Legislature is currently considering a House bill that aims to enhance the existing tuition waiver for Native American students. The proposed changes in the eligibility criteria of the program seek to broaden its reach, allowing a greater number of individuals to qualify. However, certain state and education administrators have expressed apprehension regarding the potential financial burden associated with these waivers.
Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, introduced House Bill 288 in January, when the House Education Committee tabled it unanimously. The bill’s original intent was to open the university tuition waiver to any Montana resident who can prove tribal descendancy from any of 574 federally recognized tribes.
In an attempt to resurrect the bill, Windy Boy amended it to exclude descendants of tribes from outside Montana. The amended version of his bill made it through committee and onto the House floor, where it passed an initial vote March 1..
Presently, the tuition waiver is accessible to Montana residents who are enrolled members of a tribe recognized by the federal government. Alternatively, it is also open to descendants who can provide documentation proving a minimum of one-quarter tribal blood quantum from any recognized tribes.
In an email to Montana Free Press and ICT, Wind Boy expressed that the bill’s significance lies in its potential to bring about positive changes for tribal members. By eliminating the requirement of having one-quarter Indian blood, the bill would allow descendants of federally recognized tribes within Montana to benefit from its provisions.
Montana’s American Indian tuition waiver currently applies to Native students who are enrolled in either a federally or state-recognized tribe, as well as students who can document at least one-quarter tribal blood quantum. That means tribal students who claim descendancy with less than one-quarter tribal blood quantum are ineligible for the waiver, according to the current American Indian Undergrad Tuition Waiver application.
Should the revised tuition waiver successfully pass through the Legislature, it would alter the law’s language, eliminating the need for tribal descendants to provide documentation of one-quarter blood quantum in order to qualify for the tuition waiver.
There are no universal definitions of descendants as tribes have the authority to establish their own tribal enrollment policies. Nonetheless, the Department of Interior typically defines a descendant as an individual who can trace their lineage back to someone listed on the tribe’s base roll or has a familial connection to a tribal member who can trace their lineage to someone listed on the base roll.
During the House floor discussion on the bill on March 1, Rep. Jane Gillette, R-Bozeman, said she had concerns after speaking with representatives of the Montana University System about the waiver. The waivers come at a cost to the schools, she said.
She stated that universities do not receive any funding for these waivers. Instead, they are considered a liability rather than an asset for the university, as there is no financial support provided. Unless there is financial backing to incentivize schools to accept Native American individuals into academic organizations, she will continue to decline.
According to the bill’s fiscal analysis, if all in-state American Indian students were granted the waiver it would decrease universities’ tuition revenue by $4.7 million in 2024.
In an email statement, Helen Thigpen, the deputy commissioner for government relations and public affairs at the Montana University System, expressed concerns regarding the impact of HB 288 on the system’s campuses. Thigpen mentioned that these campuses would be required to devise strategies to compensate for the resulting revenue losses.
Thigpen stated that ensuring increased access for American Indian students continues to be a top priority for all MUS campuses. However, complete implementation of the waiver would require funding from the state.
Rep. Marilyn Marler, D-Missoula, who is a faculty member in the biological sciences department at the University of Montana, said working with Indigenous students is one of her favorite parts of the job.
Marler emphasized that the tribal students on waivers are indeed beneficial to the university community. According to him, they contribute significantly to all areas of education at the University of Montana. He also mentioned that he has gained valuable knowledge from both his colleagues and the Native American students.
According to Michelle Guzman, the director of the American Indian Student Success Services at the University of Montana, the waivers play a crucial role in ensuring that higher education is accessible to a historically marginalized population.
Guzman expressed that the tuition waiver is highly beneficial for students due to the high cost of college. Many individuals are unaware of or underestimate the expenses associated with attending college, such as tuition, fees, accommodations, and textbooks. These costs can quickly accumulate, making it difficult for students to afford college. The tuition waiver plays a crucial role in alleviating this financial burden and enabling students to better afford their education.
The American Indian tuition waiver came about as a policy to promote and encourage access to higher education for American Indians within the state, according to the Montana University System website. In the 2019-2020 school year, 832 Native students accessed the tuition waiver.
Many people mistakenly believe that the tuition waiver provides coverage for all college expenses, such as fees, books, meals, room and board. However, it is important to note that the waiver solely applies to tuition, as stated on the MUS webpage.
“In his closing statement on the floor, Windy Boy emphasized that nothing comes for free in this context, including college admissions. Applicant students are required to undergo the same rigorous application process as every other student. They must complete various applications, including the FAFSA, which serves as a final option in the application lineup,” Windy Boy stated.
After the transmittal break, HB 288 has been re-referred to the House Appropriations Committee for additional discussion and a vote.
This story is co-published by Montana Free Press and ICT, a news partnership that covers the Montana American Indian Caucus during the state’s 2023 legislative session. Funding is provided in part by the Headwaters Foundation.
