Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute

Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) is a federally operated^[2] Bureau of Indian Affairs community college located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. SIPI is funded through the Bureau of Indian Education, an agency within the U. S. Department of the Interior. Today, more than 120 different Indian Tribes are represented in SIPI’s student body.^[3]

Campus

SIPI is located on approximately 164 acres in northwest Albuquerque, New Mexico. SIPI is located in the center of New Mexico’s agricultural and high-tech corridors (Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories, and Intel Corporation), major universities and the largest technical force within a 500-mile radius. SIPI's state-of the-art Science and Technology Center includes 12 research and teaching laboratories, 10 classrooms, two distance learning rooms, a 500-seat auditorium, faculty offices and conference rooms.^[4]

History

The Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute was conceived by the All Indian Pueblo Council, who envisioned a post-secondary school that could serve the Native American Community. Collective efforts with tribal leaders, public officials, and interested citizens, resulted in the school's founding in 1971; dedication ceremonies were held on August 21, 1971, and September 16, 1971, was the first day of classes. It operated initially on an "open-entry, open-exit system" of individualized training.

In 1974, SIPI was awarded a citation for Excellence of Service. By 1975, SIPI was accredited at the Certificate Level by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.^[5]

In 1994, SIPI was designated as a land grant institution, making it eligible for certain federal programs and part of a larger consortium of institutions.

Partnerships

SIPI has agreements with the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, and New Mexico Highlands University to ensure better recruitment, transfer, and retention rates for Native Americans so that students may easily transfer to four-year programs and graduate work. The College has also established agreements with regional public institutions outside of New Mexico.^[6]

SIPI is a member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), which is a community of tribally and federally chartered institutions working to strengthen tribal nations. SIPI was created to serve higher education needs of American Indians. SIPI generally serves geographically isolated populations who do not have ready access to higher education.^[7]

The Institute lost its accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission in July 2010.^[8] On March 12, 2014 SIPI was awarded "Initial Accreditation" by the Higher Learning Commission.^[9]

See also

• Haskell Indian Nations University

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute.

Further reading

• Khachadoorian, Angelle A. Inside the Eagle's Head: An American Indian College (2010) memoir by a former professor excerpt

External links

• Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
• Bureau of Indian Education National Directory

North American Tribal Colleges and Universities
Canada Alberta Blue Quills First Nations College Maskwacis Cultural College Old Sun Community College Red Crow Community College Yellowhead Tribal College British Columbia Native Education Centre Nicola Valley Institute of Technology Manitoba Yellowquill College Nunavut Akitsiraq Law School Nunavut Arctic College Ontario Anishinabek Education Institute First Nations Technical Institute Kenjgewin Teg Educational Institute Iohahi:io Akwesasne Adult Education Centre Negahneewin College Ogwehoweh Skills and Trades Training Centre Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education & Training Institute Seven Generations Education Institute Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig Six Nations Polytechnic Saskatchewan First Nations University of Canada
United States Alaska Iḷisaġvik College Arizona Diné College Tohono O'odham Community College California D–Q University Kansas Haskell Indian Nations University Michigan Bay Mills Community College Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College Minnesota Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College Leech Lake Tribal College Mille Lacs Tribal College Red Lake Nation College White Earth Tribal and Community College Montana Aaniiih Nakoda College Blackfeet Community College Chief Dull Knife College Fort Peck Community College Little Big Horn College Salish Kootenai College Stone Child College Nebraska Little Priest Tribal College Nebraska Indian Community College New Mexico Institute of American Indian Arts Navajo Technical University Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute North Dakota Cankdeska Cikana Community College Fort Berthold Community College Sitting Bull College Turtle Mountain Community College United Tribes Technical College Oklahoma Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal College College of the Muscogee Nation Comanche Nation College Pawnee Nation College South Dakota Oglala Lakota College Sinte Gleska University Sisseton Wahpeton College Washington Northwest Indian College Wisconsin College of Menominee Nation Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College Wyoming Wind River Tribal College

Colleges and universities in New Mexico
Public universities	Eastern New Mexico University Institute of American Indian Arts New Mexico Highlands University New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology New Mexico State University Northern New Mexico University University of New Mexico Western New Mexico University
Private colleges	Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine Santa Fe University of Art and Design College of the Southwest St. John's College
Public community colleges	Central New Mexico Community College Clovis Community College Diné College Mesalands Community College Navajo Technical University New Mexico Junior College New Mexico Military Institute San Juan College Santa Fe Community College Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute

Coordinates: 35°10′29″N 106°39′57″W / 35.1747°N 106.6658°W / 35.1747; -106.6658