Engineering Technology Degree Creation and Equipment Support

部落学院和大学计划（TCUP）的一个目标是提高为美国土著学生服务的特定高等教育机构的科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）教学和研究能力。扩大这些机构的STEM课程，为学生提供在STEM领域追求具有挑战性、回报丰厚的职业的机会，为可能具有文化意义的领域提供研究，并鼓励社区和世代对科学和数学教育的欣赏。该项目与这一目标直接一致，而且将增强国家对提供相关STEM教学、招募和留住代表性不足的个人进入STEM研究以及培养下一代STEM专业人员的影响的认识。对于那些直接从大学进入劳动力市场的学生来说，重要的是他们在数学、科学和技术方面拥有明确的技能，以便进入STEM劳动力市场。纳瓦霍技术大学将开发一个两年制的工程技术学位，以补充其四年的工程和数字制造课程。两年制学位将成为一个里程碑，鼓励学生开始攻读STEM学位，同时为获得学士学位开辟一条道路。该项目将提高教师在相关技术方面的技能，并创建一个将先进制造技术纳入工程教育的模式，特别是在部落学院和大学。

A goal of the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) is to increase the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) instructional and research capacities of specific institutions of higher education that serve the Nation's indigenous students. Expanding the STEM curricular offerings at these institutions expands the opportunities for their students to pursue challenging, rewarding careers in STEM fields, provides for research studies in areas that may be culturally significant, and encourages a community and generational appreciation for science and mathematics education. This project aligns directly with that goal, and moreover will enhance the Nation's knowledge of the impact of providing relevant STEM instruction, on recruiting and retaining underrepresented individuals into STEM studies, and preparing the next generation of STEM professionals. For those students entering the workforce directly from the college, it is important that they have a well-defined skill set in mathematics, science, and technology for entry into the STEM workforce. Navajo Technical University will develop a two-year engineering technology degree to complement their four-year engineering and digital manufacturing programs. The two-year degree will create a milestone that will encourage students to start a STEM degree while opening a pathway to a bachelor's degree. The project will increase faculty skills in relevant technologies and create a model for incorporating advanced manufacturing technology in engineering education, particularly at tribal colleges and universities.