Tribal Colleges and Universities Program

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Directorate for STEM Education and Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM, administers the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) under solicitation NSF 21-595. This program provides funding to federally recognized Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native-serving institutions, and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions. Its goal is to enhance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and research capacity in these communities. By supporting institutional transformation, capacity building, community engagement, and individual research, TCUP contributes to building a strong STEM enterprise that serves Native communities while broadening participation in the national STEM workforce. The TCUP program is structured around multiple funding tracks that address specific institutional and community needs. Instructional Capacity Excellence in TCUP Institutions (ICE-TI) supports comprehensive institutional improvements in STEM education and research. Targeted STEM Infusion Projects (TSIP) fund short-term, well-defined improvements in STEM infrastructure or instruction. TCUP for Secondary and Elementary Teachers in STEM (TSETS) provides professional development for K-12 STEM teachers. TCU Enterprise Advancement Centers (TEA Centers) coalesce institutional STEM expertise to support community and tribal needs. The Cyberinfrastructure Health, Assistance, and Improvements (CHAI) track enhances the technological infrastructure needed for STEM education and research. Preparing for TCUP Implementation (Pre-TI) assists institutions that are new to TCUP in developing readiness for larger projects. TCUP Partnerships support collaborations between TCUP and non-TCUP institutions, while Small Grants for Research (SGR) fund faculty-led STEM research initiatives. Each funding track has specific award sizes, durations, and eligibility requirements. For example, ICE-TI awards may provide up to $2.5 million for five years, while TEA Centers can receive up to $3.5 million with renewal potential. Smaller initiatives, such as Pre-TI, are capped at $150,000 for two years, and CHAI projects are limited to $250,000 for one year. SGR projects may receive up to $200,000 for two years. The overall anticipated funding amount for the program is approximately $10.8 million, supporting between 17 and 55 awards depending on availability of funds. Awards are issued as standard or continuing grants. Matching funds are not required. Eligibility for TCUP is restricted to federally recognized Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native-serving institutions with at least 20 percent Alaska Native undergraduate enrollment, and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions with at least 10 percent Native Hawaiian undergraduate enrollment. Non-TCUP institutions may only participate through TCUP Partnerships, and their support must be obtained from other NSF programs. Institutions may submit multiple proposals, though restrictions apply for certain tracks such as TEA Centers. Principal investigators vary by strand, with senior institutional leaders or STEM faculty serving as PIs depending on the project type. Applications must be submitted electronically through Research.gov or Grants.gov in accordance with the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Deadlines vary by track, with some due annually on fixed dates such as January 11, April 1, June 1, and September 1. Other tracks, including Partnerships, CHAI, and Pre-TI, use annual submission windows from October 15 through October 14 of the following year. Proposals are reviewed using NSF’s merit review criteria of intellectual merit and broader impacts, with emphasis on innovation, student outcomes, and long-term institutional capacity building. The solicitation identifies several recurring deadlines. For example, the TSETS program has a recurring deadline of January 11 annually, while Small Grants for Research and TSIP share recurring April 1 deadlines. TEA Centers accept proposals annually by September 1. Proposals submitted after these deadlines are not considered until the next cycle. Applicants are encouraged to consult TCUP program directors to discuss project design and eligibility prior to submission. For assistance, applicants may contact Jody Chase, Program Director, TCUP, at (703) 292-8640 or lchase@nsf.gov; Regina Sievert, Program Director, TCUP, at (703) 292-2808 or rsievert@nsf.gov; or Nicole Gass, Business Operations Specialist, at (703) 292-8378 or ngass@nsf.gov. Additional technical support for proposal submission is available through Research.gov or the Grants.gov Contact Center. Awardees must comply with NSF reporting requirements, including annual and final project reports and project outcomes reports, and may also be asked to provide evaluation results.

Proposals must comply with NSF PAPPG and should include strong evaluation and dissemination plans. Consultation with program officers is recommended.