view of responsibilities to benefit tribal
colleges. PABTCU feels that WHITCU needs to benefit the TCUs and keep
AIHEC and WHITCU activities appropriately separated so there is no
appearance of competition for activities and any funding opportunities
are processed through appropriate entities. Primary focus is to respond
to TCU priorities.

# 

# AIHEC Priorities and Strategic Plan

Dr. Gerald Gipp, Executive Director AIHEC spoke on the Strategic Plan
that is currently under development at AIHEC. The Strategic Plan
encompasses eight (8) Strategic Goals. The missions and vision will
cover four large areas: funding, models of excellence, member services
and technical assistance, and student excellence and support. The
Strategic Plan should be finalized by the fall 2006 meeting. AIHEC is in
a stable operating position and now needs to think more proactively on
how to help the TCUs and ensure that is the primary priority for the
organization. WHITCU needs to sit down with AIHEC to see what federal
doors need to be opened to meet the priorities of the AIHEC Presidents'
Strategic Plan. Ms. Downes asked Dr. Gipp at the end of the presentation
to provide several priority issues from AIHEC (such as data collection
for accountability) that might become fundable priority areas for PABTCU
the could be included into the PABTCU Action Plan for the next two
years.

[Preparing for the FY08 Budget Cycle]{.underline}

Mr. James Kazel, White House Office of Management and Budget, spoke on
how the federal agencies develop an agency budget, including the
accountability and assessment on the Strategic Plans, which are due
every five (5) years. OMB is currently starting the FY08 Budget planning
process. OMB also requires, through Circular A-133, that entities
receiving federal funds be audited annually and the information provided
into a database held by the Department of Census. Information of funds
annually expended by tribal colleges is available for use through the
website. The Board discussed possible use of such data.

# Administration Initiatives For Indian Country

Nick Sinatra from the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
spoke on the President's priorities in Indian Country. First priority is
economic development which the President feels is the best way to
strengthen self-determination by strengthening the economy and providing
jobs at home in Indian Country. Other priorities include energy, law
enforcement (including drug issues), health care, and education. All
these committees are open to representation from the TCU perspective and
will have ongoing meetings to keep everyone apprised on issues within
Indian Country. The Office of Intergovernmental Affairs hopes to
continue to be a part of the PABTCU meetings.

# WHITCU 2007 Budget and Initiatives

Ms. Cavett spoke on the outlook for the 2007 WHITCU/PABTCU budgets.
Appears that the budgets will be level-funded. WHITCU staffing remains
level at 5 FTEs and the staff will work to help update such items as a
Strategic Plan and additional reports to the President from the Board.

# WHITCU/PABTCU Strategic Planning

Kathy Domenici reviewed a draft Strategic Plan that has been in front of
the PABTCU for finalizing for several years. After discussion and review
of what the Board hopes to accomplish with its remaining tenure, and
listening to the presentations from the federal speakers on Monday, the
Board created an Action Plan and sub-committees to support that plan.
Short-range time lines were put into effect for several subcommittees.

Subcommittees are:

Education: Ann Marie Downes, Richard Williams

Economic Dvmt and Technology: Dan Keating, Karen Swisher, Della Warrior

Energy: Ron His Horse is Thunder, Kathy Domenici

Federal Relationships: Martha McLeod, Deborah His Horse is Thunder,
Eddie Brown

Motion to adopt Action Plan and subcommittees and vacate any prior
direction for the Board. Motion by Martha McLeod, seconded by Kathy
Domenici, unanimous approval.

# New Business

Discussion on providing support to the World Indigenous Nations Higher
Education (WINHEC) Conference being held in Minnesota in August. The
Board feels the Executive Order supports building capacity of the tribal
colleges designated by definition and does not deem it appropriate to
provide resource support for the WINHEC meeting.

Discussion took place on the institutions served under Executive Order
13270. There has been some lack of clarity on institutions served by
WHITCU and those also served by AIHEC. WHITCU is limited to serving
those institutions listed in the Executive Order under definition. AIHEC
also includes membership for several tribal colleges actively seeking
accreditation. WHITCU does not have the authority to work to support
those institutions.

Clarification made on using peer groups as ex-officio members of PABTCU.
A requested OGC statement clarified this issue and indicated that no ex
officio members were provided for under the Executive Order. If PABTCU
wishes to have peer group members in attendance at meetings, they must
be consider formally bringing on people in these positions as
consultants. Motion that, if Chair and Executive Director deem
appropriate to conduct PABTCU business, such officials will be hired as
consultants and to pay travel and perdiem for the purpose of PABTCU
meetings. Moved by Martha McLeod, second by Karen Swisher, unanimous
approval.

The Council for Resource Development made an introduction to WHITCU for
participation of the TCUs in their network. CRD provides training in
grants development, grant management and financial management of grants.
They have a strong network of members throughout the United States and
can offer assistance on growth and development to the TCUs. WHITCU can
look into providing an annual subscription for all TCUs who express
interest.

Discussion for date and location of next meeting. Dates agreed upon were
August 9-11, 2006. Three locations were discussed and decision would be
made through e-mail vote within the next 14 days.

# Public Comments

The meeting was open for public comments at 1:30 p.m., of which there
were none.

# Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 2:09 PM on April 11, 2006.

Certified --

Deborah J. Cavett

July 10, 2006

Designated Federal Officer

White House Initiative for Tribal Colleges and Universities

Approved on behalf of the Board

Ron His Horse Is Thunder

Chair, President's Advisory Board on Tribal Colleges and Universities