Chai: stone child college network and security upgrades for stem programs

The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded Stone Child College Corp (doing business as Stone Child Community College) $250,000 on July 1, 2026, under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) to upgrade network and cybersecurity infrastructure supporting STEM instruction and research activities.

The award funds cyberinfrastructure enhancements at Stone Child College in Box Elder, Montana, a 1994 Land Grant tribal college serving the Chippewa Cree Tribe on the Rocky Boy's Reservation. The project strengthens STEM IT resources to improve network resiliency, data security, and protection of sensitive research data. Improvements enable implementation of data management plans, expanded remote access for virtual synchronous instruction, and enhanced support for STEM research in language, culture, and natural resources. Students will gain increased access to online resources and virtual courses through the upgraded infrastructure. The award carries a period of performance from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. No subawards are planned under this grant.

Abstract

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 stone child college (SCC) 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 seeks to upgrade specific STEM IT resources at the institution to improve the resiliency and security of STEM operations, data management, and instruction and research enterprises. Improvements to SCC?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 will 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.- subawards are not planned for this award.