[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 23, 1996)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 54929-54932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27352]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 206 / Wednesday, October 23, 1996 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 54929]]
Executive Order 13021 of October 19, 1996
Tribal Colleges and Universities
By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and laws of the United States of America,
in reaffirmation of the special relationship of the
Federal Government to American Indians and Alaska
Natives, and, for the purposes of helping to: (a)
ensure that tribal colleges and universities are more
fully recognized as accredited institutions, have
access to the opportunities afforded other
institutions, and have Federal resources committed to
them on a continuing basis; (b) establish a mechanism
that will increase accessibility of Federal resources
for tribal colleges and universities in tribal
communities; (c) promote access to high-quality
educational opportunity for economically disadvantaged
students; (d) promote the preservation and the
revitalization of American Indian and Alaska Native
languages and cultural traditions; (e) explore
innovative approaches to better link tribal colleges
with early childhood, elementary, and secondary
education programs; and (f) support the National
Education Goals (20 U.S.C. 5812), it is hereby ordered
as follows:
Section 1. Definition of Tribal Colleges and
Universities. Tribal colleges and universities
(``tribal colleges'') are those institutions cited in
section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant
Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), any other
institution that qualifies for funding under the
Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act of
1978, (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and Navajo Community
College, authorized in the Navajo Community College
Assistance Act of 1978, Public Law 95-471, title II (25
U.S.C. 640a note).
Sec. 2. Board of Advisors. (a) Establishment. There
shall be established in the Department of Education a
Presidential advisory committee entitled the
President's Board of Advisors on Tribal Colleges and
Universities (``Board''). Notwithstanding the
provisions of any other Executive order, the
responsibilities of the President under the Federal
Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.),
with respect to the Board, shall be performed by the
Secretary of Education (``Secretary''), in accordance
with the guidelines and procedures established by the
Administrator of General Services.
(b) Composition. The Board shall consist of not
more than 15 Members who shall be appointed by the
President. The Board shall include representatives of
tribal colleges. The Board may also include
representatives of the higher, early childhood,
elementary, and secondary education communities; tribal
officials; health, business, and financial
institutions; private foundations; and such other
persons as the President deems appropriate. Members of
the Board will serve terms of 2 years and may be
reappointed to additional terms. A Member may continue
to serve until his or her successor is appointed. In
the event a Member fails to serve a full term, an
individual appointed to replace that Member will serve
the remainder of that term. All terms will expire upon
the termination of the Board.
(c) Role of Board. The Board shall provide advice
regarding the progress made by Federal agencies toward
fulfilling the purposes and objectives of this order.
The Board shall also provide recommendations to the
President and the Secretary at least annually on ways
tribal colleges can:
(1) utilize long-term development, endowment
building, and master planning to strengthen
institutional viability;
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(2) utilize the Federal and private sector to
improve financial management and security, obtain
private sector funding support, and expand and
complement Federal education initiatives;
(3) develop institutional capacity through the use
of new and emerging technologies offered by both the
Federal and private sectors;
(4) enhance physical infrastructure to facilitate
more efficient operation and effective recruitment and
retention of students and faculty; and
(5) help achieve National Education Goals and meet
other high standards of education accomplishment.
(d) Scheduled Meetings. The Board shall meet at
least annually to provide advice and consultation on
tribal colleges and relevant Federal and private sector
activities, and to transmit reports and present
recommendations.
Sec. 3. Office of White House Initiative. There shall
be established in the Department of Education the White
House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities
(``Initiative''). The Initiative shall be authorized
to: (a) provide the staff support for the Board;
(b) assist the Secretary in the role of liaison
between the executive branch and tribal colleges;
(c) serve the Secretary in carrying out the
Secretary's responsibilities under this order; and
(d) utilize the services, personnel, information,
and facilities of other Federal, State, tribal, and
local agencies with their consent, and with or without
reimbursement, consistent with applicable law. To the
extent permitted by law and regulations, each Federal
agency shall cooperate in providing resources,
including personnel detailed to the Initiative, to meet
the objectives of the order.
