TCUs’ Extensive Offerings Address the Whole Student

One of Tribal College Journal’s most popular website pages is the interactive map of tribal colleges and the guide to TCU degree programs. This fall, we decided to create a downloadable, printable version for our e-newsletter subscribers. To assemble the guide, the American Indian Higher Education Consortium shared some of the data they meticulously gathered for the American Indian Measures of Success project.

To put it in a reader-friendly format, we closely scrutinized every single degree program, certificate, and award that each tribal college offers. Then we compiled, edited, and put them in an easy to read format. This project reminded us of the amazing variety and number of programs offered by the TCUs. Although the list is extensive, it was relatively easy to assemble in one document. The challenging aspect, which is something TCJ works to convey every single day, is how incredibly effective, useful, valuable, and successful these programs are and how tribal colleges are transforming lives, improving reservation economies, protecting the environment, and strengthening tribal sovereignty through tribally controlled education—student after student, year after year.

From the beginning, tribal college leaders have known that in order for their institutions to fulfill their ambitious missions successfully, their students must have critical needs met so they can reach their full potential. Not only do the TCUs provide access to academic and technical programs to help develop students’ minds and skillsets, but they also work to address the whole student.

TCUs are true mechanisms for students to achieve well-being and what psychologist Abraham Maslow terms “self-actualization.” According to Maslow, basic human needs such as food, water, shelter, and safety must be met before a person can reach his or her full potential. TCUs address this by helping students access housing, transportation, daycare, and health centers. Next on Maslow’s hierarchy is “belongingness.” TCUs are grounded in culture, and they give students a connection to their culture and to each other through language and history classes, cultural activities, and in countless other ways. Achievement and self-esteem are next on Maslow’s list. Through academic and technical programs, athletics, and more, students are challenged and rewarded for their efforts at TCUs. And finally, at the top of Maslow’s list is “self-actualization.” This refers to achieving the feeling that we are living up to our potential. Tribal colleges, however, look beyond a self-centered approach of students achieving just for themselves. Although many students are quite successful individually, TCU leaders know that students are motivated by the prospect of uplifting and revitalizing Native communities. And the numbers show for themselves how this is happening across the nation.

What’s remarkable is that TCUs support students at every level while also keeping tuition rates accessible—often lower than all other American colleges. Visit our website at www.tribalcollegejournal.org, signup for the e-newsletter, and download the TCU degree guide. This useful, comprehensive tool can lead you to other horizons on the TCU landscape.