Tribal Colleges and Universities Program

The Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP), administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), aims to support and enhance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and research capacity at federally recognized Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native-serving institutions, and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions. The initiative is managed under the Directorate for STEM Education’s Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM and is aligned with NSF’s mission to broaden participation in STEM fields, especially among underrepresented populations. The program fosters educational innovation, community engagement, and the development of a robust STEM workforce within Indigenous communities. TCUP encompasses several funding tracks tailored to institutional needs and capacities, including Instructional Capacity Excellence in TCUP Institutions (ICE-TI), Targeted STEM Infusion Projects (TSIP), TCUP for Secondary and Elementary Teachers in STEM (TSETS), TCU Enterprise Advancement Centers (TEA Centers), Cyberinfrastructure Health, Assistance, and Improvements (CHAI), Preparing for TCUP Implementation (Pre-TI), TCUP Partnerships, and Small Grants for Research (SGR). Each track is designed with specific goals such as expanding STEM degree offerings, supporting faculty research, or strengthening infrastructure and institutional strategy. For instance, TEA Centers focus on community STEM needs, while TSETS aims to uplift K-12 STEM education. The program is structured to accommodate different project scopes and timelines. ICE-TI and TEA Centers offer up to $2.5 million and $3.5 million respectively for five-year projects. TSIP and CHAI offer up to $500,000 and $250,000 for three-year and one-year projects respectively. SGR provides up to $200,000 for research over two years, while Pre-TI supports readiness activities with up to $150,000 over two years. TCUP Partnerships can receive up to $5 million over five years, with limitations on funding for non-TCUP institutions. Eligible applicants must be Tribal Colleges or Universities recognized under Executive Order 13021, Alaska Native-serving institutions with at least 20% Alaska Native undergraduate enrollment, or Native Hawaiian-serving institutions with at least 10% Native Hawaiian undergraduate enrollment. Non-TCUP institutions may only participate in TCUP Partnerships as collaborators and must secure support from other NSF programs. Principal investigators (PIs) are generally expected to be senior academic officers or experienced STEM faculty, with some exceptions based on the specific funding track. Applications may be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov, adhering to the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide. Deadlines vary by track and include specific annual dates such as January 11 and April 1 for SGR and TSETS, and September 1 for TEA Centers. Proposal evaluation follows NSF's standard merit review criteria, emphasizing intellectual merit and broader societal impacts. All proposals must include a strong evaluation and dissemination plan, with requirements varying slightly by strand. For inquiries, applicants may contact program directors Jody Chase (lchase@nsf.gov, 703-292-8640), Regina Sievert (rsievert@nsf.gov, 703-292-2808), or business specialist Nicole Gass (ngass@nsf.gov, 703-292-8378). The NSF emphasizes that all applicants must ensure compliance with the latest applicable PAPPG guidelines and be prepared to fulfill annual and final reporting obligations, including evaluation deliverables where required.

Collaborate with NSF staff for guidance Include external advisory committees for ICE-TI, TSIP, TEA, Pre-TI, Partnerships Use NSF evaluation and education research guidelines for assessment design