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North Dakota colleges serving Native American students are experiencing ups and downs with federal support but it is not stopping their careful planning to open more educational pathways, and one campus leader's work is receiving national praise.

North Dakota's Tribal College System has five campuses spread across the state, including United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck.

Leander McDonald, president of the school and a member of the Spirit Lake Dakota Nation, said he saw a big need to update policies when he arrived more than 10 years ago, including everything from academics to the employee handbook to financial procedures – and he felt working with the board of directors on refining the areas was an important part of their strategy.

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"We took them on about one at a time while at the same time doing our daily operations," McDonald recounted. "There was a little bit of a heavy lift but I think in the long run, it really did set the foundation for moving forward."

McDonald, just named President Honoree of the Year by the American Indian College Fund, said a foundation is important for first-generation Native students whose families do not have experience navigating the higher education system. He is relieved Congress maintained current federal funding for tribal colleges after the Trump administration sought a 90 percent cut. But he added the dismantling of the Department of Education creates potential headaches as programs serving the campus are pushed to other agencies.

McDonald argued in order to keep the college on a path toward more growth, the federal government has to uphold treaty and trust responsibilities, especially for higher education. He stressed for stronger Native nation-building, his students need to balance learning more about their history and other cultures so they are in a better position to advance their rights and careers.

"Coming from (a) first-generation family that never had a degree, that they can see that there's opportunities there for them beyond more entry-level work," McDonald emphasized.

McDonald added schools like his are still trying to overcome misconceptions, including a belief they are not accredited. He stressed they work to receive the designation through the Higher Learning Commission, just like their counterparts within the North Dakota University System.