Higher Education Program

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The administration of tribal grants and scholarships was one of the central responsibilities of the Education Department when it was established in 1951.  When the education department was established in 1976, the Higher Education Program was granted independent status as a distinct program.  In 1978, the Higher Education Department contracted the operation of the Higher Education Grant Program (Continuing Education) from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 

The Adult Vocational Training Program of the Bureau of Indian Affairs was authorized under Public Law 959 enacted August 3, 1956 to help adult Indians to obtain reasonable and satisfactory employment.  It was originally referred to as the “Relocation Program.”   In 1980, the Ute Indian Tribe contracted the operation of the AVT Program from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and placed the administration of the program under the Higher Education Program.  Presently the Ute Indian Tribe works with the Uintah Basin Applied Technology Center to provide vocational training for tribal members.  This successful program assists approximately 30 students a year in learning new work skills that can lead directly to employment in the local area.

The Higher Education program administers the Tribal/BIA Grant program, scholarships, On-Site program, Adult Vocational Training, and other higher education programs.  The counselor assists applicants in filling out required Tribal and federal forms and helps them to meet deadlines.  Once students are receiving Tribal/BIA funds, the counselor monitors student academic progress, attendance, GPA, and transcripts; and transmits the information to the Education Director and the Education Board.  The counselor also processes all the funds and makes sure that the various post-secondary schools, colleges, and universities receive the funds on time.

The higher education counselor coordinates the Spring Health and College Career Fair.  This annual event is co-sponsored by Joe La Framboise, Ute Tribe Health Education Director.  Colleges and universities from Utah and western Colorado, health agencies, and other career programs have information booths at the fair.  A motivational speaker has been present at the first two fairs.

Several regional higher education institutions have come to agreements with the Ute Indian Tribe to help improve educational opportunities for Ute students.  Utah State University (USU) now offers free tuition to Ute and Shoshone students who attend courses at the Logan main campus.  USU-Uintah Basin has county-wide scholarships available to residents which can be used for remedial courses as well as college level courses.  The USU-Uintah Basin campus also works closely with the Education Department to make additional resources available for the Tribe.  Colorado Mountain College has offered all Ute students in-district tuition rates at all of their campuses.  The Tribe has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Utah to work more closely together and utilize the University’s resources and to make education more affordable for Tribal members.

Even with these financial support programs in place, many Tribal students are not able complete a degree.  One reason students do not complete postsecondary studies is that they are not prepared for college level academic work.  This problem is being addressed by encouraging students to attend 2 year and community colleges and by encouraging them to attend the local post-secondary institutions of Uintah Basin Applied Technology College and Utah State University--Uintah Basin before going to a 4 year institution.