Tribal Colleges and Universities Program Hub and Topical Interest Groups | 24 548

Opportunity Information: Apply for 24 548

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is offering this Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) funding opportunity to support two connected, community-building efforts across TCUP-eligible institutions: one TCUP Hub and a small number of faculty-led Topical Interest Groups (TIGs). The overall aim is to strengthen STEM capacity, professional development, and collaboration among Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native-serving institutions, and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions by creating stronger networks, shared resources, and coordinated opportunities that reflect the priorities identified by these institutions themselves.

The TCUP Hub is the centerpiece of the solicitation and is intended to serve the entire TCUP-eligible community, not just the awardee institution(s). The Hub would act as a coordinating and convening entity that brings people together and makes collaboration easier across institutions that may be geographically dispersed and have different governance structures and administrative models. Activities the Hub is expected to support include organizing and convening workshops (specifically including the TCUP Leaders Forum), coordinating faculty and student exchanges, offering professional development opportunities, and overseeing TCUP Fellowship opportunities with eligible agencies. Beyond events and exchanges, the Hub is also expected to curate and share resources, expertise, and lessons learned so that institutions can more easily build capacity in the areas they prioritize, while also strengthening a shared sense of community and elevating the voices of TCUP institutions within broader STEM networks.

NSF expects to make only one Hub award, which means there will be a single Hub for the whole TCUP-eligible community. That Hub can be led by one eligible institution or proposed as a collaboration among multiple eligible institutions. The solicitation explicitly notes that a collaborative approach may be more feasible and effective, because it can leverage complementary strengths and better reflect the diversity and multiplicity of TCUP institutions. The announcement also recognizes that some Hub activities may benefit from bringing in specialists as consultants, depending on the expertise required.

Collaborative Hub proposals can be submitted in two main ways. One option is a coordinated, simultaneous submission from multiple organizations where certain proposal sections are unified while other parts remain unique to each organization (such as separate budgets, distinct key personnel, and organization-specific activities). Another option is a single proposal led by one organization that includes collaborating TCUP-eligible institutions through subawards; importantly, subawards are only permitted to TCUP-eligible institutions, and applicants are expected to confer with TCUP program staff before submitting a proposal that uses subawards. When multiple organizations are submitting collaboratively, the proposal must be submitted through Research.gov.

In addition to the Hub, NSF will support independent, faculty-led Topical Interest Groups (TIGs). TIGs are meant to focus on faculty professional development and on building discipline-based STEM networks across TCUP institutions. Examples of TIG themes named in the solicitation include engineering, genomics, Indigenous research, and environmental science, but the core idea is that TIGs create sustained communities of practice around shared STEM interests. NSF anticipates supporting up to two new TIGs under this opportunity, so these are competitive and limited in number.

Eligibility is restricted to TCUP-eligible organizations, which include federally recognized Tribal Colleges and Universities as defined by Executive Order 13021 and related federal statutes, as well as Alaska Native-serving institutions and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions meeting specific Higher Education Act criteria and enrollment thresholds. For Alaska Native-serving institutions, eligibility includes having at least 20 percent Alaska Native undergraduate enrollment at the time of submission. For Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, eligibility includes being an eligible institution under the Higher Education Act, having a Carnegie classification of baccalaureate or associates college, and having at least 10 percent Native Hawaiian undergraduate enrollment at the time of submission. By submitting a proposal, the institution is certifying that it meets these requirements, and NSF notes that eligibility may be verified through IPEDS or other federal data sources; intentionally providing false information can trigger criminal penalties under federal law.

The expected principal investigator (PI) differs depending on whether the project is the Hub or a TIG. For the TCUP Hub, NSF expects the PI to be a senior academic officer or a senior STEM faculty member with substantial experience and demonstrated understanding of the TCUP community, including institutional needs, governance structures, and relevant STEM instructional contexts and accomplishments. For TIGs, the PI is expected to be an experienced TCUP STEM faculty member with expertise aligned to the TIG topic area. In both cases, prospective PIs are encouraged to consult TCUP program staff before submitting, which signals that NSF expects applicants to coordinate early and ensure alignment with program intent.

Administrative details included in the notice identify this as a discretionary NSF grant opportunity (CFDA 47.076) titled "Tribal Colleges and Universities Program Hub and Topical Interest Groups" (Funding Opportunity Number 24-548). The original closing date listed is September 3, 2024. The notice does not clearly state an award ceiling or the exact number of awards for the Hub and TIGs beyond indicating that only one Hub will be funded and up to two TIGs may be supported.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Tribal Colleges and Universities Program Hub and Topical Interest Groups" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.076.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-09-03. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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