Engineering Studies at Tribal Colleges and Universities (2006)

Programs Funded by the National Science Foundation to Improve Course Offerings and STEM Research at the Tribal Colleges

All Nations Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (ANLSAMP)

ANLSAMP provides the federal government with guidance on changing the way federal programs approach Native education, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). ANLSAMP minimizes the geographical challenges of working with 12 states—and 52 participating institutions of higher education—through technology, including the Internet and a listserv. As an NSF-funded program, ANLSAMP has several collaborative projects in place with other NSF-funded programs.

The Advanced Networking with Minority Serving Institutions is an NSF-funded project to EDUCUASE, an international association of institutions of higher education and corporate partners, to assist tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and Hispanic-serving institutions in advanced networking issues.

NSF Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Scholarship Program provides educational opportunities to low-income, academically talented students through scholarships that promote full-time enrollment and degree achievement in higher education.

SKC Leadership Development for Master Teachers works with teachers who are involved in the Rural Systemic Initiative (RSI) reform, provides professional development opportunities to teachers in RSI schools, and develops culturally relevant, standards-based curriculum for reservation schools.

Rural Systemic Initiative

The NSF Rural Systemic Initiative in Science, Mathematics, and Technology Program stimulates system-wide educational reform of science, mathematics, and technology focused on improving long-term educational opportunities for students in rural, economically disadvantaged regions of the nation, particularly those that have been underserved by other NSF programs. RSI encourages community participation in instructional and policy reform.

RSI targets regions that are rural, characterized by high levels of poverty among school-age children; and share common cultural, social, and economic characteristics. RSI’s goals are: (1) to improve science, mathematics, and technology education in rural, economically disadvantaged regions of the nation; (2) to prepare a technologically competent workforce to improve the infrastructure of economic development activities in a community or region by strengthening the science, mathematics, and technology instructional capacities of regional colleges and universities; (3) to raise the level of scientific literacy and the understanding and appreciation of science among students and the general population in rural, economically disadvantaged regions of the nation; and (4) to develop community infrastructure to sustain educational improvements.

Tribal College Rural Systemic Initiative (TCRSI)

TCRSI programs are located in TCUs. Examples are described below.

The goal of the Blackfeet Community College RSI is to increase the number and quality of STEM offerings to meet national educational standards. Special emphasis is placed on a holistic approach to community reform using RSI activities as a springboard for a comprehensive effort to reform STEM teaching.

The objective of the Cankdeska Cikana Community College RSI is to continue past TCRSI efforts, which have resulted in 100 percent of teachers at the target schools implementing standards-based curricula in their classrooms.

The Salish Kootenai College RSI has resulted in a transformation of the educational experience for both teachers and students. The program provides professional development for teachers, effective assessment strategies, and promotion of community involvement in the educational process. The goal is to improve the learning experience for students in STEM subjects inside and beyond the school walls.

Model Institutions for Excellence

The goal of Model Institutions for Excellence (MEI) is to assist TCUs in building an infrastructure that can support the development of high quality programs of study in STEM areas.

The National Science Foundation Computer Infrastructure Project

This project encourages TCUs to develop an infrastructure based on a cooperative relationship among the tribal community, tribal schools, TCUs, and four-year comprehensive universities.

The National Science Foundation Tribal Colleges and Universities Program

The NSF Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUP) Program provides grants to help TCUs improve their STEM instructional and outreach programs, with an emphasis on using information technologies. The program also includes institutions that serve Alaskan Native populations and Native Hawaiian-populations.

TCUP supports the implementation of comprehensive institutional approaches to improving STEM teaching and learning in ways that increase access to, retention, and graduation from STEM programs, particularly those that have a strong technological foundation. TCUP helps eligible institutions bridge the digital divide and prepare students for careers in information technology, science, mathematics, and engineering fields. Typical project implementation strategies include curriculum enhancement, faculty professional development, undergraduate research and community service, academic enrichment, infusion of technology to enhance STEM instruction, and collaborations and other activities that meet institutional and community needs.