Turtle Mountain College seeks funding boost to support rising Native American student enrollment

This article was created by AI using a video recording of the meeting. It summarizes the key points discussed, but for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Link to Full Meeting

The Senate Appropriations - Education and Environment Division II meeting on January 20, 2025, focused on funding challenges faced by North Dakota's tribal colleges, particularly in relation to student enrollment and federal funding rates.

Brenda Zastropol from the North Dakota University System addressed the committee, explaining that funding is calculated based on full-time equivalency (FTE) for resident students who are non-beneficiaries. She noted that the current funding level is set at $700,000 per year, but the actual enrollment figures have fallen short of this target. Over the past two years, tribal colleges reported FTEs of 89 and 98, while the most recent average dropped to 69. This decline has resulted in insufficient funding to meet the needs of the growing number of non-beneficiary students.

Senator Scheibani inquired about the previous biennium's funding shortfall, to which Zastropol confirmed that the formula is tied to the federal rate, which they cannot exceed. The committee discussed the need to adjust funding to better align with current enrollment trends and ensure that tribal colleges can adequately support their students.

Dr. Wanda Parisian, interim president of Turtle Mountain College, also spoke about the essential role of tribal colleges in serving Native American students and communities in North Dakota. Her testimony underscored the importance of adequate funding to maintain educational support for these populations.

The discussions highlighted the urgent need for the state to reassess its funding strategies for tribal colleges to ensure they can continue to provide necessary educational services. The committee's next steps will likely involve reviewing funding formulas and considering adjustments to better support these institutions.

Converted from Senate Appropriations - Education and Environment Division II Jan 20, 2025 meeting on January 20, 2025
Link to Full Meeting