[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 178 (Monday, September 15, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54936-54937]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21966]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

25 CFR Part 41

[145A2100DD.AADD001000.A0E501010.999900]
RIN 1076-AF08


Grants to Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, 
Din[eacute] College, and Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Career and 
Technical Institutions

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of tribal consultation sessions.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Education provides financial and 
technical assistance to tribally controlled colleges and universities 
and Din[eacute] College. In collaboration with the American Indian 
Higher Education Consortium, we have prepared a discussion draft that 
updates the policies and procedures for administration and oversight of 
these assistance programs and revises regulatory language to conform to 
statutory amendments. This notice announces tribal consultation 
sessions and a comment period on the preliminary discussion draft.

DATES: Comments must be received by November 15, 2014. See the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice for dates of the 
tribal consultation sessions.

ADDRESSES: See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice for 
locations of the tribal consultation sessions and the Web site where 
the preliminary discussion draft is available. You may submit comments 
by either of the following methods:
    --Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. This rule 
is listed under the agency name ``Bureau of Indian Affairs'' and Docket 
ID ``BIA-2011-0002.''
    --Mail or Hand-Delivery: Ms. Juanita Mendoza, Program Analyst, 
Bureau of Indian Education, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1951 
Constitution Ave. NW., MS 312, Washington, DC 20240. Include ``1076-
AF08'' on the cover of the submission.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Juanita Mendoza, Program Analyst, 
Bureau of Indian Education, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1951 
Constitution Ave. NW., MS 312, Washington, DC 20240; or email to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BIE supports and encourages the 
establishment, operation, and improvement of tribally controlled 
colleges and universities (TCUs) to ensure continued and expanded 
educational opportunities for Indian students. The TCUs are both 
integral and essential to their communities, creating environments that 
foster American Indian culture, languages, and traditions. The TCUs 
serve a variety of people from young adults to senior citizens. The 
TCUs offer 358 total programs, including apprenticeships, diplomas, 
certificates, and degrees. These programs include 181 associate degree 
programs at 23 TCUs, 40 bachelor's degree programs at 11 TCUs, and 5 
master's degree programs at 2 TCUs.
    The BIE is revising the regulations at 25 CFR Part 41 and has 
prepared a preliminary discussion draft. Subpart B of the preliminary 
discussion draft concerns financial and technical assistance to tribal 
colleges and universities funded under the Tribally Controlled Colleges 
and Universities Assistance Act of 1978, as amended (25 U.S.C. 1801 et 
seq.). Subpart B does not concern financial assistance to Din[eacute] 
College or to tribally controlled postsecondary career and technical 
institutions. Subpart C of the

[[Page 54937]]

preliminary discussion draft applies to financial assistance to 
Din[eacute] College under the Navajo Nation Higher Education Act of 
2008. Subpart A includes general provisions and applies to both 
subparts B and C.
    This notice announces the availability of the preliminary 
discussion draft of potential revisions for public view at www.bie.edu/consultation/index.htm. Comments on the preliminary discussion draft 
are due by the date indicated in the DATES section of this notice. BIE 
will host five meetings to obtain input on the preliminary discussion 
draft.
    The meetings to obtain input will be held on the dates and at the 
locations shown below. All times are local.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Date                              Time                      Location                Venue
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 16, 2014................  5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m..............  Anchorage, Alaska..  NIEA Conference,
                                                                                          Anchorage Convention
                                                                                          Center, Room TBD,
                                                                                          Anchorage, AK 99501.
October 20, 2014................  12 p.m.-3 p.m...................  Webinar............  Register at web link:
                                                                                          https://dcma100.webex.com/dcma100/k2/j.php?MTID=tf8923c96f8b2d86dc23136f450688e77 b2d86dc23136f450688e77
                                                                                          .
October 22, 2014................  12 p.m.-3 p.m...................  Gallup, NM.........  Navajo Regional Office,
                                                                                          Bureau of Indian
                                                                                          Affairs, Conference
                                                                                          Room 162, 301 West
                                                                                          Hill Street, Gallup,
                                                                                          NM 87301.
October 27, 2014................  9 a.m.-12 p.m...................  Billings, MT.......  Department of Interior
                                                                                          Building, 2021 4th
                                                                                          Avenue North, 4th
                                                                                          Floor, Plenty Coup
                                                                                          Room, Billings, MT
                                                                                          59101.
October 29, 2014................  9 a.m.-12 p.m...................  Bloomington, MN....  Bureau of Indian
                                                                                          Education, Associate
                                                                                          Deputy Director's
                                                                                          Office, 2001 Killebrew
                                                                                          Dr., Ste. 122,
                                                                                          Bloomington, MN 55425.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Following the first round of consultation, we will review the 
comments received and then prepare a proposed rule for publication in 
the Federal Register. This will open a second round of consultation and 
a formal comment period to allow for further refining of the proposed 
rule before we publish a final rule.

    Dated: September 10, 2014.
Kevin K. Washburn,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2014-21966 Filed 9-12-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-W7-P