Rooted in Resilience: Tribal Colleges and Universities Shaping Stronger Futures
Salish Kootenai College will host the 2026 Summer TCU Conference, Rooted in Resilience: Tribal Colleges and Universities Shaping Stronger Futures, July 27–30 on the SKC campus. The conference brings together Tribal College and University professionals for updates, discussion, shared learning, and collaboration around the issues shaping TCU operations, student support, academic programs, compliance, and institutional planning.
The conference begins Monday evening with registration, welcome, prayer, dinner, and the John Gritts Memorial and Giveaway. Tuesday and Wednesday morning sessions are designed for all attendees, with broad updates related to TCU funding, administrative reporting, workforce credentialing, scholarships, federal updates, audits, negotiated rulemaking, FERPA, civil rights compliance, NACEP, and Clery-related topics.
Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning shift into individual breakout tracks. Admissions and Registrar sessions include campus updates, transfer discussions, FERPA, onboarding from application to registration, and roundtable discussion. The Dual Enrollment track focuses on NACEP updates, dual credit community-of-practice sharing, program accreditation, faculty and student onboarding, and pathway-building work connected to forestry and BIA partnerships.
Financial Aid professionals can expect federal updates, cash management, Title IV discussion, and Ask-A-Fed opportunities. Chief Financial Officers will discuss auditing, cybersecurity, compliance supplements, OMB updates, and financial forecasting tools. Chief Academic Officers will focus on program review, program assessment, workforce credentialing, accreditation criteria, evidence preparation, HLC questions, and NWCCU Tribal Handbook work.
Across the agenda, the conference emphasizes practical institutional knowledge, peer exchange, regulatory awareness, accreditation readiness, and the shared work of strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities.