OUTREACH CORE

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The overarching goal of Outreach Core is to increase the number of tribal college students matriculating into baccalaureate degree programs in the sciences. The following Core objectives build upon the foundation established during BRIN and meet the INBRE goals; 1) provide funding for expanded delivery of science courses via interactive videoconferencing (IVN) between the five ND tribal colleges, 2) establish a Tribal College Science Coordinator to develop best practices for delivering and receiving distance courses, 3) provide support for tribal college science faculty to continue to develop science and research skills and skills in distance instruction. Goal 1: Funding was disseminated to the participating tribal colleges to cover charges related to delivery of courses over the Interactive Video Network (IVN). There is a pending Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between each of the five Tribal Colleges that will outline the structure and delivery of both online and distance-delivered courses in the future. Goals 2 and 3: T. M. Bull Bennett PhD was hired in September 2004 as the Tribal College Science Coordinator. From the Mi?kmaq tribe of the Canadian east coast, Bennett recently earned a PhD from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in atmosphere, environment and water resources. Dr. Bennett will develop best practices for distance science course delivery and leverage resources for the ND tribal colleges. He is working with the tribal colleges to refine the delivery of Chemistry 115 or 116 over the IVN in 2005/2006. Efforts are underway to develop additional laboratory-based distance science courses, possibly general biology, or anatomy and physiology. Dr. Bennett intends to pursue regular monthly visits to the participating INBRE institutions. An important goal of these visits is to facilitate the successful involvement of tribal college students in research at the other PUIs.