2009 Research Incentive Grant Program for Tribal Colleges and Universities Request for Proposals (RFP)

Introduction

The United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation (UNCFSP) invites faculty and staff of Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) to apply for UNCFSP Research Incentive Grant (RIG) Projects. The goal of the RIG is to:

• To increase the number of underrepresented and underserved STEM students who pursue NASA-related, STEM careers and gain employment in the STEM
  workforce;
• To increase the number of participants who matriculate and successfully obtain a STEM degree through the introduction of effective, informal science
  techniques/tools;
• To monitor and assess the progression of student knowledge and attitudes towards the pursuit of a NASA-related, STEM career, as a result of utilizing
  innovative science education tools.

In accord with these goals, UNCFSP seeks to fund projects designed to respond to these research questions: (1) To what extent are TCU students entering STEM careers?, (2) What are TCU student’s knowledge, attitudes and beliefs related to STEM education and STEM careers, and (3) What activities or institutional processes encourage greater student interest in STEM careers. Institutions may propose, but are not limited to, one or more of the following undergraduate activities in order to respond to these research questions:

Purpose

• Revising curricula and curricular materials, especially those that integrate cutting-edge science and technology practices that are based on NASA-generated data and space-related applications.

• Developing curriculum support materials such as videos, Power Point presentations, computer-implemented programs, and devices that illustrate science concepts or demonstrate principles.

• Creating faculty development activities. Faculty development activities may involve enhancing academic instruction; using computers, multimedia software, projection systems, and educational technology more effectively; taking courses, seminars, and workshops at other institutions; attending technical and educational conferences; and receiving training from software and equipment vendors.
  

In support of these activities, institutions may utilize funding for the following items:

• Providing access to remote computer networks for students that provide greater instructional capabilities than are available locally.
  

• Incorporating distance learning to reach geographically isolated students or to share courses with other campuses or institutions.
  

• Developing or purchasing pedagogical aids, such as video, slides, and multimedia software and image analysis

• Curriculum development supplies


• Student support