Bridging Tribal Colleges to Montana State University

描述（由申请人提供）：这个持续的项目是代表一个机构联盟提交的，包括蒙大拿州立大学博兹曼分校和蒙大拿州的部落学院：黑脚社区学院、首席钝刀学院、Aaniih Nakoda学院（原Fort Belknap学院）、Fort Peck社区学院、Little Big Horn学院、Salish Kootenai学院和成立于1983年的Stone Child学院。美国印第安人研究机会（AIRO）联盟的具体目标是加强与蒙大拿部落学院现有的合作关系，以加强土著科学毕业生和科学项目的竞争力，从而使更多的土著美国学生进入四年制生物医学和行为科学学士学位课程，最终增加这些学生在这些职业领域毕业的人数。AIRO桥梁项目将重点实现以下目标：(1)通过促进培训和研讨会，提高部落学院合作伙伴的研究能力，以及在机构之间共享和调整课程（包括研究方法和负责任的研究课程行为），建立部落学院与密歇根州立大学教师之间的协作与合作。项目目标包括：a)每年为部落学院教师提供两次研讨会，让他们聚在一起研究课程和课程设置（每个部落学院两次，共计14名教师）；b)通过培训、旅行、工资发放时间和/或设备，为部落学院教员发展研究能力提供资金（每年4000美元）；c)为密歇根州立大学的研究人员提供前往每个部落学院的机会（7次研究讲座；每个部落学院一次）。(2)通过面对面交流、电子社交网络和视频电话会议（Skype）等方式，为所有院校的美国原住民学生提供发展成为科学家群体的机会。(3)培养部落学院的批判性思维和研究技能

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This continuing project is submitted on behalf of a consortium of institutions including Montana State University-Bozeman and Montana's Tribal Colleges: Blackfeet Community College, Chief Dull Knife College, Aaniih Nakoda College (formerly Fort Belknap College), Fort Peck Community College, Little Big Horn College, Salish Kootenai College, and Stone Child College that was established in 1983. The specific goal of the American Indian Research Opportunities (AIRO) consortium is to enhance existing partnerships with Montana Tribal Colleges in order to strengthen competiveness of Native science graduates and science programs leading to matriculation of more Native American students in four year baccalaureate programs in biomedical and behavioral science degrees and ultimately an increase in these students graduating in these career fields. The AIRO Bridges project will focus on the achieving the following aims: (1) Build collaboration and cooperation between tribal college and MSU faculty by facilitating trainings and workshops, enhancing research capabilities of tribal college partners, and sharing and aligning curriculum between institutions (including research methodology and responsible conduct of research courses). Project objectives include a) Offer two workshops per year for tribal college faculty to come together to work on courses and curriculum (two from each tribal college for a total of 14 faculty); b) Provide monies for tribal college faculty to develop their research capacity through training, travel, salary release time and/or equipment ($4000 per year); c) Provide MSU research faculty opportunities to travel to each tribal college (7 research talks; one at each tribl college.) (2) Provide opportunities for Native American students at all institutions to develop as cohort of scientists through in person networking, electronic social networks and video teleconference (Skype) methods. (3) Develop critical thinking and research skills of tribal college students through an 8 week summer research experience at a 4-year institute in biomedical and behavioral science research, including providing academic skills enrichment opportunities for tribal college students such as instruction in study skills, time management, content enrichment (within the research project), and writing. Project objectives for specific aim 2 and 3 include: a) Develop regular electronic networking space (once a month) for student use between institutions (Facebook, Skype, Videoconferencing); b) Recruit 15 students for summer research experience at MSU and SKC (now a four-year baccalaureate granting institution); c) Increase research and academic capabilities of students through summer research experiences; d) Transfer 75% of students to 4-year degree programs in biomedical and behavioral sciences disciplines; e) Increase graduation rate of Bridges students to meet MSU campus rate for Native American students (35%); f) Provide Native American science students with one regional opportunity to present research and network face-to-face. In the last nine years, MSU's AIRO NIH funded Bridges programs have transferred 66 percent of participating tribal college students to 4-year degree programs and graduated 24 percent of these students. By focusing efforts on these expanded specific aims, the goals of a 75% transfer rate and 35% graduation rate are attainable.