Pre-TI: Expansion of the Science Discipline at the Nebraska Indian Community Project

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The goal of the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) is to support Native-serving institutions of higher education in building their science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) instructional and research capacities. The project directed by Nebraska Indian Community College (NICC) titled “Expansion of the Science Discipline at the Nebraska Indian Community Project” addresses this goal through the implementation of a planning grant to assist in guiding the college in the development of a long-term STEM capacity-building plan. The project’s objectives are to conduct a needs assessment and feasibility study to gather information about the types of STEM programs that would most benefit the college and community and NICC’s readiness to deliver those programs. Findings will be used to guide the college in directing resources and applying for future funding to support the expansion of their STEM offerings.Providing quality higher education and lifelong educational opportunities to all learners is NICC’s mission. One way to advance that mission is through the expansion of the STEM degree and research programs at the college. This project’s work will support that agenda through a comprehensive assessment of NICC’s existing STEM capacity and compilation of data about tribal community and student interest in STEM program expansion. Findings generated will be applied to informing the college’s future steps for expanding their STEM capacity through the addition of new STEM baccalaureate programs and STEM research programs.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.