Collaborative research: e-core RII: sustainable programs advancing research and knowledge across north dakota

North Dakota State University, in collaboration with nine partner institutions including tribal colleges, community colleges, and universities across North Dakota, will establish a sustainable Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) ecosystem through this $1.717 million Cooperative Agreement awarded by the National Science Foundation's Office of Integrative Activities under the Integrative Activities program (CFDA 47.083). The award, effective August 1, 2025, through July 31, 2029, will deliver three primary service components: an Administrative Core to manage collaborative operations; a STEM Pathways Core to enhance STEM education opportunities and literacy in rural communities; and a Tribal Colleges & Universities Core to strengthen STEM participation and research engagement at tribal institutions. The project addresses critical geographic and institutional barriers by connecting geographically dispersed researchers, improving STEM opportunities in underserved rural areas, and facilitating educational pathways and hands-on learning experiences for students across diverse institution types.

The initiative will measure success through detailed evaluations and aims to create lasting impacts by establishing new educational partnerships, strengthening research networks, and developing a more skilled STEM workforce throughout North Dakota. By leveraging collaborative networks among partner institutions—including Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Mayville State University, Minot State University, tribal colleges, and the University of North Dakota—the project will facilitate researcher collaboration, increase STEM career opportunities, and mitigate barriers to participation faced by students at tribal colleges, community colleges, and primarily undergraduate institutions across the state.

Abstract

This project led by north dakota state university will build a strong and sustainable stem community across north dakota. Collaborating institutions include cankdeska cikana community college, mayville state university, minot state university, nueta hidatsa sahnish college, sitting bull college, turtle mountain college, united tribes technical college, university of north dakota, and valley city state university. The project will focus on connecting researchers across north dakota, improving stem opportunities in rural areas, and facilitating stem education for students at tribal colleges. IT will address the lack of stem opportunities in rural communities, challenges faced by students at tribal colleges, community colleges, and primarily undergraduate institutions, as well as the barriers posed by distance between research institutions. By creating new partnerships between schools, colleges, and universities, the project will increase opportunities for stem education and careers. IT will promote hands-on learning, social connections in stem education, and opportunities for students from across the state to succeed. IT will also bring researchers together to solve important problems. The project will measure its success through detailed evaluations and aims to leave a lasting impact by creating new educational pathways, stronger research networks, and a more skilled stem workforce in north dakota. This project will establish a comprehensive and sustainable stem ecosystem in north dakota through three targeted focus areas: administrative core, stem pathways core, and tribal colleges & universities core. The project team will connect geographically dispersed researchers, enhance stem literacy among rural communities, and strengthen stem participation at tribal colleges. The team will use targeted strategies to mitigate barriers, such as limited rural opportunities and geographical isolation. Through interdisciplinary research networks, expanded stem outreach, and relevant educational programming and research, the project team will foster collaboration across north dakota institutions, broaden participation in stem, and enhance educational and workforce outcomes. Partnerships between universities, tribal colleges, and rural schools will ensure enduring impacts, including heightened research capacity and a stronger stem workforce. Key metrics, longitudinal evaluation, and sustainability plans will guide the project's progress, aiming to create a thriving stem landscape that aligns with north dakota?s strategic goals. This project is supported by the research infrastructure improvement (RII) program: epscor collaborations for optimizing research ecosystems (e-core). E-core supports jurisdictions in building research capacity and research infrastructure to drive substantive and sustainable impacts to their research ecosystems. 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.- subawards are not planned for this award.