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EO 13021Executive OrderClinton · D Quiet signal

Executive Order 13021

Tribal Colleges and Universities

This executive order establishes a White House Initiative and Presidential advisory board within the Department of Education to improve federal support for tribal colleges and universities. It requires federal agencies to develop five-year plans with measurable goals for funding and technical assistance to tribal colleges, and creates a structure for ongoing coordination between tribal colleges, federal agencies, and the private sector.

Federal Register Open PDF 61 FR 54929

Impact dates

  1. Agencies to submit Five-Year Plans to White House Initiative Office

  2. Annual Performance Reports due to White House Initiative Office

  3. Board termination unless renewed by President

  4. Board to provide recommendations to President and Secretary at least annually

  5. Board to meet at least annually

Key directives

  • Establish Board of Advisors in Department of Education (Sec. 2)
  • Establish White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities in Department of Education (Sec. 3)
  • Each agency to appoint senior official as liaison to White House Initiative (Sec. 4)
  • Each agency to develop Five-Year Plan with annual performance indicators and measurable objectives (Sec. 5(a))
  • Five-Year Plans to include annual goal for agency funds to tribal colleges via grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, procurement, excess property, and surplus computer transfers (Sec. 5(a)(3))
  • Agencies to submit Five-Year Plans to White House Initiative Office (Sec. 5(b))
  • White House Initiative Office to develop integrated Five-Year Plan for Assistance to Tribal Colleges for Secretary to submit to President (Sec. 5(b))
  • Each agency to submit Annual Performance Report measuring against Five-Year Plan objectives (Sec. 5(c))
  • White House Initiative Office to encourage private sector assistance through matching funds, expertise development, and faculty resources (Sec. 6)
  • Board to terminate 2 years after October 19, 1996 unless renewed by President (Sec. 7)
  • Board and Initiative funded by Department of Education (Sec. 8(b))

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Establishment of President's Board of Advisors on Tribal Colleges and Universities in Department of Education
  • Establishment of White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities in Department of Education
  • Appointment of senior agency liaisons by participating agencies

Near term (90d)

  • Agencies to begin developing Five-Year Plans in collaboration with tribal colleges

Long term

  • Five-Year Plans submission and integration into single plan by White House Initiative Office
  • Annual Performance Reports ongoing
  • Board termination on October 19, 1998 unless renewed
  • Five-Year Plan for Assistance to Tribal Colleges implementation and potential revision within 5-year period

Risks & tensions

  • No hard deadline specified for Five-Year Plan submission—timing left to agency/Secretary discretion
  • Annual funding goals are aspirational ('strive to include') rather than mandatory obligations
  • Board's 2-year sunset creates potential for institutional discontinuity if not renewed
  • Effectiveness depends on voluntary agency cooperation and OMB consultation, with limited enforcement mechanisms
  • Vague: 'appropriate levels' of staff support undefined
Executive Order 13021: Tribal Colleges and Universities · Executive Orders