HUD AWARDS $4 MILLION TO NATIVE AMERICAN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES - NORTH DAKOTA SITTING BULL COLLEGE AWARDED $799,698
Tribal Institutions to improve and expand facilities

WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded $4 million to five Native American colleges and universities to build, expand, renovate, and equip their own facilities. Funded through HUD's Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) (www.oup.org/programs/aboutTCUP.asp), these tribal institutions will also create programs to reduce their energy costs, produce faculty housing and construct state-of-the art classroom facilities.

"HUD is proud to stand with tribal colleges and universities as they strive to build, expand and renovate their
campus facilities to more effectively address Native American educational and cultural needs," said Donovan.
"These grants will help these institutions of higher education meet their infrastructure needs so they can
concentrate on the important work of building young minds."

Sitting Bull College (SBC), Fort Yates was awarded $799,698
The college intends to use its Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) grant to implement a 100-kilowatt
wind turbine generating renewable clean energy offsetting energy expenses for the college of at least
$250,000/year over a 20-year life ($5 million minimum savings). SBC also plans to use the funding to complete renovations of the McLaughlin Learning Center, correcting major deficiencies including recurring sewer and water issues, handicap accessibility problems, lack of a paved parking lot, lack of effective safety and security measures (surveillance and alarm system) and outdated bathroom facilities. The overall fundamental and long-term goal of
both activities is to reduce SBC's alarmingly high 68-percent fall-to-fall student attrition rate. For more information, contact Koreen Ressler at (701) 854-8001.

To qualify for HUD funding, tribal colleges and universities must be fully accredited, or provide a statement that the institution is a candidate for accreditation, by a regional institutional accrediting association recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. These colleges and universities may undertake a wide variety of activities, including:

• Building a new facility (for example, classrooms, administrative offices, health and cultural centers,
  gymnasiums, and technology centers);
• Renovating or expanding an existing or acquired facility;
• Equipping university facilities (for example, laboratory equipment, library books, furniture);
• Property acquisition;
• Health screening;
• Homeownership counseling/training;
• Technical assistance to establish, expand, or stabilize microenterprises;
• Crime, alcohol and/or drug-abuse prevention activities;
• Youth leadership development programs;
• Tutoring/mentoring programs;
• Childcare/development programs; and,
• Cultural activities/programs.

The Tribal Colleges and Universities Program is one of several initiatives administered by HUD's Office of University Partnerships (OUP). Established in 1994, OUP is a catalyst for partnering colleges and universities with their surrounding communities in an effort to address pressing local problems. For more information about HUD's
partnership with institutions of higher education (www.oup.org/), visit HUD's website.

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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.