Keltner Testifies On Capitol Hill

Bette Keltner, dean of Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies, testified April 12 on Capitol Hill.

Keltner spoke before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, which was holding an oversight hearing on the topic of tribal colleges and universities.

The hearing was called to inform the committee's input on the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.

In the United States, there are 34 tribal colleges and universities. “These tribal colleges are critically important,” said Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), chairman of the committee.

“We obviously need to be more prepared for competitiveness in this century,” added Sen. Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.), vice chairman of the committee.

At the hearing, Keltner, a member of the Cherokee Nation, joined witnesses from the government and higher education arena.

Speakers included Carl J. Artman, assistant secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior; David Gipp; president of United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, N.D.; Elmer Guy, president of Navajo Technical College in Crownpoint, N.M.; and Jamie P. Merisotis, president of the Institute for Higher Education Policy in Washington.

A great deal of the discussion dealt with federal funding issues.

“Tribal colleges are absolutely dependent on the federal government for operating support,” said Merisotis.

Keltner focused on the need to strengthen partnerships between research intensive universities and tribal colleges and universities in order to beef up science and technology education.

“Benefits [of partnership] include research collaboration, student service opportunities, educational pipeline programs, and a unique perspective that would enhance cultural competence in a range of fields, including informatics, life sciences, public health, nursing, social work, medicine, and linguistics,” she said.

She pointed to two current university programs as examples of the kinds of partnerships that could occur with more funding.

One is the Pathways to Success program, housed at the School of Nursing & Health Studies. The program aims to enhance interest and academic preparation of under-served high school students in the areas of biomedical science, life science, health care, and technology.

Between 2003 and 2006, 16 high school students from the Oglala Lakota tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota participated.

Keltner also highlighted the Imaging Science and Information Systems Center (ISIS) at Georgetown University Medical Center.

Over the last several years, she said, ISIS has been implementing an Internet-based diabetes management program focused specifically on American Indian populations.

To the panel of witnesses, Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), a committee member, said, “I want to do whatever we can do to help facilitate your success.”

While preparing her testimony, Keltner worked closely with Scott Fleming, assistant vice president for federal relations.

“Our office is here to help faculty members as they prepare to give federal testimony in their areas of expertise,” Fleming said. “This is an important way that faculty can bring their academic expertise to bear on the public good.”