[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 43 (Monday, October 28, 1996)]
[Pages 2121-2123]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 13021--Tribal Colleges and Universities

October 19, 1996

    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
    (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

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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 Initiative Office shall have a 
core staff and shall be supported at appropriate levels.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
October 19, 1996.

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., October 22, 
1996]

Note: This Executive order was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on October 21, and it was published in the Federal Register on 
October 23.