Biological Science for Tribal Colleges Conference Sisseton Wahpeton College NSF/TCUs Conference; Arlington, VA; May 20-22, 2009

该项目的核心组成部分是国家科学基金会（NSF）项目主任与每个部落学院和大学（TCU）的关键人员之间的面对面会议。 这次活动是朝着设计和实施更好的战略，以实现改善所有美国人的STEM机会的共同目标迈出的重要一步。 印第安保留地的教育需求构成了独特的挑战。 作为该领域的专家，培训协调单位必须确定问题的框架，并阐明应对这些挑战的解决办法。 通过更早、更深层次地参与国家科学基金会，可以对保留地的STEM教育计划的设计产生积极影响。 作为一项共同努力，NSF和TCU必须了解所有参与者的愿望、资源和局限性。 这次会议将在比以往更广泛的范围内进一步发展积极的伙伴关系。 学术价值会议的成果之一将是确定TCU在努力改善STEM教育方面的需求，资源和愿望。 此外，重要的是要确定部落学院所服务的社区的需求，使TCU能够设计满足这些需求的可持续方案。 NSF将获得有关确保成功实施所需的计划和资源类型的宝贵见解。 更广泛的影响国家科学基金会的生物技术理事会是这个项目的理想合作伙伴。 每个部落学院都有针对部落社区所需的STEM职业的学术课程。 此外，这次会议将成为其他局和联邦机构今后的榜样。 TCU参与者的选择将由各个部落学院院长决定。 活动组织者将建议将STEM教师和赞助项目官员包括在内，以扩大会议本身和之后TCU的对话。

The central component of this project is a face to face meeting between the National Science Foundation (NSF) Program Directors and key personnel from each of the Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). This event is an important step toward designing and implementing better strategies to achieve the common goal of improving STEM opportunities for all Americans. The educational needs on Indian reservations pose unique challenges. It is important for the TCUs, as the experts in the field, to frame the problem and articulate solutions to these challenges. By engaging the National Science Foundation at an earlier, deeper level, a positive impact on the design of programs targeting STEM education on the reservations can occur. As a mutual effort, it is important that the aspirations, resources, and limitations of all the participants are understood by both NSF and the TCUs. This meeting would further the development of active partnership on a broader scale than previously attempted. Intellectual MeritOne of the outcomes of the meeting will be the identification of the needs, resources, and aspirations of the TCUs in their efforts to improve STEM education. Additionally, it will be important to identify the needs of the communities served by the tribal colleges, allowing the TCUs to design sustainable programs that address these needs. NSF will gain valuable insights on what type of programs and resources are needed to ensure successful implementation. Broader ImpactThe BIO Directorate at the National Science Foundation is an ideal partner for this project. Every tribal college has academic programs which target STEM careers needed by the tribal communities. Furthermore, this conference will serve as a future model for other directorates and federal agencies. The selection of the TCU participants will be determined by the individual tribal college presidents. The event organizers will suggest the inclusion of both STEM faculty and sponsored program officers to broaden the conversations at the meeting itself, and at the TCUs afterwards.