Support for Science and Technology Curricula and Facilities at the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) and at Other Tribal Colleges.

WHEREAS, the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was established in 1969 for the purpose of advocating, planning, and promoting the unique and special education needs of American Indian and Alaska Native people; and

WHEREAS, NIEA, as the largest national organization of American Indian and Alaska Native educators, administrators, parents, and students in the United States, provides a forum to discuss and act upon issues affecting the education of Native people; and

WHEREAS, through its unique political relationship with Indian nations and tribes, the federal government has established education program resources to meet the educational needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives residing both on and off their reserved or non-reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI), its tribal leadership, and its Board of Regents have spent the past seven years planning, developing, revitalizing, and acquiring resources for the expansion of science and mathematics-based Advanced Technical Education (A TE) programs offered to the national Indian community; and

WHEREAS, SIPI’s enrollment has increased from less than 400 students per trimester in 1991 to 654 in fall 1997, which reflects a 50 percent increase in six years; and

WHEREAS, SIPI is actively developing tribal and industry-responsive technology degree programs in Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Environmental Science and Industrial Hygiene, Water Science, Civil Engineering Technology, Global Information and Positioning Systems (GIS-GPS), Multimedia Distance Learning and Remote Sensing Technologies, Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD-CAM), Advanced Computer Graphics, Agriculture Science and Technology, Pre-Engineering and Pre-Science (transfer degrees), Science and Mathematics Teacher Preparations, and Electro-Mechanical Manufacturing Process; and

WHEREAS, SIPI has acquired technology and staff to implement and manage a distance-learning program to educate tribal members who live far from the school; and

WHEREAS, SIPl’s continued accreditation as a national Indian community college requires a permanent science building; and

WHEREAS, NIEA recognizes the need to train American Indian and Alaska Native people in science and technology for the benefit of themselves and their tribes; and

WHEREAS, there may be other tribal colleges seeking to create, build, or enhance a science and technology program for the benefit of their students and to maintain accreditation standards.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT  THE NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION urges the United Sates Congress to support the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) by appropriating $9 .3 million for a science building and to increase SIPI’s annual operational budget to meet its actual needs in delivering quality education to its students.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION urges Congress to fund other tribal colleges seeking to offer quality science and technology curricula and facilities to their students.

SUBMITTED BY: Jerry C. Bread (Kiowa), Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Alberquerque, NM.

CERTIFICATION

I do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly considered and passed by the NIEA membership assembled at its annual convention in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at which a quorum was present during the meeting held October 17-20, 1999.