Tribal Colleges and Universities Program

The Tribal Colleges and Universities Program is administered by the National Science Foundation, an independent federal agency established to promote the progress of science and advance national welfare through research and education. The program is housed within the Directorate for STEM Education and specifically aligns with the Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM. It reflects a long-standing federal commitment to strengthening participation of historically underrepresented populations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. The program focuses on federally recognized Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native-serving institutions, and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, recognizing their role as educational, cultural, and economic anchors within their communities. The purpose of the program is to enhance STEM education, research capacity, and outreach at eligible institutions. It supports a broad range of initiatives designed to improve instructional quality, expand academic offerings, strengthen research capabilities, and increase participation in STEM careers among Native populations. The program includes multiple funding tracks, each targeting a different aspect of institutional development or research advancement. These include Instructional Capacity Excellence projects, Targeted STEM Infusion Projects, teacher-focused professional development, enterprise advancement centers, cyberinfrastructure improvements, preparatory planning grants, partnerships with other institutions, and small research grants for faculty. Funding is provided to support a wide array of allowable activities, including curriculum development, faculty development, research initiatives, infrastructure improvements, equipment acquisition, student engagement, and community-based STEM programs. Certain restrictions apply depending on the funding track, such as limits on equipment costs or ineligibility of construction expenses. The program explicitly prohibits voluntary cost sharing. Awards may vary significantly in size and duration, with some projects funded for up to five years and multi-million-dollar budgets, while others are shorter-term and more modest in scope. Eligibility is limited to federally recognized Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native-serving institutions, and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions that meet specific enrollment thresholds. In some cases, partnerships with non-eligible institutions are allowed, provided that the eligible institution serves as the lead applicant and that funding for non-eligible partners is secured separately through other programs. Principal investigators are typically senior academic leaders or faculty members, depending on the funding track, and must demonstrate institutional authority and capacity to lead the proposed work. Applications must be submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov in accordance with NSF’s Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide. Required components generally include a project description, budget, evaluation plan, and dissemination strategy, with additional requirements varying by funding track. Proposals are evaluated based on NSF’s merit review criteria, which include intellectual merit and broader impacts. Reviewers assess the quality, innovation, feasibility, and societal benefit of the proposed activities, as well as the qualifications of the project team and adequacy of resources. The program operates on a recurring annual cycle with multiple deadlines depending on the funding track. Several tracks have fixed annual deadlines, such as January, April, June, and September, while others may have submission windows or rolling elements. Awards are typically announced following a multi-stage review process that can take several months. Projects are expected to include evaluation and reporting components, with annual and final reports required. The program emphasizes sustainability, encouraging institutions to continue successful initiatives beyond the funding period and to contribute to long-term improvements in STEM education and workforce development.

Ensure strong alignment with NSF merit review criteria including intellectual merit and broader impacts; clearly articulate measurable outcomes and evaluation plans; demonstrate institutional commitment and sustainability beyond funding period