CHAI: STEM Focused Campus Cyberinfrastructure Upgrades at Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

A goal of the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) is to increase the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) instructional and research capacities of specific institutions of higher education that serve the Nation's indigenous students. Expanding the instructional, research, and development capacity at these institutions expands the opportunities for students to pursue challenging, rewarding careers in STEM fields, provides for research studies in areas that may be locally relevant, and encourages a faculty community to look beyond the traditional classroom for intellectual and professional growth. This project aligns directly with that goal by strengthening the STEM cyberinfrastructure at Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College (SCTC) for instructional and research activities. The project aims to enhance cyberinfrastructure and cybersecurity necessary to facilitate development of the institution in STEM fields and for the protection of sensitive data. The project upgrades campus cybersecurity at the institution to improve the resiliency and security of STEM operations, data management, teaching, and research enterprises. Improvements to SCTC’s network and cybersecurity seeks to advance the college’s ability to implement future data management plans and expand remote access for virtual synchronous instruction. The activities for developing STEM cyberinfrastructure directly support current and future projects. Students will benefit from increased access to online resources and virtual courses. STEM research activities in language, culture, and natural resources will be aided and enabled by advances in cyberinfrastructure at the institution. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.