SANTA FE, N.M. – The American Indian Higher Education Consortium proudly celebrated its 40th anniversary during a conference last week, but also had a sense of urgency about preparing for the future.
Teachers, administrators and students who attended AIHEC’s annual conference explored new ways to preserve their culture and languages, boost student retention and form international partnerships, among other efforts.
Tribal colleges must think globally, some speakers said. Students who study abroad would be better equipped for the future and the colleges could do research on an international level and raise their profile, they said.
Dr. Verna Fowler, president of the College of Menominee Nation in Keshena, Wis., said she originally wanted to let “20, 30 years” go by to build up the college before thinking about international education, but was pushed into it.
“Time waits for no one,” she said.
Fowler, whose school started an internationally recognized forest sustainability institute, urged her peers to look into collaborating with government agencies and other universities on international efforts.
She urged setting ground rules early on.
