Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU)

Grant Awards

NRC awarded $475,000 to TCUs in both FY 11 and FY 12.

NRC Measurable Results

NRC's measurable results include:

• Provided outreach, coordination, training, and different types of assistance, resulting in TCUs achieving the goals and measurable objectives;
• Visited Blackfeet and Salish Kootenai Colleges to monitor NRC funded program activities, increase awareness of NRC's mission, jobs, programs and funding opportunities, which promoted interest in the MSIP and other NRC investment programs;
• Collaborated with a TCU Engineering Work Group representative (during the visit to Salish Kootenai, located in Montana) to encourage submittal of an application for funding through the MSI Grants program. The Work Group is comprised of 11 Tribal Colleges and Universities (Blackfeet, Chief Dull Knife, Menominee Nation, Navajo Technical College, Fort Berthold, Haskell Indian Nations, Salish Kootenai, Sitting Bull, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, United Tribes Technical, and White Earth Tribal and Community), which resulted in the representative visiting NRC Headquarters (located in Maryland) to further discuss responding to MSIP funding announcements; and
• Participated in recruitment activities, and events sponsored by the American Indian Science and Engineering Society Conference, which resulted in interactions with TCU faculty and students increasing interest in NRC's mission, careers, jobs, programs, and funding opportunities; and a higher number of employment applications.

Return on NRC Education Investments

Blackfeet Community College (BCC) - Development of an Associate of Science (AS) Degree program for Civil, Electrical and Electronic Technology. In 2012, Blackfeet requested a change in scope of the grant to add a curriculum weighted in math, physics, and chemistry to prepare students to pursue a Bachelor's degree in the Engineering field of choice and support a future Civil Engineering program. BCC's measurable results include:

• Two students graduated in 2012; and
• Seven students are currently enrolled in the revised program.

College of Menominee Nations (CMN) - Presidential STEM Leadership Program (PSLP) to support recruitment, retention and graduation. The PSLP's overall goals are to 1) increase the number of educated Native American STEM skilled employees, and 2) prepare a pipeline of underrepresented students in STEM careers relevant to nuclear safety, security and environmental protection. The PSLP's goals include increasing students majoring in STEM at CMN by 50%, retention rates of STEM cohorts by 25%, and graduation rates of STEM cohorts by 10%. The PSLP is viewed as a model for Native American student recruitment and retention. CMN's measurable results include:

• Fourteen students participated in the PSLP;
  • Two students left school and the program.
  • Four students transferred to partnering institutions.
    • One to University of Wisconsin (UW)-Oshkosh, then UW-Madison: graduating in spring 2013, with Bachelors of Science (BS) Physics, BS Engineering.
    • One to UW-Madison, then UW-Oshkosh: completing BS in Computer Science.
    • One continuing at UW-Madison for BS in Native American Studies; and
    • One completed Associates of Arts (AA) in Sustainable Development, transferred to UW-Madison to complete BS in Environmental Studies.
  • Two students completed AA at CMN in Bio/Physical Sciences.
  • Five students graduated from CMN.
    • Two students received AA in Bio/Physical Sciences; both continuing at CMN; 1 student continuing at CMN for Nursing Degree.
    • One student received AA in Sustainable Development, Transferred to UW-Green Bay, continuing in Environmental Policy.
    • One student received AA in Math and Liberal Studies, continuing at CMN and will transfer to NWTC for Engineering.
    • One student received AA in Natural Resources, transferred to UW-Stevens Point for Wildlife Ecology, transferred to Arizona State to complete degree.
  • One student of the 14 is currently enrolled in Accounting Studies.
• Seven cohorts are on scheduled for graduation; and
• The PSLP sponsored a "Native STEM Role Models" Conference, attended by over 240 participants including Menominee Indian Tribal and Middle Schools.

United Tribes Technical Colleges (UTTC) - Developed Associated Applied Science Degrees in Environmental Pre-Engineering and Computer Information Technology. UTTC hired a former graduate as a Professor to support student retention and academic success. UTTC's measurable results include:

• One student completed an internship, and has matriculated to a partnership school (South Dakota School of Mines) to attend their 2+2 degree program.