DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 


ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HUMAN RESOURCES AND ADMINISTRATION 


WASHINGTON DC 20420 


AUG 032009 

Ms. Pamela G. DeHensis 

Executive Director 

White House Initiative on 

Tribal Colleges and Universities 

Department of Education 

1990 K Street, NW, Room 7010 

Washington, DC 20006 

Dear Ms. DeRensis: 

Enclosed is a copy of the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Annual 

Performance Report on Executive Agency Actions to Assist Tribal Colleges and 

Universities (TCUs), Fiscal Year (FY) 2008. VA is proud to announce that 

$2,350,684 was awarded to TCUs in FY 2008. The annual performance report 

shows that: 

• 	 VHA funding for awards to TCUs during FY 2008 totaled $236,004. 

• 	 Educational assistance payments awarded to eligible beneficiaries 

enrolled at TCUs decreased from $2,351,549 in FY 2007 to 

$2,071,890 in FY 2008. This represents a 13.5% decrease. The 

number of eligible veterans and dependents enrolled at TCUs 

decreased from 491 in FY 2007 to 420 in FY 2008, which marks a 

16.9% decrease. The decreases are attributed to a decrease in the 

number of students enrolled at TCUs. 

• 	 During FY 2008, VA funded four TCU summer interns in partnership 

with the American University's Washington Internships for Native 

Students for a total of $39,600. 

The Department fully supports EXecutive Order 13270 and will continue 

to champion education, training, internships, and employment opportunities in 

the.American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Questions regarding this 

submission should be directed to Ms. Georgia Coffey, Deputy Assistant 

Secretary for Diversity and Inclusion, at (202) 461-4131. 

. 	 erely, '--. 

. t(4p~ 

John U. Sepulveda 

Enclosure 
Department of Veterans Affairs 

Federal Agency Awards to Tribal Colleges and Universities 

FY2008 

Executive SummalYi. 

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) fully supports Executive Order 13270 

through programs dlesigned to increase the participation of Tribal Colleges and 

Universities (TCUs) in VA-sponsored programs. One of VA's goals is to create a 

workforce that reflel~ts the diversity of our Nation and the Veterans we serve. 

TCUs enable opportunities to achieve diversity by providing VA facilities with a 

broader recruitment pool of trained and qualified applicants. 

The 2008-2011 VHA Workforce Succession Strategic Plan lists various strategies 

that emphasize VHA's commitment to establishing affiliations with various 

colleges and universities. These strategies, which include the affiliation with 

TCUs, are geared t'Jwards fostering a culture that encourages innovation in the 

workplace, recruitment of trainees into the permanent workforce, and the 

promotion of a comprehensive program for recruiting personnel in scarce 

professions and career fields. VHA supported internship programs and 

academic affiliations with TCUs by invoking student internship programs, 

attending various re!cruitment forums, and fostering education/training programs. 

The Student Educational Employment Program (SEEP) guides and fosters 

partnerships betweBn the TCUs and VA facilities. SEEP provides opportunities 

for undergraduate 81nd graduate students in high-demand career field based 

agreements betwee!n VA facilities and academic institutions. 

Within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the Office of Healthcare 

Retention and Recruitment Office (HRRO) aims to provide VA facilities with a 

unique opportunity to promote diversity while simultaneously providing college 

students with a rewarding work experience as they pursue their education. 

Funding to TCUs from the HRRO slightly decreased due to the fact that funding 

was only provided to one University (University of New Mexico) during FY 2008. 

The amount of awards to VA facilities hosting students from TCUs in FY 2008 

was $171,641 which included funding for a total of 30 students. Of the 30 

students: 8 were funded under the VA National Education for Employees 

Program, 15 were funded under the Education Debt Reduction Program, and 7 

were funded under the National Nursing Education Incentive program. The total 

amount of support to VA facilities hosting students from TCUs was $236,004. 

The Workforce Management and Consulting Office Equal Employment 

Opportunity/Affirmative Employment Team (EEO/AET) has collaborated with the 

Department of Health and Human Services' Indian Health Service to develop an 

employment initiative. A work plan has been established as a part of this 
initiative which includes strategies to increase the number of American 

Indians/Alaskan Natives in VHA's workforce. The EEO/AET will continue to work 

with Indian Health Services and make adjustments to the work plan as goals are 

accomplished and new initiatives materialize. 