Sec. 4. Department and Agency Participation. Each
participating executive department and agency
(hereinafter collectively referred to as ``agency''),
as determined by the Secretary, shall appoint a senior
official, who is a full-time officer of the Federal
Government and who is responsible for management or
program administration, to serve as liaison to the
White House Initiative. The official shall report
directly to the agency head, or agency representative,
on agency activity under this order and serve as
liaison to the White House Initiative. To the extent
permitted by law and regulation, each agency shall
provide appropriate information in readily available
formats requested by the White House Initiative staff
pursuant to this order.
Sec. 5. Five-Year Federal Plan. (a) Content. Each
agency shall, in collaboration with tribal colleges,
develop and document a Five-Year Plan of the agency's
efforts to fulfill the purpose of this order. These
Five-Year Plans shall include annual performance
indicators and appropriate measurable objectives for
the agency. The plans shall address among other
relevant issues:
(1) barriers impeding the access of tribal colleges
to funding opportunities and to participation in
Federal programs, and ways to eliminate the barriers;
(2) technical assistance and information that will
be made available to tribal colleges regarding the
program activities of the agency and the preparation of
applications or proposals for grants, cooperative
agreements, or contracts; and
(3) an annual goal for agency funds to be awarded
to tribally controlled colleges and universities in:
(A) grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and
procurement;
(B) related excess property-type acquisitions
under various authorities such as section 923 of the
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996
(7 U.S.C. 2206a) and the Federal Property and
Administrative Services Act of 1949, chapter 288, 63
Stat. 377 (codified as described at 40 U.S.C. 471
note); and
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(C) the transfer of excess and surplus Federal
computer equipment under Executive Order 12999.
In developing the Five-Year Plans required by this
order, agencies shall strive to include tribal colleges
in all aspects and activities related to the attainment
of the participation goals described in Executive Order
12928, ``Promoting Procurement with Small Businesses
Owned and Controlled by Socially and Economically
Disadvantaged Individuals, Historically Black Colleges
and Universities, and Minority Institutions.'' The
Plans may also emphasize access to high-quality
educational opportunity for economically disadvantaged
Indian students; the preservation and revitalization of
American Indian and Alaska Native languages and
cultural traditions; innovative approaches to better
link tribal colleges with early childhood, elementary,
and secondary education programs; and the National
Education Goals.
(b) Submission. Each agency shall submit its Five-
Year Plan to the White House Initiative Office. In
consultation with the Board, the White House Initiative
Office shall then review these Five-Year Plans and
develop an integrated Five-Year Plan for Assistance to
Tribal Colleges, which the Secretary shall review and
submit to the President. The Five-Year Plan for
Assistance to Tribal Colleges may be revised within the
5-year period.
(c) Annual Performance Reports. Each agency shall
submit to the White House Initiative Office an Annual
Performance Report that shall measure each agency's
performance against the objectives set forth in its
Five-Year Plan. In consultation with the Board, the
White House Initiative Office shall review and combine
Annual Performance Reports into one annual report,
which shall be submitted to the Secretary for review,
in consultation with the Office of Management and
Budget.
Sec. 6. Private Sector. In cooperation with the Board,
the White House Initiative Office shall encourage the
private sector to assist tribal colleges through
increased use of such strategies as: (a) matching funds
to support increased endowments;
(b) developing expertise and more effective ways to
manage finance, improve information systems, build
facilities, and improve course offerings; and
(c) increasing resources for and training of
faculty.
Sec. 7. Termination. The Board shall terminate 2 years
after the date of this Executive order unless the Board
is renewed by the President prior to the end of that 2-
year period.
Sec. 8. Administration. (a) Compensation. Members of
the Board shall serve without compensation, but shall
be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu
of subsistence, as authorized by law for persons
serving intermittently in Government service (5 U.S.C.
5701-5707).
(b) Funding. The Board and the Initiative shall be
funded by the Department of Education.
(c) Administrative Support. The Department of
Education shall provide appropriate administrative
services and staff support for the Board and the
Initiative. With the consent of the Department of
Education, other agencies participating in the
Initiative shall provide administrative support to the
White House Initiative Office consistent with statutory
authority and shall make use of section 112 of title 3,
United States Code, to detail agency employees to the
extent permitted by law. The Board and the White House
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Initiative Office shall have a core staff and shall be
supported at appropriate levels.
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
October 19, 1996.
[FR Doc. 96-27352
Filed 10-22-96; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P
