05.18.11

Hoeven Announces UTTC Program Funding

ED Budget Allocates Funding to Tribal Colleges

WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that FY2011 funding has been maintained for a program that provides critical support to Bismarck’s United Tribes Technical College (UTTC).

 

During FY2011 budget negotiations, Hoeven worked to ensure unobligated funds were available for the Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Career and Technical Institution Program (TCPCTIP), a competitive grant program that provides core funding to UTTC. The funding was maintained in the FY2011 Continuing Resolution passed in April, but the Department of Education had not made the money available to the tribal colleges and could have dedicated it to other programs. Hoeven worked with the Administration and others, including the New Mexico delegation, to ensure that the funds were used to continue TCPCTIP.

 

“Continuing to fund TCPCTIP is a good decision,” said Hoeven. “This competitive program supports education and training at tribal technical colleges, like UTTC, for our Native American students.”

 

The FY2011 Department of Education operating budget, released this week, includes $8.1 million for the TCPCTIP, ensuring funding is available for UTTC. TCPCTIP funds will be awarded as competitive grants to tribally-controlled post-secondary career and technical institutions. Funds may be used for a variety of purposes, including teacher training, purchasing equipment, or to provide student stipends.  UTTC has been awarded TCPCTIP funds since 1991.

 

UTTC does not receive state-appropriated operational funds, which makes TCPCTIP funding critical to the college.