AIHEC Membership Standards

The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), as comprised of its member institutions, adheres to a specific mission and set of goals. Member institutions are committed to a philosophy of providing higher education defined and controlled by each tribe’s particular people.

Standards for AIHEC membership have been established. Any American Indian or Alaska Native institution of post-secondary or higher education meeting the eligibility criteria, as outlined in AIHEC’s Bylaws, may pursue membership.

Please review AIHEC’s Bylaws, which specify classes of membership, duties and rights, and the membership application process.

CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP
AIHEC has five classes of membership: Regular Member, Associate Member, International Member, Organization Member, and Honorary Member.

Regular Member
The AIHEC Bylaws state that a Regular Member must be a tribally-controlled institution of postsecondary or higher education that:

  1. is a subdivision of a government of a federally recognized American Indian tribe, Alaska Native Village, or Alaska Native Corporation or has been chartered, sanctioned or formally established by a federally recognized tribal government or an Alaska Native Village or Alaska Native Corporation;
  2. has a governing board that is comprised solely of American Indian, or Alaska Native members, except in those cases where the charter of the tribal college authorizes a majority of such members;
  3. primarily serves an American Indian or Alaska Native community or communities;
  4. has a majority of full-time equivalent American Indian or Alaska Native students;
  5. has demonstrated that it is fulfilling the goals and purposes for which it was established, sanctioned or chartered and is adhering to an educational plan of operation;
  6. is accredited or a candidate for accreditation, as an independently operating institution with its own facilities, management system, and financial system, by a regional institutional accrediting association recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education;
  7. has submitted an application for membership as specified by AIHEC; and
  8. receives an affirmative vote of 75 percent of the directors in attendance at a meeting of the Board of Directors.

Each Regular Member is required to pay annual dues.

A postsecondary or higher education institution that has been granted membership status by action of AIHEC’s Board of Directors on or before October 9, 1998 (i.e., Haskell Indian Nations University, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Institute of American Indian Arts, and White Earth Tribal and Community College), will be recognized as a Regular Member and enjoy all of the privileges and rights associated with the status of a Regular Member.

Associate Member
The AIHEC Bylaws state that an Associate Member must be a tribally-controlled institution of postsecondary or higher education that:

  1. is a subdivision of a government of a federally recognized American Indian tribe, Alaska Native Village, or Alaska Native Corporation, or has been chartered, sanctioned, or formally established by a federally recognized tribal government or an Alaska Native Village or Alaska Native Corporation;
  2. has a governing board that is comprised solely of American Indian or Alaska Native members, except in those cases where the charter of the tribal college authorizes a majority of such members;
  3. primarily serves an American Indian or Alaska Native community or communities;
  4. has a majority of full-time equivalent American Indian or Alaska Native students;
  5. has demonstrated that it is fulfilling the goals and purposes for which it was established, sanctioned or chartered and is adhering to an educational plan of operation;
  6. is NOT accredited or a candidate for accreditation by a regional institutional accrediting association recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education;
  7. has submitted an application for membership as specified by AIHEC and including a feasibility study; and
  8. receives an affirmative vote of 75 percent of the directors in attendance at a meeting of the Board of Directors.

Each Associate Member is required to pay annual dues.

Associate Member status is for a period of five years. During the five year period, it is assumed that the Associate Member will apply for and receive accreditation or candidacy status for accreditation by a regional institutional accrediting association recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. If an Associate member does not achieve this status within five years of admission into AIHEC, the Board will evaluate the institution’s membership status and may renew the Associate’s membership for an additional period not to exceed five years.

International Member
The AIHEC Bylaws state that an International Member is an institution of post-secondary or higher education that:

  1. is located outside of the United States;
  2. serves primarily indigenous people from the region of the world in which such institution is located;
  3. has a majority of indigenous people on its governing board;
  4. is an institution of higher education with enrolled students, a Chief Executive Officer, and statement of mission;
  5. has demonstrated that it is meeting the goals and purposes for which it was established, has developed an educational plan of operation and is adhering to said plan;
  6. has submitted an application for membership as specified by AIHEC; and
  7. receives an affirmative vote of 75 percent of the directors in attendance at a meeting of the Board of Directors.

Honorary Member
The AIHEC Bylaws state that in the event that a founding member of AIHEC is deemed ineligible for Regular Membership in AIHEC, such founding institution shall be an Honorary Member.

AIHEC Founding Members are:

  1. D-Q University
  2. Navajo Community College (Diné College
    3. )
  3. Oglala Sioux Community College (Oglala Lakota College)
  4. Sinte Gleska College (Sinte Gleska University)
  5. Standing Rock Community College (Sitting Bull College)
  6. Turtle Mountain Community College

CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP—GOOD STANDING
To receive AIHEC benefits and participate in AIHEC sponsored activities, including if applicable, grant, contract, and cooperative agreement opportunities1, a member must maintain "Membership in Good Standing" with AIHEC.

Requirements

  1. Annual Report—Submit to AIHEC an annual report of the institution’s operations for the preceding year. The annual report must certify that the member is in compliance with the requirements of the relevant Class of Membership. AIHEC will specify the annual report format, which currently is the AIHEC American Indian Measures of Success (AIHEC AIMS) data collection system.
  2. Dues—Pay annual dues in a timely manner.
  3. Active Participation—With respect to a Regular Member, actively participate in the meetings and activities of the Board of Directors.
  4. Code of Conduct—Comply with any Code of Conduct adopted by the AIHEC Board of Directors.
  5. Reporting Requirements—Submit all reports, including narrative and financial reports required under grant awards, contracts, and cooperative agreements with AIHEC, in a complete and timely manner.

 

1 The AIHEC Bylaws state that only Regular Members are eligible to participate in AIHEC sponsored grants, contracts and cooperative agreements.

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