The National Science Foundation will continue to support tribal and native-serving colleges, according to leaders within the federal agency. However, colleges that have already received substantial support in the past will be encouraged to pursue new funding opportunities related to documenting the impact of their educational work.
That’s one of the key findings in a newly published report outlining the history, impact, and future of the National Science Foundation’s Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP). Summarizing two days of presentations and discussions during the 2014 TCUP Leaders’ Forum, held earlier this year in San Antonio, Texas, the12-page publication stressed that the National Science Foundation’s commitment to the tribal colleges remains strong. However, it also noted that colleges must also look beyond capacity building as it pursues funding opportunities.
The report summarized the challenge this way:
“Representatives of the National Science Foundation candidly explained that the Foundation’s mission is not to indefinitely sustain core operations of a college or university. once capacity has been built or a program has been developed, project-specific funding ends. However, research into educational outcomes offers new options for continued engagement with the NSF, [TCUP Program Director Dr. Jody] Chase proposed. “When they get to the point where they no longer need to implement a new degree program then this is an area they might want to look into,” she said. “I view it as a kind of graduate degree.” It is an opportunity for colleges that are ready to move into the next phase of their development.”
The document identifies several possible research questions.
Copies of the report have been mailed to TCUP-eligible institutions. An electronic copy is available here: TCUP Leaders’ Forum Report