Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 23, 2024

Title 25 - Indians last revised: Mar 22, 2024
§ 41.1 - When does this subpart apply?

The provisions in this subpart A apply to subparts B and C.

§ 41.3 - What definitions are needed?

As used in this part:

Academic facilities mean structures suitable for use as:

(1) Classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and related facilities necessary or appropriate for instruction of students;

(2) Research facilities;

(3) Facilities for administration of educational or research programs;

(4) Dormitories or student services buildings; or

(5) Maintenance, storage, support, or utility facilities essential to the operation of the foregoing facilities.

Academic term means a semester, trimester, or other such period (not less than six weeks in duration) into which a Tribal college or university normally subdivides its academic year, but does not include a summer term.

Academic year means a twelve month period established by a Tribal college or university as the annual period for the operation of the Tribal college's or university's education programs.

Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior.

BIE means the Bureau of Indian Education.

College or university means an institution of higher education that is formally controlled, formally sanctioned, or chartered by the governing body of an Indian Tribe or Tribes. To qualify under this definition, the college or university must:

(1) Be the only institution recognized by the Department for the Tribe, excluding Diné College; and

(2) If under the control, sanction, or charter of more than one Tribe, be the only institution recognized by the Department for at least one Tribe that currently has no other formally controlled, formally sanctioned, or chartered college or university.

Department means the Department of the Interior.

Director means the Director of the Bureau of Indian Education.

Eligible continuing education units (CEUs) means non-degree credits that meet the criteria established by the International Association of Continuing Education and Training.

Full-time means registered for 12 or more credit hours for an academic term.

Indian Student Count (ISC) or Indian Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) means a number equal to the total number of Indian students enrolled at a Tribal college or university, determined according to the formula in § 41.5.

Indian student means a student who is a member of an Indian Tribe, or a biological child of a living or deceased member of an Indian Tribe. Documentation is required to verify eligibility as a biological child of a living or deceased member of an Indian Tribe, and may include birth certificate and marriage license; Tribal records of student's parent; Indian Health Service eligibility cards; other documentation necessary to authenticate a student as eligible to be counted as an Indian student under this definition.

Indian Tribe means an Indian Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, rancheria, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native Village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, to be listed in the Federal Register pursuant to 25 CFR 83.5(a) as recognized by and eligible to receive services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Institution of higher education means an institution as defined by section 1001(a) of Title 20 of the United States Code, except that clause (2) of such section is not applicable and the reference to Secretary in clause (5)(A) of such section will be deemed to refer to the Secretary of the Interior.

National Indian organization means an organization which the Secretary finds to be nationally based, represents a substantial Indian constituency and has expertise in the fields of Tribal colleges and universities, and Indian higher education.

NCCA means the Navajo Community College Act of 1978, as amended (25 U.S.C. 640a et seq.).

Operating expenses of education programs means the obligations and expenditures of a Tribal college or university for postsecondary education, except for obligations and expenditures for acquisition or construction of academic facilities. Permissible expenditures may include:

(1) Administration;

(2) Instruction;

(3) Maintenance and repair of facilities; and

(4) Acquisition and upgrade of equipment, technological equipment, and other physical resources.

Part-time means registered for less than 12 credit hours for an academic term.

Satisfactory progress means satisfactory progress toward a degree or certificate as defined by the Tribal college or university.

Secretary, unless otherwise designated, means the Secretary of the Interior, or his/her duly authorized representative.

TCCUA means the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978, as amended (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).

You or your means the Tribal college or university.

§ 41.5 - How is ISC/FTE calculated?

(a) ISC is calculated on the basis of eligible registrations of Indian students as of the conclusion of the third week of each academic term.

(b) To calculate ISC for an academic term, begin by adding all credit hours of full-time Indian students and all credit hours of part-time Indian students, including full-time and part-time distance education Indian students, who are registered at the conclusion of the third week of the academic term.

(c) Credit hours earned by Indian students who have not obtained a high school degree or its equivalent may be added if you have established criteria for the admission of such students on the basis of their ability to benefit from the education or training offered. You will be presumed to have established such criteria if your admission procedures include counseling or testing that measures students' aptitude to successfully complete the courses in which they enroll.

(d) No credit hours earned by an Indian student attending high school and applied towards the student's high school degree or its equivalent may be counted toward computation of ISC; and no credit hours earned by an Indian student not making satisfactory progress toward a degree or certificate may count toward the ISC.

(e) If ISC is being calculated for a fall term, add to the calculation in paragraph (b) of this section any credits earned in classes offered during the preceding summer term.

(f) Add to the calculation in paragraph (b) of this section those credits being earned in an eligible continuing education program at the conclusion of the third week of the academic term. Determine the number of those credits as follows:

(1) For institutions on a semester system: One credit for every 15 contact hours and

(2) For institutions on a quarter system: One credit for every 10 contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction, as described in the criteria established by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training. Limit the number of calculated eligible continuing education credits to 10 percent of your ISC.

(g) Divide by 12 the final calculation in paragraph (f) of this section. The formula for the full calculation is expressed mathematically as:

ISC = (FTCR + PTCR + SCR + CECR)/12

(h) In the formula in paragraph (g) of this section, the abbreviations used have the following meanings:

(1) FTCR = the number of credit hours carried by full-time Indian students (students carrying 12 or more credit hours at the end of the third week of each academic term); and

(2) PTCR = the number of credit hours carried by part-time Indian students (students carrying fewer than 12 credit hours at the end of the third week of each academic term).

(3) SCR = in a fall term, the number of credit hours earned during the preceding summer term.

(4) CECR = the number of credit hours being earned in an eligible continuing education program at the conclusion of the third week of the academic term, in accordance with paragraph (f)(2) of this section.

§ 41.7 - What happens if false information is submitted?

Persons submitting or causing to be submitted any false information in connection with any application, report, or other document under this part may be subject to criminal prosecution under provisions such as sections 371 or 1001 of Title 18, U.S. Code.

authority: Public Law 95-471, Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1325; amended Public Law 98-192, Dec. 1, 1983, 97 Stat. 1335; Public Law 99-428, Sept. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 982; Public Law 105-244, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1619; Public Law 110-315, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3460; 25 U.S.C. 1801
source: 81 FR 38587, June 14, 2016, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 25 CFR 41.5