A Strategic Plan Towards Developing a New Associate Degree Program in Radiation Health Physics at Navajo Technical University

部落学院和大学方案(TCUP)的一个目标是提高为本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。扩大这些机构的研究能力扩大了学生在STEM领域追求具有挑战性的、有回报的职业的机会，提供了可能与当地相关的领域的研究性学习，并鼓励教师群体将目光投向传统课堂之外的智力和专业成长。该项目直接与这一目标相一致，使该机构的教职员工和管理人员能够设计和制定一个全面的计划，以改进和扩大STEM教学。纳瓦霍技术大学(NTU)为纳瓦霍民族服务。南洋理工大学已与核管理委员会(NRC)和查塔努加州立社区学院(CSCC)合作，制定其发展辐射健康物理副学士学位计划的战略计划。NRC与NTU保持着持续的合作关系，并将引进在辐射物理领域的培训、方案设计、课程标准化、认证和当前实践方面具有丰富经验和知识的专业人员。CSCC在规划和实施辐射防护计划方面有成功的经验。NTU组建了一支不仅在辐射物理领域拥有丰富经验，而且具有新的项目建设经验的团队。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

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 research capacity at these institutions expands the opportunities for students to pursue challenging, rewarding careers in STEM fields, provides for research studies in areas that may be locally relevant, and encourages a faculty community to look beyond the traditional classroom for intellectual and professional growth. This project aligns directly with that goal, allowing the institution's faculty and administrators to design and develop a comprehensive plan for improving and expanding STEM instruction. Navajo Technical University (NTU) serves the Navajo Nation. NTU has partnered with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and Chattanooga State Community College (CSCC) for developing its strategic plan towards developing a Radiation Health Physics Associate Degree program. NRC has an ongoing relationship with NTU and will bring in professionals in the field with rich experience and knowledge in training, program designing, course standardization, certifications and current practices in the radiation physics area. CSCC has successful experience in planning and implementing the radiation protection program. NTU has assembled a team that not only has immense experience in the field of radiation physics, but also has new program building experience.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.