The Office of AcadElmic Affiliations (OM) oversees the VHA Health Professions 

Education and Training Program which supports TCUs. This program does not 

provide direct awards to colleges, universities or students; however, it provides 

indirect support to VA facilities for TCU students receiving clinical training and 

rotations at VA medical centers. The majority of trainees that participate in VA 

Clinical Training Programs do so without compensation (WOC). 

In FY 2008, OM provided approximately $64,363 in indirect support to VA 

facilities hosting students from TCUs. The total amount of indirect support to VA 

facilities hosting students from TCUs was $699,792,000. 

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) participates in numerous outreach 

programs to assist eligible veterans and their dependents with the use of their 

education benefits before the time period expires. These outreach programs 

include the followin!~: The Women in Military Service, National Student Veterans 

Conference, LeagUis of United Latin American Citizens, Council of Colleges and 

Military Educators, Association of Military Comptrollers, Gold Star Wives, 

Veterans of Foreign Wars, Enlisted Association of National Guard. 

The educational assistance payments awarded to eligible beneficiaries attending 

TCUs decreased from $2,351,549 in FY 2007 to $2,071,890 in FY 2008. This 

represents a 13.5 percent decrease. The number of eligible veterans and 

dependents enrolled at TCUs decreased from 491 in FY 2007 to 420 in FY 2008, 

which is a 16.9 percent decrease. The decrease in educational assistance 

payment s is attributed to a decrease in the number of students enrolled at 

TCUs. 

Educational assistance payments and reporting fees varies from year-to-year, 

based on the numb'er of veterans and other eligible beneficiaries enrolled at 

educational institutions approved for the training of veterans. The amount of 

reporting fees awarded to TCUs increased from $2,979 in FY 2007 to $3,190 in 

FY 2008, which is a 6.6 percent increase. 

The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) strongly supports Executive Order 

13270. During FY :1008, NCA continued their partnership with Washington 

Internships for Native Students (WINS), the American Indian Science and 

Engineering Society (AISES), and the Society of American Indian Government 

Employees (SAIGE) to identify interns to sponsor. NCA will continue to partner 

with TCU organizations. 
-~~--------

The VA Central Office (VACO) utilizes programs designed to increase the 

participation of TCLls in accordance with Executive Order 13270. The National 

Internship program continues to be a prominent vehicle in which to increase 

student participation from TCUs. During FY 2008, VACO hosted four summer 

interns in partnership with American University's WINS program. Through a 

collaborative effort with the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees, and VACO 

Human Resources Services under the guidance of the Special Emphasis 

Program hosted thE! traditional native storytelling performance of 

Mr. Choogie Kingfisher, a member of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees. 
B. 	 SUMMARY OF TOTAL AGENCY AWARDS. BY CATEGORY: FY 2008 

1. 	 Agency/Organization: Department of Veterans Affairs 

2. 	 Name, Title, Phone, Fax, and E-mail address of agency representative preparing 

report: 

Name: Georgia Coffey 

Title: Deputy Assistant Secretary for Diversity and Inclusion 


Phone: (202) 461-4131 Fax: (202) 501-2145 


E-mail: georgia.coffey@va.gov 


3. 	 FY Year 2008 Total Funding for all Institutions of Higher Education: $3,159,116,032 

Category Total $ Awards to Total $ Award to % of Awards to 

IHE+ TCUs· TCUs 

1. Research & 	 0 0 	 0 Devel~ment 

2. Direct $3,791,571 $3,190 0.08% 

Institutional 

Subsidies 

3. 	 Program 0 0 0 

Evaluation 

4. Training and 	 0 0 0 

Technical 

Assistance 

5. Facilities & 0 0 0 


Equipment 


6. Fellowships, 


Internships, 


Recruitment, IPAs $194,600 $39,600 20.35% 


7. Student Tuition 


Assistance, 


Scholarships, and $3,155,129,861 $2,307,894 0.07% 


Other Aid 


8. Economic 0 0 0 


Development 


9. Administrative 0 0 0 


Infrastructure 


10. Third Party 


Awards 


11. Private Sector 


Involvement 


12. Other Activities 0 0 0 


Total $3,159,116,032 $2,350,684 0.07% 


John U. SepUlveda 

Assistant Secretary 

for Human ResourcE's and Administration 

Agency Head (Typed)