TSIP: Enhancing Academic Experiences within Applied Research, AI Integration, and Workforce Readiness

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. Expanding the STEM curricular offerings at these institutions expands the opportunities of their students to pursue challenging rewarding careers in STEM fields, provides for research studies in areas that may be locally or economically significant, and encourages a community and generational appreciation for science and mathematics education. Sustainability of capacity gains is significantly enhanced by retaining the talent of credentialed STEM faculty. This project aligns directly with that goal, and moreover, as a major TCUP award to this college, it may inspire other faculty at or near the institution to develop their visions into proposals and pursue novel ideas of their own. In this instructional capacity-building project, Keweenaw Bay Ojibway Community College (KBOCC) integrates additive manufacturing (AM), AI biotechnology, sustainable design and applied microbiology into health sciences and STEM curricula. Using technology and course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) to renew and expand existing knowledge systems, this project demonstrates how AM and digital fabrication tools can address community needs such as health monitoring, environmental stewardship, and design challenges. Through local partnerships, the project embeds experiential, community-focused research opportunities across programs. Students engage in nano sensor prototyping, data interpretation, and CURE-based AM projects that link local knowledge and framing with STEM inquiry. This project increases access for students to high-demand health and technology fields. It supports workforce readiness by preparing students for internships and future opportunities to work in a STEM-based applied environment, managed through the implementation of CURES and simulation-based training. This initiative strengthen institutional capacity at KBOCC and creates replicable models for two-year colleges. By embedding relevant, community-focused research into the curriculum, the project promotes sustainability, and long-term impact in isolated regions. 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.