Internet access is a basic necessity in many public and private American universities and colleges. In order to be competitive in an ever globalizing world, being technologically savvy is paramount. Yet, many tribal colleges are located in or near American reservations that tend to be isolated and remote. Not having access to knowledge and the Internet cripples higher educational attainment.
A reality of reservation life is that many do not have basic necessities like electricity and running water. Apart from location, the lack of technology and Internet access is also related to the poor infrastructure of the 36 tribal colleges. Tribal colleges tend to be decentralized and emerge organically by usurping old, abandoned or donated buildings. The 1998 "Issues for Further Examination" report by then American Indian Higher Education Consortium stated that $18 million was needed just to add new classrooms, not including the absent laboratories, libraries and community centers.
The 1998 "Issues for Further Examination" report reveals how the lack of American Indian faculty and staff serve as another learning barrier for many American Indian students. The lack of faculty and staff result in a lack of support, role models and mentors for students. Recruiting and retaining the limited professionals are the biggest roadblocks. The geographic isolation of the tribal colleges, and lack of basic amenities and comforts divert American Indian faculty and staff. Furthermore, a divisive factor also relates to the large income gap between tribal college faculty salaries and their peers. The report also noted that tribal college faculty earned half of the salaries of their peers at $23,964 in 1996-1997.
The prevalent use of alcohol and drugs creates a huge barrier for American Indian students. Additionally, these issues are pervasive in many reservation communities, and breaking these deeply rooted addictions is difficult. While alcohol use rates were lower than the national average, the "National Survey on Drug Use and Health" highlights how 18-25-year-old American Indian young adults' illicit drug use rate exceeded the national rate.